TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended lower Wednesday, as buying of exporters on a weaker yen against the U.S. dollar failed to dispel the cautious mood ahead of the upcoming general election and domestic earnings reports in Japan.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 307.10 points, or 0.80 percent, from Tuesday at 38,104.86. The broader Topix index finished 14.51 points, or 0.55 percent, lower at 2,636.96.

On the top-tier Prime Market, decliners were led by service, marine transportation and bank shares.

The dollar rose to around a three-month high of 152.55 yen in Tokyo, as the upward trend of U.S. long-term interest rates amid recent solid economic data raised the prospect that the rate differential between Japan and the United States will remain wide.

At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 152.35-37 yen compared with 151.05-15 yen in New York and 150.99-151.02 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The euro was quoted at $1.0781-0782 and 164.25-29 yen against $1.0793-0803 and 163.10-20 yen in New York, and $1.0836-0837 and 163.63-67 yen in Tokyo late Tuesday afternoon.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond ended at 0.975 percent, unchanged from its close Tuesday.

Stocks started off the day mostly flat but extended losses later in the day, as caution over Sunday's House of Representatives election and domestic earnings continued to make investors reluctant to buy, analysts said.

"Investors were becoming wary that there could be poor earnings reports after seeing the recent bearish stock market," said Seiichi Suzuki, chief equity market analyst at the Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory Co.

While stocks were supported by buying of exporters on the yen's depreciation against the dollar, it was not enough to offset the decline amid a lack of other buying incentives, brokers said.

Meanwhile, Tokyo Metro shares made a strong debut, rising as high as 47.3 percent above the offering price in Japan's biggest initial public offering in six years.

But the strong demand for the shares of Asia's oldest subway operator "failed to have any noticeable impact on the broader market despite it supposedly being an excellent IPO," Suzuki said.