TOKYO, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei share average

traded higher on Wednesday as investors bought back stocks after

four straight sessions of losses, but caution ahead of U.S.

consumer price data capped gains.

The Nikkei added 0.4% to 38,628.61 by the midday

break after falling as much as 0.18% earlier in the session.

"The Nikkei traded within an expected range so the gains in

the current session does not mean it has regained momentum,"

said Takehiko Masuzawa, trading head at Phillip Securities

Japan.

Heavyweight Fast Retailing ( FRCOF ), the operator of Uniqlo

clothing stores, climbed 0.9% to give the biggest boost to

Nikkei. Robot maker Fanuc ( FANUF ) jumped 6.15%.

Advantest ( ADTTF ) lost 2.76% to weigh the most on the

benchmark. The chip-testing equipment maker, a supplier to

Nvidia ( NVDA ), have slid 9% so far this week amid news that

the U.S. government would further curb artificial intelligence

chip and technology exports.

The broader Topix jumped 0.67% to 2,700.64.

Financials rose on growing hopes for an interest rate hike

at the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) policy meeting next week.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group ( MUFG ) and Sumitomo Mitsui

Financial Group ( SMFG ) rose 1.45% and 2.24%, respectively.

BOJ's Deputy Governor Ryozo Himino on Tuesday said the

central bank would debate whether to raise rates at the meeting

next week as prospects of sustained wage gains heighten and the

U.S. policy outlook becomes clearer in President-elect Donald

Trump's inaugural address.

The BOJ will conclude its two-day meeting on Jan. 24.

Overnight, the S&P 500 advanced and U.S. Treasury yields

fell after data showed producer prices increased modestly last

month.

"Rising U.S. yields hurt the Japanese stock market. But if

excessive caution for inflation and a possible rate hike in the

U.S. eases, the market will regain momentum," said Shuutarou

Yasuda, a market analyst at Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory.