Japanese shares declined Friday as export-oriented issues were dragged down by a stronger yen, as dpa reported. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 40.11 points, or 0.42 per cent, to close at 9,521.94. The broader-based Topix index was down 2.18 points, or 0.26 per cent, at 824.9. For the week, the Nikkei was down 0.89 per cent and the Topix was also down 0.35 per cent. The yen rose against major currencies, hovering around the lower-81 yen range to the dollar. A stronger yen makes Japanese goods more expensive overseas and erodes repatriated earnings. Sony Corp plunged 3.17 per cent after the electronics company on Thursday reported a net loss of 388.8 billion yen (4.75 billion dollars) in the January-to-March quarter in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. It was nearly seven times the net loss of 56.6 billion yen a year earlier. On currency markets at 3 pm (0600 GMT), the dollar traded at 81.06-08 yen, down from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 81.92-94 yen. The euro traded at 1.4250-52 dollars, up from 1.4176-77 dollars Thursday, and at 115.49-54 yen, down from 116.13-17 yen.
