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

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended slightly higher Wednesday as gains made with buying in export-oriented shares on the weakening yen were capped by growing concerns over a COVID-19 resurgence in Japan.

       The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 30.37 points, or 0.10 percent, from Tuesday at 29,332.16. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 9.05 points, or 0.45 percent, higher at 2,039.27.

       Gainers were led by insurance, nonferrous metal and transportation equipment issues.

       The U.S. dollar remained firm around the 116 yen line in Tokyo after hitting a five-year high in the lower 116 yen range the day before, as it was bought on a rise in U.S. Treasury yields and the overnight gain for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, dealers said.

       At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 116.03-04 yen compared with 116.07-17 yen in New York and 115.73-75 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

       The euro was quoted at $1.1299-1300 and 131.11-15 yen against $1.1281-1291 and 130.98-131.08 yen in New York and $1.1290-1292 and 130.66-70 yen in Tokyo late Tuesday afternoon.

       The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond inched down 0.005 percentage point from Tuesday's close to 0.080 percent as investors bought the debt after a 10-year bond auction by the Finance Ministry met solid demand, dealers said.

       The Nikkei index fluctuated around the previous day's closing level throughout the day, supported by an overnight record high for the U.S. Dow Jones index and a rise in export-oriented shares on the yen's weakness against the dollar.

       However, the market was top-heavy after Japan confirmed over 1,000 daily coronavirus cases Tuesday, rising above the threshold for the first time in nearly three months, amid the spread of the Omicron variant.

       "The resurgence in COVID-19 cases acted as a negative factor for the market, with eateries-related shares notably hit by the recent development," said Koichi Fujishiro, a senior economist at the Dai-ichi Life Research Institute.

       Investors also locked in gains after the benchmark surged the previous day to its highest level in three months, brokers said.

       On the First Section, declining issues outnumbered advancers 1,092 to 1,008, while 85 ended unchanged.

       Among export-oriented issues, automaker Mitsubishi Motors gained 7 yen, or 2.1 percent, to 345 yen, and Honda Motor added 87 yen, or 2.6 percent, to 3,416 yen.

       Toyota Motor climbed 57.5 yen, or 2.6 percent, to 2,292.0 yen, after news reports that the Japanese automaker outsold General Motors Co. in the United States last year in new car sales, dethroning GM that had been the No. 1 seller since 1931.

       Sony Group surged 550 yen, or 3.7 percent, to 15,520 yen, after announcing it would set up a new unit in the spring to develop electric vehicles.

       Among eateries hit by the COVID-19 resurgence, Torikizoku Holdings slumped 61 yen, or 3.4 percent, to 1,724 yen, and Kushikatsu Tanaka Holdings dropped 57 yen, or 2.7 percent, to 2,026 yen.

       Trading volume on the main section rose to 1,259.72 million shares from Tuesday's 1,109.93 million shares.

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