Japan stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Marine Transport, Trading and Pharmaceutical Industry sectors led shares higher

At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 added 0.30%.

The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Sompo Holdings Inc (TYO:8630), which rose 5.00% or 215.00 points to trade at 4,519.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Fujikura Ltd. (TYO:5803) added 4.81% or 304.00 points to end at 6,625.00 and Itochu Corp. (TYO:8001) was up 4.34% or 282.00 points to 6,774.00 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. (TYO:3382), which fell 11.69% or 280.50 points to trade at 2,118.00 at the close. M3 Inc (TYO:2413) declined 5.47% or 103.50 points to end at 1,789.50 and Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TYO:9501) was down 4.68% or 18.40 points to 374.80.

Rising stocks outnumbered declining ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2440 to 1180 and 235 ended unchanged.

Shares in Sompo Holdings Inc (TYO:8630) rose to 52-week highs; rising 5.00% or 215.00 to 4,519.00. Shares in Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TYO:9501) fell to 52-week lows; down 4.68% or 18.40 to 374.80.

The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 12.20% to 23.63.

Crude oil for April delivery was up 0.17% or 0.12 to $68.74 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in May rose 0.21% or 0.15 to hit $72.22 a barrel, while the April Gold Futures contract fell 0.87% or 25.49 to trade at $2,905.11 a troy ounce.

Source: Investing.com