TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks rose Monday, lifted by buying of technology issues tracking gains in their U.S. counterparts and defense-linked shares after the United States urged Japan to increase related spending.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 343.42 points, or 0.93 percent, from Friday at 37,396.52. The broader Topix index finished 32.27 points, or 1.19 percent, higher at 2,748.12.

On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by machinery, real estate and construction issues.

The U.S. dollar briefly rose to as high as 149.10 yen in Tokyo as the Japanese currency was sold with speculation mounting that the Bank of Japan will not raise interest rates at its policy meeting later this week, dealers said.

At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 148.85-88 yen compared with 148.60-70 yen in New York and 148.72-75 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Friday.

The euro was quoted at $1.0875-0876 and 161.89-93 yen against $1.0878-0888 and 161.56-66 yen in New York and $1.0838-0839 and 161.20-24 yen in Tokyo late Friday afternoon.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond fell 0.010 percentage point from Friday's close to 1.505 percent after the debt was bought as expectations are growing that the BOJ will keep interest rates unchanged at 0.5 percent at the upcoming meeting.

Stocks were boosted by heavyweight semiconductor-related issues after the U.S. Nasdaq index ended sharply higher Friday.

Defense-related issues climbed after U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee for ambassador to Japan said last week that he is ready to engage in discussions on further bolstering the country's defense budget.

His remarks came after the president's pick for a top Pentagon policy post pressed Japan to raise its defense spending to 3 percent of gross domestic product as early as possible.

Such shares have tended to attract buying as investors expect Japan to face the need to beef up defense spending amid security concerns surrounding Taiwan even if the Ukraine war winds down, said Kazuo Kamitani, a strategist in the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co.