TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Nikkei index eked out small gains Thursday to snap a three-day losing streak, lifted by buying on dips amid an easing risk-off mood ahead of Japan's general election and earnings releases by major companies.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 38.43 points, or 0.10 percent, from Wednesday at 38,143.29. The broader Topix index finished 1.39 points, or 0.05 percent, lower at 2,635.57.

On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by electric appliance, miscellaneous product, and warehousing and harbor transportation service shares. The main decliners were electric power and gas, rubber product and marine transportation shares.

The U.S. dollar fell to the 152 yen line in Tokyo after both Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kazuhiko Aoki expressed caution Thursday over the yen's sharp depreciation.

But the dollar, which hit around a three-month high of 153.19 in New York overnight, is expected to maintain its upward trend against the yen amid strong U.S. economic data, dealers said.

At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 152.12-14 yen compared with 152.71-81 yen in New York and 152.35-37 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

The euro was quoted at $1.0795-0796 and 164.22-26 yen against $1.0777-0787 and 164.67-77 yen in New York, and $1.0781-0782 and 164.25-29 yen in Tokyo late Wednesday afternoon.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond fell 0.020 percentage point from Wednesday's close to 0.955 percent, as the debt was bought following a decline in long-term U.S. Treasury yields during after-hours trading.

Stocks were initially lower but quickly erased losses in the morning as investors snapped up shares battered during the Nikkei's losing streak this week, analysts said.

"While there is still one more day of trading (before the election), it seems the market has already priced in the possibility of the Liberal Democratic Party losing" majority in the powerful House of Representatives, said Toshikazu Horiuchi, an equity strategist at IwaiCosmo Securities Co.

While buying in heavyweight semiconductor issues helped boost the Nikkei, the upside was capped ahead of earnings releases later from major firms, with stocks wavering between positive and negative territory in a day of directionless trading.