Japanese stocks fell on Thursday as the Nikkei 225 closed at 63,517.44, shedding 0.77% by the end of the Tokyo session in a subdued end to the trading day.
The benchmark index fluctuated across a relatively wide intraday range, touching a session high of 63,691.53 before sellers pushed the market lower, with the day's trough reaching 62,726.18 — a swing of nearly 965 points from bottom to top, reflecting periods of volatility throughout the session.
The closing level represented a pullback from the upper end of the day's range, suggesting that early optimism faded as the session progressed and sentiment turned cautious. The index ultimately settled closer to the top of its range than the intraday low, offering some indication that buyers stepped in to limit the retreat.
Market participants continued to weigh a range of domestic and global factors, with the modest decline pointing to measured rather than sharp risk aversion among investors. The session's performance leaves the Nikkei 225 consolidating after recent moves, with traders watching closely for fresh catalysts to determine the index's next directional move.