TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks edged down Monday morning as investors remained cautious about U.S. trade policy despite President Donald Trump signaling "flexibility" on the planned introduction of reciprocal tariffs.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average fell 0.09 point from Friday to 37,676.97. The broader Topix index was down 9.49 points, or 0.34 percent, at 2,794.67.

The U.S. dollar rose to the upper 149 yen range in Tokyo as Trump's comments on the reciprocal tariffs went some way to tempering concern about the their potential impact on the world's largest economy, dealers said.

At noon, the dollar fetched 149.83-84 yen compared with 149.27-37 yen in New York and 149.31-33 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Friday.

The euro was quoted at $1.0824-0826 and 162.18-22 yen against $1.0805-0815 and 161.33-43 yen in New York and $1.0838-0839 and 161.83-87 yen in Tokyo late Friday afternoon.

The benchmark Nikkei opened slightly higher after a U.S. media report Sunday that a set of sector-based tariffs, including those targeting auto and semiconductor imports, are unlikely to be imposed at the same time as Trump's reciprocal tariffs planned for April 2.

But stocks lost momentum as investors refrained from buying and took a wait-and-see stance as the global economic impact of the tariffs remains unclear, brokers said.