TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Nikkei stock index snapped a three-day losing streak Friday as investors bought battered shares, while a weaker yen spurred buying of export-led automakers.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 107.21 points, or 0.28 percent, from Thursday at 38,642.91. The broader Topix index finished 10.42 points, or 0.39 percent, higher at 2,711.64.

On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by marine transportation, mining and electric power and gas issues.

The U.S. dollar hit an around four-month high in the upper 156 yen zone in Tokyo on speculation the Federal Reserve will not rush to ease U.S. monetary policy amid firm economic data, dealers said.

The U.S. currency later lost momentum, sliding to the upper 155 yen range, as traders awaited remarks from Bank of Japan chief Kazuo Ueda on Monday for clues about further Japanese interest rate hikes.

At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 155.77-79 yen, compared with 156.23-33 yen in New York and 155.83-85 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Thursday.

The euro was quoted at $1.0555-0557 and 164.42-46 yen against $1.0525-0535 and 164.36-46 yen in New York and $1.0550-0551 and 164.41-45 yen in Tokyo late Thursday afternoon.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond ended at 1.070 percent, up 0.010 percentage point from Thursday's close. The debt was sold as the yen's recent depreciation could prompt the BOJ to tighten its policy at its December board meeting.

Stocks rose on bargain-hunting after the Nikkei shed nearly 1,000 points over the past three days, with automakers gaining on prospects of higher repatriated profits from a weaker yen.

Banks and other financial issues were sought after three Japanese megabanks reported higher profits for the April-September period and raised full-year profit outlooks, as their profitability improved following the BOJ's interest rate hikes.

But gains were trimmed in the afternoon, as traders took to the sidelines to await further indications of U.S. economic policy under President-elect Donald Trump as he continues to announce Cabinet picks, analysts said.

"It makes active buying difficult," said Makoto Sengoku, senior equity market analyst at the Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory Co. "While the market is concerned by tariffs under Trump, his tax cut and deregulation plans are creating hopes of U.S. growth. The question is which comes first and starts having an effect."