Japanese stocks inched higher Friday as gains in Shanghai and a weaker yen boosted investor sentiment, as dpa reported. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average gained 11.28 points, or 0.11 per cent, to close at 10,541.04 while the broader Topix index was up 1.91 points, or 0.21 per cent, at 926.42. Tokyo stocks opened lower as investors sold shares to lock in quick profits after the previous day's surge. On Thursday, the Nikkei jumped 1.4 per cent, surpassing 10,500 for the first time in eight months, bolstered by better-than-expected US employment data. For the week, the Nikkei was up 3.05 per cent while the Topix rose 3.07 per cent. Helping the increases was the yen, which fell against the dollar, hovering around the mid-83-yen level. A weaker yen makes Japanese exports more competitive and improves overseas earnings when the revenues are repatriated. On currency markets at 3 pm (0600 GMT), the dollar traded at 83.51-54 yen, up from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 83.12-13 yen. The euro traded at 1.2984-2987 dollars, down from 1.3113-3114 dollars Thursday, and at 108.43-47 yen, down from 109.00-04 yen.
