This photo shows the Tokyo Stock Exchange. (Mainichi)


TOKYO (Kyodo) — okyo stocks ended mixed Friday, hurt by caution over tensions in the Middle East and a rebound in U.S. Treasury yields, while losses were capped by buying in stocks that were expected to benefit from the situation.


The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 200.43 points, or 0.30 percent, from Thursday at 66,016.36. The broader Topix index finished 7.56 points, or 0.19 percent, higher at 4,067.29.


On the top-tier Prime Market, the main gainers were marine transportation and insurance issues, while pharmaceutical and precision instrument issues were notable decliners.


The U.S. dollar largely traded around the 159 yen line in Tokyo as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s press conference on Iran scheduled for next week.


At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 158.82-84 yen compared with 159.03-13 yen in New York and 158.44-45 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Thursday.


The euro was quoted at $1.1690-1692 and 185.67-71 yen against $1.1673-1683 and 185.72-82 yen in New York and $1.1692-1693 and 185.26-30 yen in Tokyo late Thursday afternoon.


The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond ended up 0.030 percentage point from Thursday’s close at 2.875 percent following a rise in U.S. long-term yields as inflation concerns grew on the back of higher crude oil futures prices.


Stocks declined on concerns over oil supplies and inflation, which could hurt the economy, while investors viewed the U.S. Treasury Department’s plan to at least double its buybacks of long-term bonds as nothing more than a short-term solution, dealers said.


Investors were inclined to lock in gains at the end of the week and ahead of Bessent’s press briefing on Monday to explain “the toughest sanctions in history” on Iran, they added.


“Although economic sanctions alone would not be particularly serious, concerns would grow significantly if a large-scale military operation were to be launched,” said Masahiro Ichikawa, chief market strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Co.


Meanwhile, stocks trimmed their losses in the afternoon, with the Topix index rising to positive territory, lifted by gains in some heavyweight technology shares, while marine transportation and financial issues were also bought, supported by rising crude oil prices and bond yields.