Nikkei up 0.5 pct, exporters rise on Wall St., yen

TOKYO, Apr 13 (Reuters) The Nikkei share average rose 0.51 percent on Friday as investors picked up exporters such as Advantest Corp., encouraged by a gain in U.S. stocks, one of the biggest markets for Japanese goods, and by continuing softness in the yen.

The Nikkei was up 88.60 points at 17,629.02 as of 0001 GMT. The TOPIX added 0.39 percent to 1,732.88.

REUTERS DKS PM0541