TOKYO: Tokyo stocks ended Thursday morning nearly flat as a boost to sentiment from upbeat Japanese machinery orders data was dampened by perceptions of overheating in the market following several days of steep gains.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 5.65 points, or 0.03 percent, from Wednesday to end the morning at 19,697.04. In contrast, the broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was down 0.43 point, or 0.03 percent, at 1,594.89.





