Investing.com – Japan stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Transportation Equipment, Financial Services and Power sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 lost 2.31% to hit a new 52-week low.
The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were SUMCO Corp. (T:3436), which rose 5.01% or 32.0 points to trade at 671.0 at the close. Meanwhile, Shiseido Co., Ltd. (T:4911) added 3.47% or 74.0 points to end at 2206.5 and Kyocera Corp. (T:6971) was up 2.12% or 94.0 points to 4526.0 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Taiheiyo Cement Corp. (T:5233), which fell 17.97% or 53.0 points to trade at 242.0 at the close. Mitsubishi Materials Corp. (T:5711) declined 12.80% or 43.0 points to end at 293.0 and Kuraray Co., Ltd. (T:3405) was down 8.44% or 116.0 points to 1259.0.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 1737 to 127 and 26 ended unchanged.
Shares in Taiheiyo Cement Corp. (T:5233) fell to 52-week lows; falling 17.97% or 53.0 to 242.0. Shares in Mitsubishi Materials Corp. (T:5711) fell to 52-week lows; losing 12.80% or 43.0 to 293.0. Shares in Kuraray Co., Ltd. (T:3405) fell to 52-week lows; falling 8.44% or 116.0 to 1259.0.
The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 3.96% to 44.15 a new 3-months high.
Crude oil for March delivery was up 1.84% or 0.52 to $28.45 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in April rose 1.85% or 0.56 to hit $30.88 a barrel, while the April Gold contract fell 0.63% or 7.50 to trade at $1191.10 a troy ounce.
USD/JPY was down 0.31% to 114.77, while EUR/JPY fell 0.33% to 129.59.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.01% at 96.03.