TOKYO, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Tech shares led a selloff in

stock markets around Asia, while the yen and U.S. bonds

rebounded, as global investors struggled to find their footing

in a wild week for markets.

Japan's Nikkei share average was last down 1%,

having earlier slumped as much as 2.5%, with chip-sector shares

the biggest drag on the index. That left the Nikkei down more

than 3% for the week, following Monday's 12.4% plunge, despite

the ensuing two-day rebound.

Elsewhere, Taiwan's tech-heavy stock benchmark

sagged 2% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 1%.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares

declined 0.8%.

"Today's Asia session could be important, as many had bought

the dip with the hope that we see real follow-through buying and

the upside momentum building," said Chris Weston, head of

research at Pepperstone.

"It's clear that we have not been given all clear just yet."

Wall Street futures were weak, with S&P 500 futures

down 0.24% and Nasdaq futures off 0.14% following

respective declines for the cash indexes of about 0.8% and 1.1%

on Wednesday.

Pan-European STOXX 50 futures sagged 1.2%.

The yen generally benefits when market sentiment sours, and

appreciated as much as 0.86% to 145.43 per dollar

before last trading about 0.3% stronger at 146.17. The Swiss

franc, another traditional haven, added 0.3% to 0/8592

per dollar.

The dollar-yen pair also tends to be sensitive to moves in

long-term U.S. Treasury yields, which retraced about

half of their overnight jump to 3.977% and last stood at 3.92%

in Asian hours.

The dollar index, which measures the currency against

the yen, franc, euro and three other major peers, was down

slightly at 103.09, while the euro gained a touch to

$1.0925.

Currencies, and the yen in particular, have been upended by

a shift last week toward bets for steady interest rate increases

by the Bank of Japan and aggressive cuts by the Federal Reserve,

which helped send the dollar as low as 141.675 yen on Monday for

the first time since the start of this year.

Weekly U.S. jobless claims data later in the day could prove

market moving following soft monthly payrolls figures on Friday

that exacerbated fears of a U.S. economic downturn.

Meanwhile, crude oil continued its rise following data the

previous day that showed a bigger-than-expected draw in U.S.

crude stockpiles.

Brent crude futures rose 0.3% to $78.56 a barrel,

following Wednesday's 2.4% jump. U.S. West Texas Intermediate

crude gained 0.4% to $75.52, building on a 2.8% rally

from overnight.