(Updates with closing levels.)

By Rocky Swift

TOKYO, July 22 (Reuters) - Japanese shares ended mixed on

Wednesday as tech shares rallied ahead of highly anticipated

results while rising oil prices and a weak yen weighed on the

broader market.

The Topix gained 0.45% to close at 4,033.13. The

blue-chip Nikkei 225 rose as much as 2.05% before

running out of steam in the afternoon session, ending 0.18%

lower at 66,115.60.

The Philadelphia semiconductor index jumped 5.2%

overnight even as the Middle East conflict escalated, driving

oil prices higher, and the U.S. announced new tariffs.

Investors are awaiting results from key tech firms to see

how they are handling rising costs, while taking cues from South

Korea's tech-heavy Kospi gauge, said Nomura Securities

strategist Maki Sawada.

"If these earnings trends prove favourable, they could well

serve to dispel such concerns and act as a catalyst for a rise

in share prices," Sawada said. "Concerns over the impact of

rising costs on corporate earnings, driven in part by the rise

in crude futures prices, are weighing on the stock market as a

whole."

The yen weakened to a 40-year low of 163.24 per dollar, rattling

domestic markets, while Japan's imports jumped to a record high

in June, government data showed, as the currency depreciated and

oil prices surged.

Japanese government bonds also slid, with the benchmark 10-year

yield rising 1.5 basis points to 2.735%, as

inflation and fiscal concerns mounted.

Tech-industry suppliers and chipmakers led gains on the Nikkei,

which had 122 advancers against 102 decliners.

The largest gainers in the index were Mitsui Kinzoku ( XZJCF )

, up 7.38%, followed by Taiyo Yuden ( TYOYF ), 6.73%

higher, and Kioxia Holdings ( KXHCF ), which gained 5.26%.

The biggest decliners were all in the consumer sector, with

J.Front Retailing down 5.75%, followed by Shiseido ( SSDOF )

, 5.38% lower, and Takashimaya ( TKSHF ), which lost

4.91%.