TOKYO, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average fell 0.4 percent on Friday, weighed down by the yen's advance against the dollar, but investors were reluctant to trade actively before a blizzard of earnings reports due after the close.
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group climbed 1.1 percent after the bank said on Thursday its first-half profit would be more than double a previous forecast.
Meanwhile, Sharp Corp fell 3 percent after its quarterly profit fell 24 percent from a year earlier, hit by the yen's rise and falling prices for its liquid-crystal display panels.
The benchmark Nikkei opened down 38.78 points at 9,327.25, while the broader Topix dropped 0.2 percent to to 812.98. (Reporting by Chikafumi Hodo; Editing by Michael Watson)