Japan’s Nikkei share average edged up on Friday as investors bought shares in companies with solid earnings such as Toray and Softbank, erasing earlier losses on profit-taking.
But investors were cautious ahead of key US jobs data which could prompt the US Federal Reserve to start raising interest rates as early as September.
The Nikkei average rose 0.3 per cent to 20,724.56 points for a weekly gain of 0.7 per cent. The broader Topix gained 0.3 per cent to 1,679.19, and up 1.2 per cent for the week.
Exporters also held firm as the yen stayed not far from a 13-year low against the dollar hit in June, with Panasonic rising 1.6 per cent and Toyota Motor rising 1.0 per cent.