TOKYO, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks ended mixed Thursday as the U.S. exemptions on some steel tariffs from five countries including Japan added support, but shares were capped by Washington's ongoing moves of imposing higher tariffs and the European Union gearing up for retaliatory measures.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average gained 137.61 points, or 0.61 percent, from Wednesday to close the day at 22,693.04.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, shed 2.12 points, or 0.12 percent, to finish at 1,750.63.

Machinery, information and communication, and service-linked issues gained the most, while paper, bank, and electric power and gas issues comprised those that declined the most by the close of play.