TOKYO: Japan's Nikkei share average fell in early trade on Thursday, on track for a fourth straight session of losses, as weak US jobs data and manufacturing activity provided further evidence of a halting recovery in the world's largest economy.

The Nikkei dropped 0.5 percent to 13,729.71. If the benchmark were to close the session with a fourth straight day of declines, it would mark the longest such losing streak since November.

The broader Topix index slipped 0.4 percent to.

<Center><b><i>Copyright Reuters, 2013</b></i><br></center>