Tokyo stocks end slightly higher amid caution over US jobs data
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 23.42 points, or 0.06 percent, from Wednesday at 39,785.90. The broader Topix index finished 2.95 points, or 0.10 percent, higher at 2,828.99.
On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by iron and steel, nonferrous metal and transportation equipment issues.
The U.S. dollar briefly declined to around the mid-143 yen line in Tokyo as investors grew cautious ahead of the release of key U.S. jobs data later in the day after U.S. employment data from payroll processor ADP turned out weaker than expected, raising uncertainty about the world's largest economy.
But the U.S. currency later rebounded to the upper 143 yen zone, as the Japanese currency was sold on eased expectations for an early interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan after Hajime Takata, its hawkish member, said the central bank is pausing to raise the rate for now, dealers said.
Stocks moved in and out of positive territory as investors grew wary of taking bold positions after the ADP report for June showed that private payrolls unexpectedly fell for the first time in about two years, brokers said.
"Investors who have so far perceived the labor market is solid are focused on whether they can maintain the view" when the U.S. jobs data for June comes out, said Maki Sawada, a strategist at the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co.
The market found some support from buying of heavyweight semiconductor-related issues following an overnight advance by the tech-heavy U.S. Nasdaq index.
However, persistent worries about tariff negotiations dampened sentiment, with a Japan-U.S. trade deal looking uncertain after other countries already reached agreements with Washington.
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