Tokyo: Tokyo stocks ended mixed on Thursday, as investors hunted for bargains, while weak bank shares weighed on the market. Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, ended up 385.88 points, or 0.87 percent, from Wednesday to 44,936.73, snapping a four-day losing streak.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the broader Topix index finished 7.34 points, or 0.24 percent, lower at 3,087.40. On the stock market, the Nikkei index was lifted by investors buying on dips after the benchmark lost more than 1,200 points over the past four trading days.

Meanwhile, the market was weighed down by weak bank shares as hopes for improved profits receded amid declines in Japanese long-term interest rates, analysts said.