Japan stocks higher at close of trade; Nikkei 225 up 2.64%

Japan stocks were higher after the close on Friday, as gains in the Shipbuilding, Chemical, Petroleum & Plastic and Power sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 2.64%.

The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were JGC Corp. (TYO:1963), which rose 20.48% or 300.00 points to trade at 1,765.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Fujikura Ltd. (TYO:5803) added 16.78% or 100.00 points to end at 696.00 and Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd. (TYO:7762) was up 15.07% or 74.00 points to 565.00 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Casio Computer Co., Ltd. (TYO:6952), which fell 13.85% or 186.00 points to trade at 1,157.00 at the close. Secom Co., Ltd. (TYO:9735) declined 11.21% or 1,046.00 points to end at 8,286.00 and Konica Minolta, Inc. (TYO:4902) was down 8.87% or 43.00 points to 442.00.

Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2892 to 737 and 144 ended unchanged.

Shares in JGC Corp. (TYO:1963) rose to 52-week highs; gaining 20.48% or 300.00 to 1,765.00. Shares in Casio Computer Co., Ltd. (TYO:6952) fell to 5-year lows; falling 13.85% or 186.00 to 1,157.00. Shares in Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd. (TYO:7762) rose to 52-week highs; rising 15.07% or 74.00 to 565.00. Shares in Konica Minolta, Inc. (TYO:4902) fell to 52-week lows; down 8.87% or 43.00 to 442.00.

The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 3.18% to 29.50.

Crude oil for June delivery was up 0.99% or 1.05 to $107.18 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in July rose 1.27% or 1.36 to hit $108.81 a barrel, while the June Gold Futures contract rose 0.15% or 2.75 to trade at $1,827.35 a troy ounce.

USD/JPY was up 0.34% to 128.76, while EUR/JPY rose 0.62% to 134.01.

The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.30% at 104.58.