Tokyo  - While the Tokyo market ended Monday morning trading higher, tracking Wall Street's rises before the weekend, gains were capped due to concern over the spead of Mexico's swine flu outbreak.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 68.64 points, or 0.79 per cent, to 8,776.63.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 8.88 points, or 1.07 per cent, at 838.93.

The market sentiment was boosted in Tokyo after US carmaker Ford Motor Co reported better-than-expected earnings.

However, investor optimism was cautioned by growing concerns over an outbreak of swine influenza that has killed at least 20 people in Mexico. More than 60 others have died in the country from what is suspected to be the same viral disease.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 96.70-75 yen, down from Friday's 5 pm quote of 97.06-09 yen.

The euro traded at 1.3217-22 dollars, up from late Friday's quote of 1.3190-93 dollars, and at 127.85-90 yen, down from 128.05-09 yen.(dpa)