Around the World's Markets: Tokyo

JAPANESE SHARES ended almost level as investors held back ahead of the US employment report due after the close of trading. The Nikkei 225 index ended the day down 1.26 points or 0.01 per cent at 17,629.99. It briefly rose to as high as 17,716.74.

The dollar's recovery above 109.00 yen from a seven-month low had briefly prompted dealers to start buying stocks, but many them squared positions by the close.

"People don't want to take much action ahead of the US job data and the GDP at home," said one trader.