1.   Continuing pessimism about the outlook for growth in Japan also dampened investor enthusiasm, traders said.

2.   Earlier in the day, the Nikkei had slipped near a three-year low on continuing pessimism about the fragile economic recovery.

3.   Earlier Thursday, the Nikkei had slipped near a three-year low on continuing pessimism about the fragile economic recovery.

4.   The U.S. dollar was higher against the yen in early trading Friday, while Tokyo stocks slipped on continuing pessimism over the Japanese economy.