"The market is struggling to digest negative factors coming in one after another"
- Koichi Kurose, chief economist at Resona Bank Ltd.
Japanese stocks declined for a third straight day on Friday after China's inflation eased and factory output rose by less than expected.
The Nikkei 225 erased 0.63%, or 56.34 points, to 8,953.31. The broader Topix shed 0.92%, or 7.04, to 758.38.
"The market is struggling to digest negative factors coming in one after another," said Koichi Kurose, chief economist in Tokyo at Resona Bank Ltd.
"China's economy doesn't look good, judging from reports. There are strong expectations for quick monetary easing, but they can't loosen regulations on real estate."
© Dukascopy Bank