Tokyo - Tokyo stocks ended Wednesday morning trading down as investors retreated to the sidelines ahead of earnings reports.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average dipped 1.7 points, or 0.02 per cent, to 8,709.63.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 1.72 points, or 0.21 per cent, at 829.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 98.50-55 yen, up from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 98.01-02 yen.

The euro traded at 1.2932-37 dollars, down from late Tuesday's quote of 1.2939-40 dollars, and at 127.45-50 yen, up from 126.82-86 yen.