Share prices ended the session narrowly mixed with many investors taking a breather following overnight weakness on Wall Street and softer-than-expected machinery data, dealers said. The Nikkei 225 stock index finished the day up 9.76 points or 0.1 pct at 16,454.95, its highest close since it ended at 16,458.31 on Sept 20, 2000. On the week, the blue-chip index was unchanged. The broader TOPIX index of all First Section shares lost 2.65 points or 0.2 pct to 1,681.69. On the week, the index Decliners outnumbered gainers 858 to 714, with 97 issues unchanged. Volume fell to 2.30 bln shares from 2.77 bln yesterday. "In the broad market, share prices fell due to a pullback in US markets and (disappointing) machinery orders data," said Yutaka Miura, senior strategist at Shinko Securities. Core private-sector machinery orders rose a seasonally adjusted 2.3 pct in November from October, the Cabinet Office said, below the market consensus forecast for 4.5 pct. Among notable decliners were steelmakers, oil refineres, automakers, land/marine transport operators, trading houses, telecom firms and utility companies. Automakers reteated, paced by Suzuki off 60 yen or 2.7 pct at 2,195, and Daihatsu which fell 30 yen or 2.2 pct to 1,309. Honda shed 110 yen or 1.7 pct to 6,490, while Toyota fell 90 yen or 1.5 pct to 5,970.