(Adds JAL, Advantest, Toyota to "stocks to watch")
TOKYO, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei stock average is likely to edge higher on Tuesday, bolstered by gains in European stocks, with a slight weakening of the yen boosting Canon Inc <7511.T> and other exporters.
But trade is likely to remain thin in the wake of a U.S. holiday on Monday and ahead of the settlement of Nikkei futures and options on Friday, though analysts said activity was likely to pick up as the week wears on.
"European share indexes all gained, Nikkei futures traded in Singapore are up slightly, and the yen is slightly weaker against the euro," said Nagayuki Yamagishi, a strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Securities.
"There's likely to be a swing back towards risk-taking."
European shares gained broadly, with the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 <.FTEU3> rising 1.4 percent to 975.90 points as financials, among others, boosted the index. [ID:nL7631026]
The euro edged up 0.1 percent against the yen to 133.32 yen
Exporters are likely to gain as a result of the yen's retreat against the euro, with attention on the movement of Chinese shares.
The benchmark Nikkei <.N225> is likely to move between 10,200 and 10,400. It closed at 10,320.94 on Monday after a day of extremely thin trade, with turnover volume at its lowest since mid-July.
In a sign the Nikkei may open higher, Nikkei futures traded
in Singapore <0#SSI:> edged up 0.5 percent from their Osaka close
INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG
S&P 500 <.SPX> 1016.4 1.31% 13.160
USD/JPY
--Japan Airlines Corp <9205.T>
Japan Airlines (JAL) may sell shares in its resort flight operations, including in its unit Jalways Co, to travel agencies or trade firms and use the funds to pay back its debt and buy new airplanes, the Nikkei business daily said.
-- Advantest <6857.T>
Orders for Advantest's chip testers and other equipment in July-September were better than expected and are likely to beat the 11.6 billion yen logged in the previous quarter, the Nikkei business daily said, citing an interview with Advantest President Haruo Matsuno.
-- Toyota Motor Corp <7203.T>
Toyota will hire 800 temporary workers in October for factories in Japan to meet growing demand for hybrid cars, public broadcaster NHK reported.
-- Toho Co Ltd <9602.T>
Toho, Japan's largest movie company, said the country's fading interest in Hollywood movies has cast a cloud over its growth prospects and it was aiming to cut costs to offset sluggish box office sales. [ID:nT58221]
-- Showa Shell Sekiyu KK <5002.T>
Oil refiner Showa Shell Sekiyu said it would invest $1.1
billion to build a new thin-film solar cell plant, as it chases
First Solar
-- Asics Corp <7936.T>, Snow Brand Milk Products <2262.T>
Sporting goods maker Asics will be added to the Nikkei 300 on Sept. 25, the Nikkei Inc said on Monday. [ID:nT34680]
It will replace Snow Brand Milk Products, which will be delisted in connection with forming a joint holding company.
-- Hitachi Software Engineering <9694.T>
Hitachi Software Engineering will be delisted from the Nikkei 300 on Oct. 2, the Nikkei Inc said on Monday, two months after Hitachi Ltd <6501.T> said it would launch a tender offer for Hitachi Software Engineering to bring it fully under its control. (Reporting by Elaine Lies; Editing by Chris Gallagher)