TOKYO, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks ended largely flat on Monday in thin trading as despite investors buying back on dips, the market was cautious regarding the future course of geopolitics in the region after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea test-fired another missile ahead of markets opening.
The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped 4.27 points, or 0.02 percent, from Friday to end the day at 19,682.57.
The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, edged 0.79 point, or 0.05 percent, higher, to close the day at 1,570.21.
Iron and steel, and marine transportation-related stocks comprised those that retreated the most, whereas, food and retail-linked issues led gainers by the close of play.
Trading volume on the main section on Monday came to 1,274.53 million shares, dropping from Friday's volume of 1,563.61 million shares, and declining issues outpaced advancing ones by 942 to 933 on the First Section.
The turnover on the fist trading day of the week totaled 1,792.8 billion yen (16.10 billion U.S. dollars).
