Tokyo  - Japan's stock markets ended Monday morning trading mixed, as optimism was dampened by a weak job market in the United States, while retail-related and consumer investment titles gained ground.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average index was flat, gaining 4.76 points, or 0.05 per cent, to 9,736.63.

The broader-based Topix index, however, lost 2.89 points, or 0.33 per cent, ending morning trading at 871.78.

Data released on Friday showed that US employers cut 263,000 jobs in September, significantly above analysts' expectations.

Shares in Fast Retailing rose almost 13 per cent following reports that sales in the company's Uniqlo clothing chain jumped 31 per cent year-on-year in September.

On currency markets the dollar traded at 9 am (0000 GMT) at 89.76-71 yen, up from Friday's 5 pm quote of 89.36-38 yen.

The euro was at 1.4596-99 dollars, up from 1.4541-43 dollars late Friday, and at 130.91-95 yen from 129.94-98 yen. (dpa)