Japan stocks were lower after the close on Thursday, as losses in the Pharmaceutical Industry, Power and Marine Transport sectors led shares lower.

At the close in Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 declined 0.05%.

The best performers of the session on the Nikkei 225 were Nomura Holdings Inc, which rose 4.40% or 23.20 points to trade at 550.20 at the close. Meanwhile, Nikon Corp. added 4.20% or 70.50 points to end at 1,750.50 and Ebara Corp. was up 3.13% or 220.00 points to 7,254.00 in late trade.

The worst performers of the session were Eisai Co., Ltd., which fell 5.91% or 598.00 points to trade at 9,527.00 at the close. Rakuten Inc declined 5.28% or 28.90 points to end at 518.50 and Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. was down 3.98% or 199.00 points to 4,800.00.

Falling stocks outnumbered advancing ones on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 1998 to 1579 and 269 ended unchanged.

Shares in Nikon Corp. rose to 3-years highs; up 4.20% or 70.50 to 1,750.50. Shares in Rakuten Inc fell to 5-year lows; falling 5.28% or 28.90 to 518.50. Shares in Ebara Corp. rose to 5-year highs; up 3.13% or 220.00 to 7,254.00.

The Nikkei Volatility, which measures the implied volatility of Nikkei 225 options, was up 2.71% to 21.99.

Crude oil for July delivery was up 0.25% or 0.17 to $68.44 a barrel. Elsewhere in commodities trading, Brent oil for delivery in August rose 0.25% or 0.18 to hit $73.38 a barrel, while the August Gold Futures contract fell 1.23% or 24.15 to trade at $1,944.75 a troy ounce.

USD/JPY was up 0.96% to 141.43, while EUR/JPY rose 0.80% to 152.96.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.34% at 102.87.