TOKYO, March 15, 2010 (AFP) - Japanese stocks ended flat on Monday as profit-taking offset buying on expectations of further monetary easing measures in Japan, brokers said.

The benchmark Nikkei-225 index edged up 0.72 points, or 0.01 percent, to close at 10,751.98. The broader Topix index of all first section shares rose 2.53 points, or 0.27 percent, to 938.91.

The Nikkei index got off to a firm start as exporters continued to gain on the back of a weaker yen and expectations for further easing measures by the Bank of Japan when it concludes a two-day policy meeting on Wednesday.

But profit-taking kicked in when the index rose past 10,800 on the heels of solid gains Thursday and Friday last week.

"The market has gained sharply over the short term, so investors are being cautious," Investrust chief executive Hiroyuki Fukunaga told Dow Jones Newswires.

Canon jumped 2.96 percent to 4,165 yen and Toyota Motor rose 0.86 percent to 3,505 yen.

Some exporters went down after the dollar's rise slowed, with Toshiba down 1.81 percent at 432 yen.