Nikkei opens lower on U.S. earnings, eye China data

TOKYO, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average opened lower on Thursday, poised to snap a three-day winning streak after weaker-than-expected earnings by key technology and banking firms led to a fall on Wall Street.

Expectations that Japanese companies will report a further recovery in profits when the earnings season starts in earnest later this month will prompt some investors to buy on dips and help limit the market's fall, traders said.

Traders in Tokyo are also watching how Chinese markets react to China's official December consumer price index (CPI) and 2010 gross domestic product (GDP) figures, scheduled to be announced at 0200 GMT on Thursday.

The benchmark Nikkei <.N225> was down 0.8 percent or 82.02 points at 10,475.08 in early trade.

The broader Topix index <.TOPX> shed 0.7 percent to 930.45. (Reporting by Antoni Slodkowski; Editing by Nathan Layne)