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

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended mixed Friday, as gains on strong domestic earnings reports were offset by selling on deepening uncertainty over Japan's economic recovery amid consecutive days of record-high nationwide coronavirus infections.

       The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 37.87 points, or 0.14 percent, from Thursday at 27,977.15. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 2.84 points, or 0.15 percent, higher at 1,956.39.

       Decliners were led by oil and coal product, and air transportation issues, while iron and steel, and service issues led gainers.

       The U.S. dollar was stuck in the lower 110 yen range, caught in a tug of war between hopes for economic recovery and concerns over the surge in coronavirus infections, dealers said.

       The benchmark Nikkei index opened higher after the Dow Jones Industrial Average logged a record high for the third straight day, before fluctuating between positive and negative territory throughout the day.

       The market was weighed down by a drop in semiconductor-related shares as they tracked overnight declines in their U.S. counterparts, although the downside was supported by investors buying shares of firms that reported upbeat earnings results the previous day, brokers said.

       Also pressuring the market was the ongoing resurgence in COVID-19 infections, with the number of new cases nationwide totaling 18,889 on Thursday, topping the previous record of 15,812 reported a day earlier, according to a Kyodo News tally.

       "Investors are worried that a possible extension to the coronavirus emergency will slow down the economic recovery, while a resurgence in infections abroad, such as in the United States and China, are also raising concerns," said Masahiro Ichikawa, chief market strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Co.

       Tokyo reported 4,989 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the second-highest figure after the 5,042 infections logged a week ago, with the number of patients with severe symptoms also hitting a record high.

       Investors have their eyes on the minutes from the two-day U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting in July to be released next Wednesday to gauge when stimulus tapering plans may begin, Ichikawa added.

       On the First Section, advancing issues outnumbered decliners 1,042 to 1,031, while 115 ended unchanged.

       Recruit Holdings surged 578 yen, or 10.0 percent, to 6,350 yen, after the staffing service provider said Thursday it had revised upward its earnings estimate for the business year through March from its previous forecast in May.

       Meanwhile, among chip-related shares, Screen Holdings fell 370 yen, or 3.7 percent, to 9,740 yen, and Advantest plunged 460 yen, or 4.7 percent, at 9,270 yen.

       Air transportation and land transportation issues took a hit on Japan's surging COVID-19 cases, raising fears that travel demand would take a hit, brokers said.

       ANA Holdings sagged 44.5 yen, or 1.7 percent, to 2,575.5 yen, while Odakyu Electric Railway dropped 41 yen, or 1.6 percent, to 2,584 yen.

       Trading volume on the main section fell to 992.10 million shares from Thursday's 1,044.17 million shares.

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