Japan's Nikkei Slips 0.2 Percent

TOKYO - Japanese stocks slipped Friday in light trading, weighed down by declines in technology shares after Casio Computer slashed its profit forecast.

The Nikkei 225 index declined 27.45 points, or 0.16 percent, to 17,065.04 points on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

But many investors were reluctant to place big bets ahead of a three-day weekend in Japan and the release of widely watched U.S. employment data later Friday.

Those figures could give investors a clearer idea about the outlook for the U.S. economy - a key export market for Japan - and the likelihood of another U.S. interest rate cut.

"The three-day weekend and U.S. employment data are keeping …