(Updates with closing levels)

By Brigid Riley

TOKYO, July 8 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

retreated from a record intraday high on Monday, as investors

took profits following a multi-day rally.

The Nikkei secured a record high of 41,112.24 in a

choppy trading session, but closed 0.32% lower at 40,780.70. The

broader Topix slipped 0.57% to 2867.61.

Sentiment was initially boosted by a strong performance in

Wall Street's main indexes on Friday after softer-than-expected

U.S. labour data fuelled expectations of interest rate cuts as

early as September. The tech-heavy Nasdaq and benchmark S&P 500

hit record highs.

A portion of Japan's tech shares tracked their U.S. peers'

gains to support the Nikkei.

However, there was a sense that shares were somewhat

overbought, said Maki Sawada, an equity strategist at Nomura

Securities. Investors sought to lock in profits after Japan's

main stock indexes rode five consecutive days of gains to hit

record intraday peaks last week.

Yen appreciation could also weigh on the market if market

participants interpret testimony from Federal Reserve Chair

Powell as dovish or U.S. inflation data shows more cooling later

this week, said Charu Chanana, global market strategist and head

of FX strategy at Saxo.

"The scope of outperformance for Japanese equities could

continue to wane as the yen recovers from its record lows."

A weaker yen tends to boost Japanese exporters' overseas

earnings when repatriated.

Of the Nikkei's 225 constituents, only 53 shares advanced,

while 171 declined.

In individual stocks, electrical equipment maker Yaskawa

Electric ( YASKF ) fell 4.4% to become one of the worst

performers by percentage after disappointing revenue results.

Chip-making equipment giant Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) slid

0.9%.

On the other hand, SoftBank Group rose 0.4% after

U.S.-listed shares of British chip designer ARM Holdings

, in which the Japanese firm has a 90% stake, surged to

an all-time high.

Uniqlo parent firm Fast Retailing ( FRCOF ) also edged up

0.4%.

(Reporting by Brigid Riley; Editing by Sohini Goswami and Varun

H K)