TOKYO: Tokyo stocks finished flat Monday as late profit-taking erased early gains driven by a weaker yen and following another record close on Wall Street.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 index edged down 0.01 percent, or 1.62 points, to 15,164.30, while the Topix index of all first-section shares rose 0.21 percent, or 2.63 points, to 1,241.67.
"We saw an early gain but profit-taking emerged in the afternoon, which sent the Nikkei down," said Katsuhiro Kondo, a broker with Tokai Tokyo Securities.
"I think it was no surprise to see investors try to cash in. But there is room for further gains."
On Friday, the Nikkei ended at a six-month high, tacking on 7.7 percent over the week thanks to the weaker yen and hopes that the US Federal Reserve will maintain its easy-money policy.
"Upward profit forecast revisions from the likes of Mitsubishi UFJ FG, a relatively firm dollar above 100 yen, and continued enthusiasm for US shares should keep Japan stocks well supported through the mid-15,000 level short-term," Tachibana Securities market advisor Kenichi Hirano told Dow Jones Newswires.
In New York the Dow gained 0.54 percent on Friday and the S&P 500 added 0.42 percent -- both ending at record highs -- while the Nasdaq was up 0.33 percent.
In Tokyo share trading, Mitsubishi UFJ, Japan's biggest bank, rose 0.91 percent to 664 yen on buoyant six-month earnings.
Fukushima operator Tokyo Electric Power edged up 0.17 percent to 557 yen as it began moving fuel rods from a reactor building, in its most difficult and dangerous task since a tsunami crippled the facility in 2011.
Exporters ended mixed as Sony rose 0.86 percent to 1,862 yen, while Toyota lost 0.31 percent to 6,350 yen.
On currency markets, the dollar bought 100.11 yen Monday afternoon, against 100.12 yen in New York Friday afternoon. (AFP)
