TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended higher Wednesday for the third straight day on buying of technology shares, although investors were cautious ahead of the U.S. presidential election early next week.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 373.71 points, or 0.96 percent, from Tuesday at 39,277.39. The broader Topix index finished 21.70 points, or 0.81 percent, higher at 2,703.72.

On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by electric power and gas, nonferrous metal, and machinery issues.

The U.S. dollar moved little in the lower 153 yen range in Tokyo amid political uncertainty after Japan's ruling coalition failed to secure a majority in Sunday's general election and before the outcome of the Bank of Japan's policy meeting, dealers said.

At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 153.32-34 yen compared with 153.32-42 yen in New York and 153.16-18 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The euro was quoted at $1.0818-0820 and 165.87-91 yen against $1.0813-0823 and 165.84-94 yen in New York and $1.0809-0811 and 165.56-60 yen in Tokyo late Tuesday afternoon.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond fell 0.020 percentage point from Tuesday's close to 0.950 percent, tracking a decline in long-term U.S. Treasury yields.

Technology shares led gains on the stock market throughout the day, briefly lifting the Nikkei index over 500 points, as they tracked an overnight record high on the tech-heavy Nasdaq index as well as a sharp rise on a key U.S. semiconductor index.

Some export-oriented issues were also sought on the yen's recent weak tone against the dollar, but market participants refrained from chasing the upside as investors locked in gains after the benchmark crossed the 39,000 threshold, analysts said.

"While there are many major events throughout the week from the BOJ policy meeting to the release of U.S. jobs data, the upcoming U.S. presidential election has drawn more attention from investors," said Yutaka Miura, senior technical analyst at Mizuho Securities Co.

Meanwhile, the benchmark price of gold set by Tokyo's Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K. hit an all-time high at 15,104 yen per gram, the major precious metal firm said, reflecting growing demand for the safe asset amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.