* Nikkei barely changed, ekes out gain of 0.05%
* Caution before c.bankers' Jackson Hole meeting caps market
* Increase in inbound tourism lifts Shiseido, other cosmetic
By Shinichi Saoshiro
TOKYO, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks were little
changed on Wednesday, as investors refrained from betting
heavily in either direction ahead of a key central bankers'
gathering in the United States, which could provide markets with
some near-term cues.
Markets are in a holding pattern ahead of Federal Reserve
Chair Jerome Powell's speech on Friday at the Jackson Hole,
Wyoming, conference of central bank officials.
Investors will be looking for any policy hints from Powell
ahead of the Fed's September meeting, at which it is widely
expected to cut rates again.
The Nikkei share average ended the day 0.05% higher at
20,628.01 points.
The index has gained 1% so far this week, with German
stimulus and Chinese policy easing hopes helping it pull away
from a seven-month trough reached earlier in the month, when
Washington labelled Beijing a currency manipulator and further
stoked trade war concerns.
"A sense of caution still lingers, and the market may not
find a clear sense of direction until United States activates
the fourth round of tariffs in Chinese imports on Sept. 1," said
Hiroaki Kuramochi, chief market analyst at Capital Partners
Securities.
Cosmetics makers and retail store operators popular with
tourists rose after government data showed the number of foreign
visitors to Japan in July increased 5.6% from the previous year.
Shiseido 4911.T was up 5.6%, leading the index on
percentage gains. Fellow cosmetics companies Fancl Corp 4921.T
climbed 2.7% and Kose Corp 4922.T added 1.9%.
Matsumotokiyoshi Holdings Co 3088.T , which operates a
chain of drugstores, rose 1.5% and Pan Pacific International
Holdings Corp 7532.T , the operator of Don Quijote discount
stores, added 0.9%.
Technology shares advanced on the back of continuing
strength in their U.S. counterparts, which have helped Wall
Street's performance over the past week.
Tokyo Electron 8035.T gained 1%, Advantest 6857.T
advanced 1.6% and SCREEN Holdings 7735.T rose 3.3%.
There were 125 advancers on the Nikkei index against 93
decliners.
The largest percentage losses in the index were Pacific
Metals Co Ltd 5541.T , which fell 2.8%.
The broader Topix .TOPX inched up 0.04% to 1,498.06.