Tokyo Stocks Average ended nearly flat Tuesday in thin trading as investors awaited US corporate earnings to be released later in the day.

The 225-issue Nikkei ended up 3.22 points, or 0.02%, from Monday at 19,908.68.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange finished 4.56 points, or 0.29%, higher at 1,590.82, according to Japan's (Kyodo) News Agency.

The indexes started lower as overnight declines in US and European equity markets triggered selling. But they soon pared losses as investors bought on the dip in prices, settling near the previous day's closing levels.