Japanese stocks fell after the close on Thursday (5/15), as losses in the Paper & Pulp, Transportation and Communications sectors led shares lower.

At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 was down 0.88%.

The best performers on the Nikkei 225 were Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd. (TYO:6976), which rose 6.77% or 159.50 points to trade at 2,514.00 at the close. Meanwhile, Aozora Bank, Ltd. (TYO:8304) gained 5.75% or 114.50 points to close at 2,105.50 and Haseko Corp. (TYO:1808) gained 4.77% or 95.50 points to 2,098.50 in late trade.

The worst performers on the session were Rakuten Inc (TYO:4755), which plunged 8.81% or 77.90 points to close at 806.10. Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co Ltd (TYO:4506) plunged 6.00% or 52.00 points to close at 815.00 and Eisai Co., Ltd. (TYO:4523) plunged 5.51% or 214.00 points to 3,667.00.

Declining stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, with 2,215 to 1,431, with 209 ending unchanged.

Haseko Corp (TYO:1808) shares rose to a five-year high, up 4.77% or 95.50 to close at 2,098.50.

Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, fell 1.13% to 21.85, a fresh 1-month low.

Crude oil for June delivery fell 3.23% or 2.04 to settle at $61.11 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for July delivery fell 3.12% or 2.06 to settle at $64.03 a barrel, while June Gold Futures fell 1.10% or 35.06 to trade at $3,153.24 a troy ounce.

USD/JPY fell 0.77% to 145.56, while EUR/JPY fell 0.34% to 163.43.

The U.S. Dollar Index Futures were down 0.41% at 100.46. (Newsmaker23)

Source: Investing.com