Tokyo stocks ended mixed Friday, as technology heavyweights were sold amid a cautious mood before the Bank of Japan's policy meeting, while energy issues were boosted by a rise in U.S. oil futures.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 99.74 points, or 0.26 percent, from Thursday at 38,707.64. The broader Topix index finished 9.21 points, or 0.35 percent, higher at 2,670.80.
On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by mining and oil and coal product issues, while top decliners were marine transportation and bank issues.
The U.S. dollar erased earlier gains and traded in the lower 148 yen range in Tokyo on yen buying amid growing expectations that the BOJ could decide to end its negative interest rate policy in the two-day meeting starting Monday.
Trading on the equities market was subdued on caution over the BOJ's possible policy shift from years of aggressive monetary easing, analysts said.
The Nikkei index shed nearly 1,000 points this week after rewriting all-time highs several times this year, briefly sending the benchmark above 40,000 in early March.
Chip-related stocks that have a strong influence on the Nikkei index further lost ground in the afternoon as the tech-heavy Nasdaq futures dropped, analysts said.
But the broader Topix was mostly higher, with energy firms helping to limit the downside. Oil explorer Inpex was among the companies drawing buying after the benchmark U.S. oil futures contract rose to a four-month high as the International Energy Agency lifted its oil demand projection for 2024.
