TOKYO, March 12 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share

average rose in choppy trade on Wednesday as investors bought

back shares after sharp declines in the last session, although

concerns about U.S. tariffs and their impact on the global

economy continued to weigh on sentiment.

After see-sawing between gains and losses for much of the

morning trade, the Nikkei gained 0.3% to 36,898.83 by

the midday break and the broader Topix added 0.9% to

2,695.86.

Analysts hinted at share buy-backs after the Nikkei fell to

a six-month low on Tuesday, while reports that Ukraine would

accept a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire with Russia eased the

risk-off mood.

The financial sector outperformed, with Japanese government

yields rising. Some of Japan's biggest companies will likely

offer substantial wage hikes after concluding talks with unions

on the day, bolstering bets that the Bank of Japan would further

hike interest rates.

Banks and insurance firms advanced 2.7%

and 2.2%, respectively, leading gains among the Tokyo Stock

Exchange's 33 industry sectors.

However, investors treaded carefully ahead of a U.S.

inflation report due later in the day, while growth concerns in

the world's largest economy persisted amid U.S. President Donald

Trump's ever-changing tariff policies.

"Investor sentiment has turned cautious amid emerging

signals that the strength of the U.S. economy may be weakening,

with rising odds of a recession scenario in the near term," said

Samuel Hoang, a portfolio manager for Japan funds at Eastspring

Investments in Singapore.

Growth concerns in the United States have dragged on the

sentiment in Japan's stock market given the close relationship

between the Japanese and U.S. economies, he said.

Year-to-date, the Nikkei has lost 7.8%.

Among major shares, Advantest ( ADTTF ) fell 2.3%, SoftBank

Group slid 0.6%, Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) climbed 0.7%

and Sony Group ( SONY ) surged 4.5%.

Nissan Motor ( NSANF ) jumped 0.9% after the automaker on

Tuesday named company veteran Ivan Espinosa its next chief

executive.