Nikkei edges up on hopes for Japan-U.S. trade progress, turnover lowest since 2014

* Trump-Abe news conference comments come after market close
* Market prices in U.S.-Japan talks
* Turnover lowest since Dec 2014

By Ayai Tomisawa
TOKYO, May 27 (Reuters) - Japanese stocks edged higher on
Monday, when volume was low with U.S. markets closed, as
investors awaited details from trade talks between the leaders
of Japan and United States.
The Nikkei share average .N225 ended 0.3% higher to
21,182.58. Hit by intensifying U.S.-China trade frictions, the
benchmark index has dropped 5% this month.
The broader Topix .TOPX added 0.4% at 1,547.00, with only
901.6 million shares changing hands, the lowest level since
April 22. Turnover was 1.47 trillion yen, the lowest since
December 2014.
Index-heavy names such as Fast Retailing 9983.T and
SoftBank Group Corp 9984.T advanced on Monday, up 1.3% and
1.7%, respectively.
Exporters were in demand. Sony Corp 6758.T rose 1.2%,
Subaru Corp 7270.T gained 2.0% and Hitachi Ltd 6501.T soared
2.0%.
In a joint news conference that started as Japan markets
were closing, President Donald Trump pressed Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe to even out a trade imbalance with the United States
and said he was happy with how things were going with North
Korea. Analysts said that the market had priced in that a solution
on the main focus, tariffs on autos, would not come on Monday,
while they remained optimistic about the developments after
Trump tweeted earlier about progress in the Japan-U.S. talks.
"Since there is no big progress on trade this time, the
market will soon focus on economic indicators from the U.S. and
China," said Hiroyuki Fukunaga, chief executive of Investrust.
Trump has threatened to target Japanese automakers with high
tariffs in his effort to cut trade surpluses with other
countries.
"Great progress being made in our trade negotiations with
Japan. Agriculture and beef heavily in play," Trump had tweeted
on Sunday.
"Much will wait until after their July elections where I
anticipate big numbers."

(Editing by Richard Borsuk)