Investing.com – Japan stocks were higher after the close on Thursday, as gains in the Banking, Services and Electrical/Machinery sectors led shares higher.

At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 0.32%.

The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Hino Motors, Ltd. (TYO:7205), which rose 9.49% or 48.40 points to trade at 558.60 at the close. Meanwhile, Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (TYO:5801) added 7.68% or 507.00 points to end at 7,110.00 and Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. (TYO:7735) was up 5.48% or 550.00 points to 10,585.00 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Murata Mfg Co (TYO:6981), which fell 4.50% or 111.00 points to trade at 2,358.00 at the close. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (TYO:7201) declined 4.42% or 19.40 points to end at 420.00 and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (TYO:9104) was down 3.25% or 172.00 points to 5,119.00.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2273 to 1313 and 273 ended unchanged.

Shares in Murata Mfg Co (TYO:6981) fell to 52-week lows; down 4.50% or 111.00 to 2,358.00.

The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 11.78% to 24.30.

Crude oil for March delivery was up 0.32% or 0.25 to $78.96 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in March rose 0.32% or 0.26 to hit $82.29 a barrel, while the February Gold Futures contract rose 0.27% or 7.46 to trade at $2,725.26 a troy ounce.

USD/JPY was down 0.16% to 156.13, while EUR/JPY fell 0.23% to 160.66.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.06% at 108.98.