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BRASILIA, April 17 (Reuters) - Brazilian stocks edged lower on Friday as investors took profits from the previous day's gains, while the currency also fell.

Sao Paulo's benchmark stock index, the Bovespa .BVSP shed 0.54 percent to 45,778.28 points, having rallied nearly 12 percent so far this month.

The national currency, the real (BRBY: Quote, Profile, Research) eased 0.73 percent to close at 2.193 per dollar.

"Investors are already showing themselves somewhat reticent because of the holiday," said Reginaldo Galhardo, head of foreign exchange at brokerage Treviso Corretora de Cambio. Tuesday is a market holiday in Brazil and low volume is expected on Monday.

Also weighing on the market, Central Bank President Henrique Meirelles warned on Friday in a speech that Brazil was in the midst of serious crisis. He also did not rule out further measures to improve credit conditions down the line. For details, see [ID:nN17346886]

Domestic retailer shares erased substantial gains made on Wednesday when official data showed retail sales rose in February for the second straight month.

Lojas Americanas (LAME4.SA: Quote, Profile, Research) fell 3.1 percent to 8.15 reais after gaining more than 2 percent in the previous session. Lojas Renner (LREN3.SA: Quote, Profile, Research) shed 5.1 percent to 18.14 reais after gaining nearly 6 percent on Thursday.

Oil giant Petrobras (PETR4.SA: Quote, Profile, Research) was the session's biggest-weighted loser, ending down 1.6 percent at 29.52 reais even as oil prices crept higher. Miner Vale (VALE5.SA: Quote, Profile, Research) eased 1 percent to 29.80 reais.