This file photo shows the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Oct. 2, 2020. (Mainichi)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended higher Monday as concerns of an earlier-than-expected U.S. interest rate hike were eased on comments by U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

       The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 148.15 points, or 0.54 percent, from Friday at 27,789.29. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 21.37 points, or 1.11 percent, higher at 1,950.14.

       Every industry category gained ground, led by iron and steel, marine transportation and nonferrous metal issues.

       The U.S. dollar remained in the upper 109 yen range as investors sold the unit after Powell's comments caused U.S. Treasury yields to decline, fueling speculation that the interest rate gap between the United States and Japan will narrow, dealers said.

       At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 109.80-82 yen compared with 109.80-90 yen in New York and 110.10-11 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Friday.

       The euro was quoted at $1.1801-1803 and 129.58-62 yen against $1.1793-1803 and 129.50-60 yen in New York and $1.1760-1762 and 129.48-52 yen in Tokyo late Friday afternoon.

       The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond dipped 0.005 percentage point from Friday's close to 0.015 percent, tracking a fall in U.S. counterparts late last week following Powell's comments.

       Stocks rose on the back of advances on Wall Street late last week but pared gains as market participants moved to lock in profits after the Nikkei briefly surpassed the 27,900 mark.

       "Investors were relieved to hear Fed Chairman Powell's dovish remarks as they alleviated fears that the central bank would decide on its stimulus tapering in September," said Shingo Ide, chief equity strategist at the NLI Research Institute.

       Powell addressed the Fed's Jackson Hole symposium virtually Friday, saying the bank was on the road to begin stimulus tapering but added the move "will not be intended to carry a direct signal regarding the timing of interest rate liftoff."

       However, market participants are hesitant about making large moves as they await China's purchasing managers' index and the U.S. employment data for August to be released on Tuesday and Friday, respectively, Ide said.

       On the First Section, advancing issues outnumbered decliners 1,853 to 279, while 55 ended unchanged.

       Some chip-related issues rose after the technology-heavy Nasdaq index hit a record high on Friday in New York. Sumco climbed 41 yen, or 1.8 percent, to 2,326 yen, Tokyo Electron gained 490 yen, or 1.1 percent, to 46,570 yen, and Screen Holdings advanced 170 yen, or 1.8 percent, to 9,380 yen.

       Trading volume on the main section rose to 1,021.74 million shares from Friday's 869.85 million shares.

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