TOKYO, July 10 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average is expected to inch up on Friday, rebounding from a seven-day falling streak, with the rise in the yen and retreat in oil prices having come to a halt for now.
Fast Retailing, which operates the Uniqlo casual clothing chain, may attract attention after posting a 27 percent jump in third-quarter operating profit and raising its annual forecast for a third time.
"Selling in the market could subside at least temporarily, with the Nikkei expected to eke out some gains today," said Yosuke Shimizu, a manager at Retela Crea Securities.
"Retailers will be in focus after Fast Retailing's strong results."
The yen, which jumped to a five-month high of around 91.80 against the dollar earlier this week and hurt exporter shares, has pulled back above 93 yen as economic worries eased slightly.
Oil rose slightly on Thursday as talk of refinery shutdowns stirred gasoline supply concerns, ending a six-day slide.
In a sign that the market may open higher, Nikkei futures traded in Chicago rose 0.8 percent from their Osaka close of 9,310.
The Nikkei lost 1.4 percent on Thursday to 9,291.06, its lowest close in seven weeks. STOCKS TO WATCH
-- Tokyo Electron
Tokyo Electron Ltd, the world's No. 2 chip equipment maker, said on Thursday that orders for its tools to make semiconductors, flat-panel displays and solar panels rose 82 percent in April-June from the previous quarter to about 49 billion yen ($526 million).
-- Commodity-linked shares
Commodity-linked shares such as oil and gas field developer Inpex Corp and trading houses such as Marubeni Corp and Itochu Corp may gain after oil snapped a six-day slide the previous day. (Reporting by Shinichi Saoshiro; Editing by Chris Gallagher)