Tokyo shares end 0.17% higher

Tokyo stocks cast off early losses to end 0.17 percent higher on Friday as the weaker yen offered support to exporters.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index added 24.27 points to 14,429.26, while the Topix index of all first-section shares climbed 0.44 percent, or 5.09 points, to 1,169.99.

The market lacked major catalysts leading up to the "Golden Week" holiday period.

"Traders are making moves in individual shares, but the broader market remains essentially inert," an equity trading director at a foreign brokerage told Dow Jones Newswires.

On forex markets the dollar fetched 102.33 yen, compared with 102.32 yen in New York, where it enjoyed a pick-up.

The euro bought $1.3828 and 141.52 yen compared with $1.3830 and 141.53 yen in US trade.

The bourse had opened lower Friday after Japan and the United States failed to break a deadlock in talks over a Pacific-wide trade deal despite intense negotiations leading up to a visit by US President Barack Obama.

Investors were mostly unmoved by data showing Japanese inflation at 1.3 percent in march, marking a 10th straight rise.

In share trading Toyota added 0.46 percent to 5,494, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group fell 0.72 percent to 550, Mobile giant NTT DoCoMo firmed 0.77 percent to 1,573 and rival SoftBank ended 0.09 percent lower at 7,734.

Sony dropped 1.24 percent to 1,836 and Panasonic jumped 1.53 percent to 1,128.