(Updates with closing prices)

By Kevin Buckland

TOKYO, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

fell on Tuesday, reversing earlier gains, after investors took a

rally in tech shares as an opportunity to lock in profits.

The tech-heavy Nikkei ended the day down 0.14% at

50,842.93, after earlier rising as much as 1.18% to a one-week

high of 51,513.16.

The broader Topix eked out a 0.13% gain to

3,321.58.

Artificial intelligence-related shares led the Nikkei's

early advance after Wall Street peers rallied overnight amid

optimism for an imminent end to the U.S. government shutdown.

But the momentum ebbed in the afternoon, and the benchmark

index was down as much as 0.65% at one point.

"There's no single, big driving force" for stock gains, "and

some traders are taking the opportunity to lock in profits",

said Maki Sawada, a strategist at Nomura Securities.

The Nikkei rallied to an all-time high of 52,636.87 a week

ago, powered by both the global fervor over AI and hopes for

fiscal stimulus under new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae

Takaichi.

The index ended Tuesday with 117 of its 225 components

down, compared with 105 that rose and three that ended flat.

AI-focused startup investor SoftBank Group was

an early standout, jumping as much as 5.55% before paring gains

to 1.98% at the close.

After the bell, the company announced a 4-for-1 stock

split along with net profit that greatly exceeded analyst

forecasts.

Sony Group ( SONY ) climbed 5.51% after reporting robust

earnings during the midday trading recess.

Chip-making machinery manufacturer Tokyo Electron ( TOELF )

and chip-testing equipment maker Lasertec ( LSRCF ) both shed

early gains to end the day flat. Advantest ( ADTTF ) sank 4.08%.