Nikkei ends up 51.01 points

Japan8217;s Nikkei average edged up 0.5 per cent on Wednesday after falling nearly 2 per cent the previous day when China stocks tumbled on a liquidity squeeze,and market players said they will look again to Chinese equities and US economic data for direction.

The Nikkei,however,gained 8 per cent in November and analysts said recent yen weakness and expectations of a further recovery in the US economy would continue to lend support,although it will be weighed down by worries that the euro zone8217;s credit crisis may spread.

The Nikkei ended the day up 51.01 points at 9,988.05,above support at the 200-day moving average,now at 9,911.59.

The broader Topix index added 0.6 per cent to 866.07.