This file photo shows the Tokyo Stock Exchange. (Mainichi)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended lower Monday, as investors locked in recent gains after the market surged to its highest level in more than a month last week, while a stronger yen dented market sentiment.

       The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 104.52 points, or 0.35 percent, from Friday at 29,507.05. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 6.20 points, or 0.30 percent, lower at 2,035.22.

       Decliners were led by iron and steel, construction and electric machinery issues.

       The U.S. dollar was weaker in the upper 113 yen range, as it was sold on expectations a dip in U.S. Treasury yields late last week would narrow the interest rate gap between the United States and Japan, dealers said.

       Stocks initially moved higher, lifted by record highs on Wall Street late last week after U.S. data on Friday showed an increase of 531,000 jobs in October, greatly exceeding the market consensus of an additional 450,000 in nonfarm payrolls.

       But gains were gradually pared and stocks fluctuated narrowly in negative territory through most of the day after rising Thursday to their highest level since Sept. 28 following Japan's general election and a U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting.

       "The market became top-heavy as the Nikkei neared the 30,000 mark, while downbeat U.S. stock futures and a drop in the Hang Seng index (in Hong Kong) also weighed on the market," said Yutaka Miura, senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities Co.

       However, "hopes have risen for the normalization and reopening of economic activity as COVID-19 cases drop and deaths reach zero," he added.

       Japan reported Sunday no deaths from the novel coronavirus for the first time since Aug. 2 last year amid progress in vaccinations and the spread of medicines.

       On the First Section, declining issues outnumbered advancers 1,276 to 804, while 103 ended unchanged.

       Air and land transportation issues were notably higher amid growing expectations for more movement amid the downward trajectory in coronavirus infections.

       ANA Holdings moved up 119.5 yen, or 4.3 percent, to 2,891.0 yen, and Japan Airlines climbed 129 yen, or 5.2 percent, to 2,630 yen, while Central Japan Railway, operator of shinkansen bullet trains between the Tokyo and Osaka business areas, advanced 430 yen, or 2.5 percent, to 17,570 yen.

       Department stores were also upbeat on falling domestic COVID-19 cases, with Takashimaya rising 18 yen, or 1.6 percent, to 1,169 yen, and Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings gaining 11 yen, or 1.3 percent, to 891 yen.

       Some export-related issues were sold as the yen strengthened slightly against the U.S. dollar, brokers said. Sony Group dropped 60 yen, or 0.4 percent, to 13,985 yen, and Panasonic declined 9.0 yen, or 0.7 percent, to 1,368.5 yen.

       Honda Motor sank 114 yen, or 3.3 percent, to 3,295 yen, after the automaker revised downward Friday its net profit outlook for the current business year through March due to a semiconductor shortage and rise in raw material costs.

       Trading volume on the main section fell to 1,231.79 million shares from Friday's 1,266.64 million shares.

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