Nikkei falls 1 pct, caution before earnings

TOKYO, July 13 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average fell 1 percent on Monday, giving back earlier gains, on caution ahead of upcoming corporate earnings releases.

Kirin Holdings Co (2503.T) gained 8.4 percent after brewer Suntory Holdings Ltd said on Monday it was considering options including a merger with Kirin, which would create one of the world's largest beverage and food firms. [ID:nT358527]

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 fell 94.44 points to 9,192.84, a seven-week low, after earlier rising as high as 9,343.86 as an advance in the yen stalled.

The broader Topix declined 0.8 percent to 865.28. (Reporting by Shinichi Saoshiro)