Japan stocks declined Friday after 3-day increase as investors sought profit and locked in shares.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average slid 96.68 points, or 0.72 percent, from the previous day to 13,293.22. The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange decreased 10.70 points, or 0.82 percent, to 1,288.94.

Among all the TSE first section issues, 1,167 increased and 458 declined. The trading volume reached 1,840.09 million stocks or 2,162.9 billion yen. The Japanese currency is being traded in the level of 102 yen per a U.S. dollar.

The Nikkei showed increase for three-straight-day till the previous day, so it seems many investors made decision to sell off their stocks for profits, according to Nikkei.

Mitsunari Akino, investment manager of Ichiyoshi investment management co., said, U.S. jobs data to be reported this evening (JST) will be the main focus. Investors came to worry about U.S. economy again after the government showed large increase of unemployment benefit filings last week. Investors are closely watching how the U.S. stocks moves after the U.S. jobs data reported, according to Kabushiki Shimbun.

The TSE's Second Section index was down 10.73 points, or 0.39 percent, to 2,745.31 on a volume of 25.50 million shares.

Japan Nikkei 225 Tokyo Stock Exchange