Japan stocks higher at close of trade; Nikkei 225 up 2.57%

Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Precision Instruments, Communication and Electrical/Machinery sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 2.57% to hit a new 1-month high.

The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Lasertec Corp (TYO:6920), which rose 8.19% or 1,985.00 points to trade at 26,235.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings Ltd. (TYO:3099) added 7.09% or 165.00 points to end at 2,491.00 and Ebara Corp. (TYO:6361) was up 6.77% or 154.50 points to 2,436.50 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Sumitomo Mitsui Financial (TYO:8316), which fell 3.38% or 103.50 points to trade at 2,954.50 at the close. SoftBank Corp (TYO:9434) declined 3.24% or 6.40 points to end at 191.30 and Nichirei Corp. (TYO:2871) was down 2.80% or 126.00 points to 4,369.00.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 1953 to 1712 and 190 ended unchanged.

Shares in Sumitomo Mitsui Financial (TYO:8316) fell to 3-years lows; falling 3.38% or 103.50 to 2,954.50. Shares in SoftBank Corp (TYO:9434) fell to all time lows; losing 3.24% or 6.40 to 191.30.

The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 5.01% to 26.01.

Crude oil for November delivery was up 0.31% or 0.21 to $67.88 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in December rose 0.27% or 0.19 to hit $71.28 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract fell 0.19% or 5.10 to trade at $2,689.80 a troy ounce.

USD/JPY was down 0.87% to 143.54, while EUR/JPY fell 0.93% to 160.38.

The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.02% at 100.23.