TOKYO (Reuters UK) - The Nikkei average fell 0.4 percent on Friday, with bank shares hurt by persistent credit fears while investors grew increasingly worried about earnings prospects amid high oil prices and slowing consumption.
J. Front Retailing Co. skidded over 6 percent after the retailer said its operating profit in the March-May quarter fell 14.0 percent. It issued a profit warning for its business year to February 2009, saying consumers are spending less on clothing because of rising food and fuel prices.
The benchmark Nikkei shed 55.41 points to 13,011.80, while the broader Topix declined 0.6 percent to 1,283.34.
(Reporting by Aiko Hayashi)
