* Market braces for U.S.-Japan trade talks
* NTT soars after co says to launch global holding co
* Kirin tumbles after its business profit falls
By Ayai Tomisawa
TOKYO, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei rose on Wednesday morning led by tech shares on the back of a solid performance from their U.S. peers, while investors also bid up firms with brisk earnings such as Nikon and Daikin.
Overall gains, however, were limited as the market braced for U.S.-Japan trade talks slated in Washington on Thursday. Tokyo is seeking ways to counter U.S. pressure for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) and head off a rise in tariffs on its auto exports.
The Nikkei share average .N225 rose 0.4 percent to 22,754.28 in midmorning trade, hovering at its one-week highs.
"People are cautious ahead of Thursday's trade talks... they are bracing for the U.S.'s hard stance on Japan because that has been the pattern with China and Europe," said Hikaru Sato, a senior technical analyst at Daiwa Securities.
Tech shares outperformed, with TDK Corp 6762.T rising 3.9 percent, Hitachi Ltd 6501.T gaining 1.7 percent and Sumco Corp 3436.T adding 2.3 percent.
NTT Corp 9432.T jumped 3.1 percent after the telecommunication company said that it will set up a global holding firm focused on overseas IT business on hopes to strengthen its competitiveness aboard.
Nikon Corp 7731.T soared 8 percent after the camera maker raised its net profit outlook to 53 billion yen from 50 billion yen for the year ending March 2019, due to strong demand in high-end digital cameras as well as reduced costs. It also expects to pay a higher annual dividend.
Air-conditioning system maker Daikin Industries 6367.T soared 4 percent after its April-June operating profit rose 11.7 percent to 83.1 billion yen.
On the downside, Kirin Holdings 2503.T tumbled after its business profits fell 5 percent on the year to 49.2 billion yen.
Nomura Securities said that although it was ahead of its own estimate of 45 billion yen, it was mainly due to better-than-expected performances at Kyowa Hakko Kirin 4151.T which had already announced results.
The broader Topix .TOPX gained 0.3 percent to 1,751.24.
(Editing by Shri Navaratnam)