This May 7, 2020 file photo shows the Tokyo Stock Exchange. (Mainichi)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended slightly higher Wednesday, led by solid gains in Toyota Motor shares amid cautious trading ahead of the results of a two-day U.S. Federal Reserve meeting later in the day.

       The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 27.08 points, or 0.10 percent, from Tuesday at 28,459.72. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 10.29 points, or 0.52 percent, higher at 1,984.10.

       Gainers were led by transportation equipment, securities house and service issues.

       The U.S. dollar was firmer in the upper 113 yen range, as investors awaited any decision at the Fed meeting on the pace of tapering, dealers said.

       The Nikkei fluctuated around the previous day's closing level, but sentiment was lifted by advances in U.S. stock futures and solid Toyota shares on the automaker's new electric vehicle strategy.

       The carmaker said Tuesday after the end of regular trading that it lifted its electric vehicle sales goal to 3.5 million units for 2030 and plans to spend 8 trillion yen ($70 billion) by that year to boost product electrification.

       Makoto Sengoku, senior equity market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute, said Toyota shares supported the market throughout the day, with related issues receiving a boost.

       However, the market remained top-heavy ahead of the end of the Fed's two-day meeting, where investors expect the central bank to decide on a faster winding down of asset purchases.

       "Market participants are focused on whether the Federal Reserve will be hawkish amid fresh worries regarding the Omicron coronavirus variant," Sengoku said.

       On the First Section, advancing issues outnumbered decliners 1,317 to 750, while 116 ended unchanged.

       Toyota gained 73.5 yen, or 3.6 percent, to 2,118.5 yen. Among its suppliers, Denso rose 367 yen, or 4.2 percent, to 9,017 yen, Aisin advanced 45 yen, or 1.0 percent, to 4,440 yen, and Toyota Boshoku climbed 47 yen, or 2.2 percent, to 2,224 yen.

       Meanwhile, Kansai Super Market plummeted 285 yen, or 20.5 percent, to 1,104 yen, after another supermarket operator OK Corp. gave up its takeover plan following a Supreme Court ruling Tuesday that found Kansai shareholders' approval of a merger with H2O Retailing valid.

       Volume on the main section rose to 990.23 million shares from Tuesday's 985.94 million shares.

       Font Size S M L Print Timeline 0