Market close overview
Japanese equities finished the session lower on Monday as sector losses in Paper & Pulp, Transport and Communication weighed on overall sentiment. At the Tokyo close the Nikkei 225 fell 3.74% to finish the day down 2,492.12 points at 64,096.00.
Top and bottom movers
- Top performers on the Nikkei 225: Toho Co., Ltd. (TYO:9602) led gains, rising 6.80% or 81.50 points to close at 1,280.50. Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co Ltd (TYO:4506) advanced 5.39% or 77.50 points to finish at 1,514.50. Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. (TYO:8766) added 3.37% or 236.00 points to end the session at 7,232.00.
- Heaviest declines: SUMCO Corp. (TYO:3436) posted the largest fall, down 12.84% or 519.00 points to close at 3,522.00. Murata Mfg Co (TYO:6981) dropped 10.15% or 984.00 points to 8,711.00. Socionext Inc (TYO:6526) slid 10.05% or 274.50 points to 2,456.00.
Breadth and volatility
Decliners outpaced advancers across the Tokyo Stock Exchange by a wide margin: 2,700 stocks fell, 909 rose and 168 finished unchanged. The Nikkei Volatility index, which tracks implied volatility in Nikkei 225 options, moved lower by 3.70% to 28.37.
Commodities and currencies
Energy markets showed strength. Crude oil for July delivery climbed 4.59% or $4.16 to $94.70 a barrel. Brent oil for August delivery rose 4.95% or $4.61 to $97.70 a barrel. Precious metals were weaker: the August Gold Futures contract fell 0.95% or $41.46 to trade at $4,323.84 a troy ounce.
In FX trading, USD/JPY edged down 0.05% to 160.24 while EUR/JPY decreased 0.07% to 184.57. The US Dollar Index Futures was lower by 0.21% at 99.85.
Contextual notes
The intraday price action showed concentrated moves among individual names listed above and broad market weakness by sector. Oil strength and a retreat in gold accompanied the equity pullback. Market participants can gauge risk sentiment through the negative breadth and the drop in implied volatility.
Data snapshot
- Nikkei 225: 64,096.00, down 2,492.12 (-3.74%)
- Top gainers: TYO:9602 +6.80%, TYO:4506 +5.39%, TYO:8766 +3.37%
- Top losers: TYO:3436 -12.84%, TYO:6981 -10.15%, TYO:6526 -10.05%
- Crude (July): $94.70 (+4.59%) • Brent (Aug): $97.70 (+4.95%)
- Gold (Aug futures): $4,323.84 (-0.95%)
- USD/JPY: 160.24 • EUR/JPY: 184.57 • Nikkei Volatility: 28.37