Tokyo shares ended the trading Thursday slightly higher as investors were hesitant to make bold moves ahead of the outcome of a European Central Bank policy meeting later in the day.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average inched up 1.77 points, or 0.01 percent, from Wednesday at 19,939.90, Xinhua news agency reported.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 0.68 points, or 0.04 percent, to 1,602.94.
Gainers were led by oil and coal, and mining issues, while utilities and services stocks led decliners.
The turnover was about 2,113.9 billion yen (about $17.13 billion).
