Tokyo stocks ended essentially flat Friday as a firmer yen against the U.S. dollar weighed on the market and saw some investors locking in gains ahead of the weekend.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average edged down 6.83 points, or 0.03 percent, from Thursday to close the day at 20,356.28.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, shed 1.42 points, or 0.08 percent, lower to finish at 1,674.75.

Traders here said that investors opted for profits following a halt in the yen's decline against the U.S. dollar, which also impacted exporter issues and weighed on the broader market.

But losses were trimmed, market analysts said, by expectations the Bank of Japan (BOJ) will purchase more exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and some investors were seen buying on dips ahead of corporate earnings reports next month.

Mining and transportation equipment issues comprised those that declined the most by the close of play, whereas pharmaceutical and air transportation issues led those that gained.

Falling issues beat rising ones by 1,067 to 847 on the First Section, and on the main section on Friday, 1,731.36 million shares changed hands, rising from Thursday's volume of 1,603.58 million shares.

The turnover on the final trading day of the week totaled 2,956.4 billion yen (26.24 billion U.S. dollars).