Tokyo - Tokyo stocks ended Tuesday morning trading slightly higher on pharmaceutical issues as the swine influenza spreads to ever more countries.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average inched up 38.51 points, or 0.44 per cent, to 8,764.85.
The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 0.99 points, or 0.12 per cent, at 834.09.
Stocks opened lower Tuesday after overnight retreats in the US market and a stronger yen.