Nikkei hits 10-day closing high on upbeat U.S. earnings, data

TOKYO, April 18 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 0.7 percent on Friday to its highest close in 10 days, buoyed by upbeat U.S. economic data and corporate earnings, though trading volume hit its lowest in almost 1-1/2 years as many overseas markets were closed for Easter. The Nikkei finished at 14,516.27, chalking up a weekly gains of 4 percent, its biggest since November, although that came after it had suffered its biggest loss in three years in the previous week. The broad