TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks rose Tuesday as a weaker yen supported buying of export-related issues, while trading houses were boosted by news that U.S. investor Warren Buffett's company had increased its holdings in the companies.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 448.90 points, or 1.20 percent, from Monday at 37,845.42. The broader Topix index finished 35.44 points, or 1.29 percent, higher at 2,783.56.

On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by insurance, bank and wholesale trade issues.

The U.S. dollar strengthened to the upper 149 yen range, with the Japanese currency coming under selling pressure as traders expect the Bank of Japan will keep interest rates on hold at its two-day policy meeting through Wednesday.

At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 149.83-84 yen compared with 149.15-25 yen in New York and 148.85-88 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Monday.

The euro was quoted at $1.0934-0936 and 163.83-87 yen against $1.0916-0926 and 162.96-163.06 yen in New York and $1.0875-0876 and 161.89-93 yen in Tokyo late Monday afternoon.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond ended at 1.500 percent, down 0.005 percentage point from Monday's close in directionless trading before the BOJ decision.

Stocks advanced almost across the board, briefly pushing the Nikkei index above 38,000 for the first time in about two weeks, as gains were driven by the yen's weakness, which boosts the repatriated earnings of export-oriented automakers.

Major trading house issues such as Marubeni and Itochu were in strong demand after financial statements showed billionaire investor Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. had raised its stakes in the companies.

"When Mr. Buffett moves, the market follows," said Kazuo Kamitani, a strategist at the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co., adding his latest move attracted buying of banking and insurance issues, which are also seen as undervalued.

Gains were trimmed later in the day as investors took a wait-and-see approach ahead of policy decisions by the U.S. and Japanese central banks on Wednesday and their chiefs' remarks, while uncertainty over U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policies weighed on sentiment.