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

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended mixed Monday in relatively quiet trading, as weak high-tech issues following falls in their U.S. counterparts late last week were offset by firm buying appetite for undervalued shares such as steelmakers.

       The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 18.16 points, or 0.06 percent, from Friday at 29,048.02. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 3.02 points, or 0.15 percent, higher at 1,965.67.

       Decliners were led by mining and precision instrument issues, while iron and steel, and retail issues led gainers.

       The U.S. dollar was confined to a narrow range in the upper 110 yen zone despite some selling by exporters for settlement purposes ahead of the end of the month, dealers said.

       At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 110.64-65 yen compared with 110.74-84 yen in New York and 110.75-76 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Friday.

       The euro was quoted at $1.1941-1942 and 132.12-16 yen against $1.1931-1941 and 132.20-30 yen in New York and $1.1947-1948 and 132.32-36 yen in Tokyo late Friday afternoon.

       The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond rose 0.010 percentage point from Friday's close to 0.055 percent as the debt was sold tracking losses in the U.S. Treasury market late last week, dealers said.

       The Nikkei generally lost ground throughout the day, moving in a narrow range amid a lack of fresh trading cues, brokers said.

       "Investors refrained from making major moves ahead of the release of major economic data, including the Bank of Japan's Tankan survey later this week," said Koichi Fujishiro, a senior economist at the Dai-ichi Life Research Institute.

       The BOJ is scheduled to release its latest Tankan business sentiment survey on Thursday.

       Fears of a resurgence of coronavirus infections in the capital have been growing, with the number of new daily infections higher than the previous week in the eight straight days through Sunday.

       Still, market participants have been encouraged by progress in Japan's vaccine rollout. The possibility that the coronavirus quasi-emergency in the Tokyo area could be extended has been priced in to some degree, he added.

       Some active buying focused on shares that had been sold recently such as steelmakers and marine transportation, brokers said.

       Meanwhile, at the Tokyo Commodity Exchange, Middle East crude oil futures briefly rose to their highest level since April 2019 on speculation that an embargo on Iranian oil will continue as the United States and Iran struggle to restore a nuclear deal. The reaction to oil stocks in the Tokyo market was limited.

       On the First Section, advancing issues outnumbered decliners 1,466 to 624, while 102 ended unchanged.

       Seven & i Holdings gained 225 yen, or 4.5 percent, to 5,258 yen, after the major Japanese retailer said Friday it had come to an agreement to sell 293 outlets of U.S. convenience store brand Speedway in an effort to resolve antitrust concerns. In May, Seven & i Holdings said it had completed a $21 billion acquisition of Speedway despite U.S. antitrust officials saying the deal may be "illegal."

       Among steelmakers, Nippon Steel rose 61.50 yen, or 3.2 percent, to 1,971.00 yen and Kobe Steel was up 12 yen, or 1.7 percent, at 733 yen.

       High-tech issues were lower after the technology-heavy Nasdaq index dropped late last week, with Disco falling 650 yen, or 1.9 percent, to 34,100 yen and Screen Holdings slipping 100 yen, or 0.9 percent, to 10,800 yen.

       Trading volume on the main section fell to 870.73 million shares from Friday's 904.26 million shares.

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