Shares listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange ended this year's trading slightly higher on Friday noon, marking a fourth consecutive year of growth.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 1.02 points, or 0.01 percent, to close the half-day session at 17,225.83.

The Tokyo Stock Price Index of all First Section (TOPIX) issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 2.16 points, or 0.13 percent, to 1,681.07.

Both indexes closed this year's trading higher than their previous year's closing levels for the fourth year in a row, with the Nikkei rising 6.92 percent and the TOPIX 1.90 percent during 2006.

The Nikkei made its highest closing level for the year on April 7 at 17,563.37, and its lowest at 14,218.60 on June 13, when it dropped 614.41 points, or 4.14 percent.

On the final half-day trading session, export-oriented blue chips were brought, with dollar acting stronger. Toy and game makers, rubber products, and machinery issues were also among the notable winners. Meanwhile, fishery, land transport and mining issues lost ground.

Nippon Steel became the most heavily traded issue both in terms of value and volume, up 7 yen to end at 684 yen.

A total of 813 issues declined, compared with 693 advancing on the First Section, and 204 ending the session unchanged.

Trading volume on the main section came to 984.70 million shares, against Thursday's 694.38 million shares.

The TSE's Second Section index rose by 10.22 points, or 0.25 percent, to 4,165.61 on a volume of 19.20 million shares. On the Osaka Securities Exchange, the near-term March Nikkei 225 index futures contract rose 20 points to 17,270.

Source: Xinhua