Nikkei up 0.4 pct, exporters and financials advance

*Nikkei up 0.4 pct, exporters, financials gain

*Market still cautious about earnings and ahead of holiday

*Inpex extends losses on overnight fall in oil price (Adds stocks and comments)

By Taiga Uranaka

TOKYO, July 18 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.4 percent on Friday, as a softer yen lifted exporters like Honda Motor Co (7267.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and financial shares gained after JPMorgan's (JPM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) profit fell less than expected.

But the benchmark slipped back after flirting with the psychologically important 13,000 mark on caution following some disappointing U.S. earnings results released after the bell and ahead of a three-day weekend.

"Investors haven't let down their guard. Bad earnings from the U.S. came out after the bell and there is growing nervousness about Japanese corporate earnings that begin next week," said Katsuhiko Kodama, senior strategist at Toyo Securities.

"On top of that, we have a three-day weekend and Citi earnings tonight," he said.

Japanese markets are closed on Monday for a national holiday.  Continued...