Tokyo stocks ended mixed Wednesday, as buying of exporter shares on a weaker yen was offset by selling ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy decision, with uncertainty growing over the outlook for its future monetary easing.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 52.30 points, or 0.10 percent, from Tuesday to 50,602.80. The broader Topix index finished 4.10 points, or 0.12 percent, higher at 3,389.02, after hitting an intraday all-time high.

On the top-tier Prime Market, the main decliners were electric appliance and machinery issues, while securities house and electric power and gas shares were notable gainers.

The U.S. dollar remained firm in the upper 156 yen range in Tokyo as stronger-than-expected employment data fueled speculation that the pace of the Federal Reserve’s future rate cuts may slow following a widely expected reduction on Wednesday, dealers said.

On the stock market, the yen’s depreciation helped lift exporter shares, with the benchmark Nikkei briefly climbing above 51,000. A weaker yen boosts exporters’ overseas profits when repatriated.

Heavyweight technology issues erased earlier gains and turned lower, pushing the market into negative territory as a cautious mood prevailed ahead of earnings reports from several U.S. tech companies this week, including Oracle Corp.

While investors widely expect the Fed to reduce its benchmark rate for the third straight meeting, they were wary that its chief, Jerome Powell, could strike a hawkish tone regarding future rate cuts, analysts said.

"It’s difficult to make future projections, due largely to the absence of economic data," because of a prolonged U.S. government shutdown, said Shota Sando, an equity market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory Co.

"Recent employment-related data showed a slowing U.S. labor market, but concern that inflation will accelerate again persists," clouding prospects of the U.S. and Tokyo markets, Sando added.

© Kyodo News