Tokyo stocks end morning up tad on monetary easing hopes

Tokyo stocks ended the morning session slightly higher Tuesday, supported by dip-purchases and mining issues, which rose in response to higher resource prices due to looser monetary policy worldwide. The Nikkei Stock Average ended morning trade at 9,173.54, up 14.15 points, or 0.15%, according to the (Nikkei) website. Blue chips declined on profit-taking in early trade but buyers moved in on the downside, pushing up the overall market. Higher mining issues also provided support. But the benchmark index remained in a narrow band, as investors took a wait-and-see attitude on concerns about rising tensions over Japan-China relations and before the conclusion of the latest Bank of Japan policy board meeting on Wednesday. The broader Topix index of all first-section issues extended its gains to four sessions. The trading value on the first section reached 609.9 billion yen, with 944.38 million shares changing hands.