Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks ended morning trading flat Thursday as investors retreated to the sidelines ahead of key US employment data to be released later in the day.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average was little changed at 9,940.12, up 0.19 points, from the previous day's closing.

The broader-based Topix index was up 0.82 points, or 0.09 per cent, at 929.12.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 96.48-53 yen, down from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 96.77-79 yen.

The euro traded at 1.4143-48 dollars, up from late Wednesday's quote of 1.4077-80 dollars, and at 136.47-52 yen, up from 136.24-28 yen. (dpa)