TOKYO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

edged up on Thursday, rebounding from its declines in previous

sessions, but gains were limited as chip company Advantest ( ADTTF ) fell

despite a strong growth forecast by its client Nvidia ( NVDA ).

The Nikkei was up 0.15% at 38,198.96 by the midday

break, while the broader Topix rose 0.49% to 2,729.63.

"Nvidia ( NVDA ) reported firm results but the market was not

overjoyed," said Yusuke Sakai, a senior trader at T&D Asset

Management.

"If the market had been more positive to Nvidia's ( NVDA ) outcome,

the U.S. stock futures could have risen. Their muted moves

weighed on Japanese stocks," he said.

The market had been awaiting artificial intelligence

chip-maker Nvidia's ( NVDA ) earnings for a cue to lift the

Nikkei, which touched a four-month low on Wednesday.

But chip-related stocks, key components for the index, were

mixed as the market wanted to watch Nvidia's ( NVDA ) performance later

in the day, strategists said.

Chip-making equipment maker Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) trimmed

early gains to rise 0.81%, providing the biggest boost to the

Nikkei.

Chip-testing equipment maker Advantest ( ADTTF ), a supplier

to Nvidia ( NVDA ), erased early gains to fall 1.27%, weighing on the

Nikkei the most.

Chip-related firm Socionext jumped 7.47% to become

the biggest gainer on the Nikkei.

Seven & I Holdings ( SVNDF ) tanked 11.47% after the operator

of convenience store chains said its founding Ito family could

not secure the financing required for a $58 billion management

buyout, and it would consider a rival offer from Canada's

Alimentation Couche-Tard.

Itochu jumped 5.55% after the trading firm said it

had ended its consideration of participating in the Seven & I ( SVNDF )

founding family's buyout proposal.

Nissan Motor jumped 4.81% after a Bloomberg report

said the automaker is considering replacing its CEO Makoto

Uchida following a worsening in the Japanese automaker's

business performance and the collapse of talks to combine with

Honda Motor ( HMC ) .