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By Junko Fujita

TOKYO, April 2 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

fell on Thursday, reversing earlier gains, after U.S. President

Donald Trump did not provide a clear sign for the end of the

Middle East war against Iran.

The Nikkei was down 1.6% at 52,867 as of 0216 GMT, after

rising as much as 0.97% earlier in the session.

The broader Topix also erased gains, falling 0.98%

to 3,635.18.

Trump, in a televised speech, said the U.S. military had

nearly completed the goals it had set out to accomplish in its

war with Iran and that the conflict would end soon.

"There was nothing new in his speech. If he had declared the

immediate end of the war, the equity market could have surged,"

said Kazuaki Shimada, chief strategist at IwaiCosmo Securities.

"Instead, investors started selling stocks to book profits

from the recent rally, as if they had expected this."

The index rallied this week on hopes for a de-escalation in the

war, after logging its worst month since the 2008 global

financial crisis in March.

The index rose to a 25-day average of around 54,258 earlier

in the session, which Shimada said was a signal that the Nikkei

had bottomed out.

Chip-making equipment maker Tokyo Electron ( TOELF ) fell 2.6% to

drag the Nikkei down the most. Chip-testing equipment maker

Advantest ( ADTTF ) fell 5.7%.

Uniqlo-brand owner Fast Retailing ( FRCOF ) reversed early

gains to fall 0.58%.

Heavy machinery maker Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ( MHVYF )

rose 2.6%.