TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks climbed for a fifth straight day, with the Nikkei index ending at an 11-month high, buoyed by hopes that the U.S. economy will be supported by an interest rate cut that could come sooner than expected.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 336.60 points, or 0.84 percent, from Friday at 40,487.39, its highest level since July 17 last year. The broader Topix index finished 12.30 points, or 0.43 percent, higher at 2,852.84.

On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by electric power and gas, information and communication, and mining issues.

The U.S. dollar briefly weakened to the upper 143 yen range in Tokyo amid growing speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates early following recent dovish comments from some Fed officials, dealers said.

At 5 p.m., the dollar fetched 144.12-14 yen compared with 144.60-70 yen in New York and 144.47-49 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Friday.

The euro was quoted at $1.1720-1722 and 168.91-95 yen against $1.1717-1727 and 169.47-57 yen in New York and $1.1714-1715 and 169.24-28 yen in Tokyo late Friday afternoon.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond ended unchanged at 1.430 percent from Friday's close.

The Nikkei stock index briefly advanced more than 700 points following Wall Street gains late last week amid growing optimism that the world's largest economy would be lifted by U.S. monetary easing, brokers said.

Meanwhile, automaker shares fell after U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he has no plans to roll back hefty auto tariffs imposed on Japan, clouding the outlook for ongoing bilateral tariff negotiations.

"Automakers have likely factored in the impact of higher tariffs on their earnings, but uncertainty over tariff talks on the key industry is weighing on such shares," said Maki Sawada, a strategist at the Investment Content Department of Nomura Securities Co.

Some export-oriented electronics issues were also sold due to a stronger yen, which reduces overseas profits of exporters when repatriated, while investors locked in gains after the Nikkei ended above the 40,000 threshold Friday for the first time since January.