Japan stocks higher at close of trade; Nikkei 225 up 0.01% By Investing.com

Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the , and sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Tokyo, the added 0.01%.

The best performers of the session on the were Mizuho Financial Group Inc (TYO:), which rose 5.41% or 103.00 points to trade at 2,007.50 at the close. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (TYO:) added 5.02% or 45.60 points to end at 953.60 and Pacific Metals Co., Ltd. (TYO:) was up 4.99% or 95.00 points to 2,000.00 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Shiseido Co., Ltd. (TYO:), which fell 2.72% or 178.00 points to trade at 6,370.00 at the close. Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd. (TYO:) declined 2.72% or 43.00 points to end at 1,535.00 and Eisai Co., Ltd. (TYO:) was down 2.61% or 217.00 points to 8,112.00.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2077 to 1437 and 284 ended unchanged.

Shares in Mizuho Financial Group Inc (TYO:) rose to 3-years highs; rising 5.41% or 103.00 to 2,007.50. Shares in Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc (TYO:) rose to 5-year highs; up 5.02% or 45.60 to 953.60. Shares in Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd. (TYO:) fell to 52-week lows; down 2.72% or 43.00 to 1,535.00.

The , which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 0.38% to 18.28.

Crude oil for February delivery was down 0.14% or 0.11 to $77.30 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in March fell 0.12% or 0.10 to hit $82.57 a barrel, while the February Gold Futures contract rose 0.27% or 5.05 to trade at $1,883.95 a troy ounce.

USD/JPY was down 0.54% to 131.75, while EUR/JPY fell 0.48% to 141.79.

The US Dollar Index Futures was unchanged 0.00% at 102.93.