TOKYO: Japanese shares ended Friday morning flat with buying by foreign investors offset by profit-taking after the Nikkei index advanced to the highest level in more than nine months, brokers said.
The headline Nikkei index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange crept 0.02 percent, or 2.55 points, higher to 10,839.19 by the break, after closing at its highest level since April 30 on Thursday.
The Topix index of all first section shares fell 0.13 points to 974.01.
The yen held firm against the dollar at 83.34 yen versus 83.40 overnight, spurring profit-taking in exporter shares.
"There are some concerns about tension in the Middle East, but the overall trend continues to be foreign investor buying (of Japan stocks)," Masayoshi Yano, senior market analyst at Meiwa Securities.
Japan's economy and fiscal policy minister Kaoru Yosano on Friday said he hoped the political situation in the Middle East would stabilise as soon as possible since the world's third largest economy depends on the region for oil.
"Stability in the Middle East has important implications for Japan because the region is a big supplier of crude, which is a lifeline for our economy," Yosano told a regular press conference.
Oil prices in New York sharply rebounded Thursday in volatile trade once again dominated by concerns about spreading unrest in the oil-rich Middle East.
Oil developers gained amid continued geopolitical fears stemming from unrest in the Middle East.
Inpex was up 0.51 percent at 582,000 yen and Japan Petroleum Exploration rose 0.25 percent to 3,880 yen.
Toyota Motor lost 0.76 percent to 3,880 yen and Sony slipped 0.16 percent to 3,030.
Honda edged up 0.27 percent to 3,705 yen despite its announcement Thursday of a global recall of nearly 700,000 vehicles due to defective parts.
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