Investing.com – Japan stocks were lower after the close on Wednesday, as losses in the Financial Services, Non-Metal Minerals and Insurance sectors led shares lower.
At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 lost 3.14% to hit a new 1-month low.
The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd. (TOKYO:5232), which rose 1.59% or 7.0 points to trade at 448.0 at the close. Meanwhile, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. (TOKYO:4568) fell 0.08% or 2.0 points to end at 2385.0 and Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd. (TOKYO:2502) was down 0.56% or 21.0 points to 3730.5 in late trade.
The worst performers of the session were Itochu Corp. (TOKYO:8001), which fell 9.24% or 143.0 points to trade at 1404.0 at the close. TOTO Ltd. (TOKYO:5332) declined 7.57% or 159.0 points to end at 1942.0 and Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. (TOKYO:4183) was down 7.30% or 34.0 points to 432.0.
Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 1833 to 49.
The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 29.67% to 24.30 a new 3-months high.
Crude oil for August delivery was down 1.12% or 0.58 to $51.74 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in August fell 1.05% or 0.59 to hit $56.26 a barrel, while the August Gold contract fell 0.50% or 5.80 to trade at $1146.80 a troy ounce.
USD/JPY was down 0.56% to 121.86, while EUR/JPY fell 0.53% to 134.22.
The US Dollar Index was down 0.07% at 96.81.