TOKYO, March 26 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

oscillated between small gains and losses on Tuesday, as gains

in chip-related stocks offset declines by heavyweights such as

Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing ( FRCOF ) and Nissan Motor ( NSANF ).

Three of the Nikkei's four biggest supports were in the

semiconductor sphere, led by chipmaking-equipment giant Tokyo

Electron ( TOELF ), as they tracked a record rally in U.S. peer

Nvidia ( NVDA ).

However, Nissan ( NSANF ) slumped more than 4% after an

update to its medium-term business plan post a market close on

Monday that underwhelmed investors.

Fast Retailing ( FRCOF ) sagged 1.5%, continuing its retreat

this week from Friday's record high.

The Nikkei was little changed at 40,422.23 as of

0143 GMT, following Monday's 1.16% drop back from Friday's fresh

all-time peak of 41,087.75. Of the index's 225 components, 119

rose, 102 fell and four were flat.

The broader Topix was last up 0.22%, after starting

the day lower.

Noting support from the upward-pointing five-day moving

average at around 40,530, "I think it would be quite difficult

for the Nikkei to turn lower," said Kazuo Kamitani, an equity

strategist at Nomura Securities.

However, while any declines are likely to be small, gains

are also unlikely to exceed about 100 points this session, in a

market with no strong sense of direction or fresh trading cues,

Kamitani added.

Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) rose 0.46% and was the biggest gainer by

index points due to its heavy weighting. Silicon producer

Shin-Etsu Chemical ( SHECF ) was no. 2, advancing 1.48%.

Screen Holdings ( DINRF ), another chipmaking-equipment

manufacturer, was no. 4, rising more than 3%.

Nvidia ( NVDA ), the company at the centre of the artificial

intelligence fervour, notched a second successive all-time

closing high on Monday, after extending its winning run to a

sixth straight session.