TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended mixed Thursday, as auto shares were hit by U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement that he was imposing additional tariffs on all car imports, while the buying of financial shares limited losses.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended down 227.32 points, or 0.60 percent, from Wednesday at 37,799.97. The broader Topix index finished 2.58 points, or 0.09 percent, higher at 2,815.47.

On the top-tier Prime Market, decliners were led by nonferrous metal and transportation equipment shares, while insurance and bank issues were main gainers.

The U.S. dollar briefly weakened to around the 150 yen line in Tokyo, as the yen, seen as a safe-haven asset, was bought on growing concerns over the global economy following Trump's announcement on auto tariffs, dealers said.

At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 150.54-55 yen compared with 150.53-63 yen in New York and 150.40-42 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

The euro was quoted at $ 1.0765-0766 and 162.06-10 yen against $1.0747-0757 and 161.66-76 yen in New York and $1.0786-0787 and 162.23-27 yen in Tokyo late Wednesday afternoon.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond ended at 1.585 percent, up 0.005 percentage point from Wednesday's close with many traders sidelined ahead of the end of the fiscal year. It briefly rose to 1.590 percent, its highest level since October 2008.

On the stock market, auto issues were sold after Trump said he will impose a 25 percent tariff on all automobiles made outside the United States, while heavyweight semiconductor-linked issues also fell after declines in their U.S. counterparts on the Nasdaq index.

"Losses (in auto shares) were not as big as expected," said Masahiro Yamaguchi, head of investment research at SMBC Trust Bank, adding some investors took a wait-and-see stance as the impact of the auto tariff and planned reciprocal tariffs remains unclear.

Meanwhile, losses were limited by the buying of bank and insurance shares on the prospects of improved profits as the Bank of Japan is expected to keep raising interest rates, brokers said.

Investors also bought shares to secure dividend rights before the end of the business year on Monday, while the market was also supported by rises in issues related to infrastructure, which are considered not susceptible to economic conditions.