Japan's Nikkei was flat on Friday after poor US data underscored the sluggish economic

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recovery, with some exporters tiptoeing higher after an apparent halt, for now, in the yen's rise against the dollar.

The greenback gained, rising above 86 yen in early Asian trade, after the Bank of Japan on Thursday checked dollar/yen rates with banks and Japanese officials stepped up their campaign against a yen rise with a volley of comments.

The benchmark Nikkei shed 2.29 points to 9,210.30, while the broader Topix slipped 0.2 per cent to 826.46.