TOKYO (MarketWatch) — Japanese shares edged lower Friday morning in Tokyo as strength in the yen continued to weigh on some exporter stocks, but the Nikkei Stock Average was trading higher for the week, supported by the Bank of Japan’s decision Tuesday to cut interest rates. The Nikkei Stock Average was down 0.4% at 9,648.98, but above its week-ago close of 9,404.23. The broader Topix was down 0.1% at 845.69. Exporters were among the decliners, with Nintendo Co. down 1.7% as the U.S. dollar traded below 83 yen, and Elpida Memory Inc. dropped 4.7% after the Nikkei reported that the chip maker plans to issue ¥60 billion ($728.7 million) in convertible bonds. But Panasonic Corp. added 4.1% following a Nikkei report that the company plans to build a factory in India to boost sales of air conditioners by 60% in fiscal 2012. Elsewhere, South Korea’s Kospi shed 0.1% in early dealings.

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