(Updates for market close)

By Brigid Riley

TOKYO, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

eked out gains to rise for a third straight day on Wednesday, as

a softer yen and buying of retail-related shares helped narrow

morning losses on profit-taking.

The Nikkei rebounded after declining in early trade

to close 0.1% higher at 39,276.39.

The broader Topix was down 0.5% at 2,740.6.

Retail-related shares outperformed in afternoon trade to

boost the Nikkei.

Uniqlo parent firm Fast Retailing ( FRCOF ) climbed 2.4%. The

company on Monday said that Uniqlo's domestic same-store sales

in November increased 12.2% compared with last November.

Ryohin Keikaku ( RYKKF ) jumped 7.1% after the Muji retail

stores operator reported a rise in domestic and online store

sales last month compared to a year ago.

Home interior goods maker Nitori Holdings ( NCLTF ) advanced

3.6%.

Gaming firms Konami Group ( KNAMF ) and Nintendo ( NTDOF )

jumped 2.2% and 2.7%, respectively.

Entertainment conglomerate Sony Group ( SONY ), up 3.3%, was

among exporters to receive a boost as the yen slid against the

U.S. dollar on expectations that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) will

hike interest rates this month.

Japan's major technology shares slipped as investors secured

profit after Tuesday's large gains, but managed to recover some

losses.

AI-focused startup investor SoftBank Group shed

1.7% and chip-making equipment giant Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) was

mostly flat, up 0.02%. Peer Advantest ( ADTTF ) gained 0.7%.

With monetary policy meetings in both the U.S. and Japan

coming up this month, economic news was in focus, said Kenji

Abe, chief strategist at Daiwa Securities.

The U.S. jobs report is expected on Friday, while the U.S.

CPI and the Bank of Japan's "tankan" survey are due later this

month.

"I think investors are paying a lot of attention to those,"

said Abe.

Focus is also on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's

speech later in the day for cues into U.S. rate cut path.

Banks faltered, with Resona Holdings ( RSNHF ) ending 4.3%

lower to be the top percentage loser.