TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended higher Friday, lifted by the buying of export-related issues on a weaker yen and recently battered chip issues while concerns over U.S. tariff policies linger.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 263.07 points, or 0.72 percent, from Thursday at 37,053.10. The broader Topix index finished 17.49 points, or 0.65 percent, higher at 2,715.85.

On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by nonferrous metal, bank, and textile and apparel issues.

The U.S. dollar briefly rose to as high as 149.02 yen in Tokyo, due partly to buying by domestic importers, dealers said.

At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 148.72-75 yen compared with 147.74-84 yen in New York and 147.81-82 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Thursday.

The euro was quoted at $1.0838-0839 and 161.20-24 yen against $1.0846-0856 and 160.20-30 yen in New York and $1.0865-0866 and 160.60-64 yen in Tokyo late Thursday afternoon.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond fell 0.030 percentage point from Thursday's close to 1.515 percent after the debt was bought amid uncertainty over the global economy.

Stocks opened lower but losses were erased as export-oriented auto issues attracted buying on a weaker yen. Heavyweight semiconductor-related shares were also bought back.

But investors refrained from chasing higher ground amid concern about trade frictions triggered by the U.S. imposition of tariffs and countermeasures applied by other countries, brokers said.

"The recovery of auto issues is expected to be short-lived, given the unclear prospects of U.S. duties on automobiles and reciprocal tariffs," said Masahiro Yamaguchi, head of investment research at SMBC Trust Bank.

"Investors are likely finding it difficult to buy auto shares from a long-term perspective," he added.