This Oct. 1, 2020 file photo shows the Tokyo Stock Exchange. (Mainichi)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended flat Thursday, weighed on by worries over a potential rise in coronavirus variants in Japan while a weaker yen lifted export-related shares.

       The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 0.34 points, or 0.00 percent, from Wednesday at 28,875.23. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 2.04 points, or 0.10 percent, lower at 1,947.10.

       Gainers were led by mining, and iron and steel issues, while air transportation and land transportation issues led decliners.

       The U.S. dollar inched down toward the end of the day into the upper 110 yen range from a 15-month high of around 111.10 yen as investors sold the currency to lock in gains, dealers said.

       The dollar was initially bought after economic data on U.S. business activity released Wednesday showed a substantial recovery compared to Japan's slower improvement, dealers said.

       At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 110.87-89 yen compared with 110.91-111.01 yen in New York and 110.87-89 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

       The euro was quoted at $1.1931-1933 and 132.28-32 yen against $1.1922-1932 and 132.27-37 yen in New York and $1.1938-1939 and 132.36-40 yen in Tokyo late Wednesday afternoon.

       The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond was unchanged from Wednesday's close at 0.050 percent.

       Stocks moved slightly around the previous day's closing levels as investors were wary, awaiting upcoming remarks from U.S. Federal Reserve officials to get clues about when an initial interest rate hike and stimulus tapering would take place, brokers said.

       "Tokyo stocks barely moved as concerns remained regarding remarks from Fed officials in the upcoming days, although export-related shares supported the downside," said Shingo Ide, chief equity strategist at NLI Research Institute.

       Investors are focused on the statements as the market has been volatile in reaction to recent remarks made by U.S. central bank officials, with the Nikkei briefly plunging over 1,100 points on Monday on fears of an earlier-than-expected initial interest rate hike and stimulus tapering.

       In addition to concern about a possible U.S. interest rate hike, "The market is beginning to factor in the possibility of a spread of the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta strain as a risk," said Norihiro Fujito, chief investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co.

       Air and land transportation issues were pressured by fears of a potential rise in infections during the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, slated to begin July 23.

       Japan Airlines dropped 71 yen, or 2.8 percent, to 2,469 yen, while Central Japan Railway slipped 365 yen, or 2.1 percent, to 17,110 yen.

       Energy-related shares rose after the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Wednesday gasoline consumption had increased amid greater travel demand.

       Crude oil and natural gas producer Inpex rose 23 yen, or 2.7 percent, to 865 yen, and Cosmo Energy Holdings climbed 13 yen, or 0.5 percent, to 2,494 yen.

       On the First Section, declining issues outnumbered advancers 1,155 to 924, while 114 ended unchanged.

       Trading volume on the main section fell to 842.48 million shares from Wednesday's 944.36 million shares.

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