TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended lower Thursday, weighed down by caution over upcoming earnings reports and projections from major technology firms amid concerns about slowing growth in the semiconductor industry.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 269.11 points, or 0.69 percent, from Wednesday at 38,911.19. The broader Topix index finished 2.83 points, or 0.11 percent, lower at 2,687.83.

On the top-tier Prime Market, decliners were led by precision instrument, nonferrous metal and chemical issues.

The U.S. dollar strengthened to the upper 149 yen range in Tokyo into the afternoon, as buying was supported by continued bets that the size of U.S. interest rate cuts in the coming months could be small amid solid economic data, dealers said.

At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 149.76-78 yen, compared with 149.58-68 yen in New York and 149.44-46 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

The euro was quoted at $1.0853-0854 and 162.54-58 yen against $1.0856-0866 and 162.44-54 yen in New York and $1.0882-0883 and 162.63-67 yen in Tokyo late Wednesday afternoon.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond ended at 0.960 percent, up 0.010 percentage point from Wednesday's close. The debt was sold, sending yields higher, on speculation the yen's recent weakness could prompt the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates sooner.

Stocks mostly traded lower after erasing earlier gains from Wall Street's overnight rise, as caution prevailed ahead of earnings reports from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Japanese chipmaking equipment maker Disco Corp.

Although TSMC released stronger-than-expected earnings shortly before the Tokyo market closed, it failed to lift stocks as investors waited for the chipmaker's briefing session later in the day, brokers said.

"The market was in a cautious mood" after Dutch chip equipment maker ASML Holding N.V. revised down its 2025 earnings forecast earlier this week, said Kazuo Kamitani, a strategist in the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co.

"Semiconductors and electric components used for artificial intelligence and new smartphones are doing well, but such products outside these fields appear to be slumping," raising investor concerns, he said.