TOKYO, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average edged up 0.5 percent on Wednesday after falling nearly 2 percent the previous day when China stocks tumbled on a liquidity squeeze, and market players said they will look again to Chinese equities and U.S. economic data for direction.
The Nikkei, however, gained 8 percent in November and analysts said recent yen weakness and expectations of a further recovery in the U.S. economy would continue to lend support, although it will be weighed down by worries that the euro zone'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 percent to 866.07. (Reporting by Aiko Hayashi; Editing by Edmund Klamann)