Nikkei edges down, sentiment remains gloomy

(Adds stocks, details)

*Nikkei takes aim at 12-day losing streak, longest since 1954

*High-tech shares slide after falls in U.S. peers

*Trade thin, U.S. markets closed

By Elaine Lies

TOKYO, July 4 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei stock average edged down 0.3 percent on Friday, taking aim at the longest losing streak in more than half a century, with high-tech shares such as Tokyo Electron Ltd (8035.T: Quote, Profile, Research) sinking in the face of general economic pessimism.

Paper shares extended losses on high oil prices after oil set a new record of more than $145 a barrel and general selling emerged across a broad range of sectors, though gains in machinery such as Komatsu Ltd (6301.T: Quote, Profile, Research) help brake further falls. But with a slew of big events over and U.S. markets closed on Friday for Independence Day, investors were searching for direction and the market was moving more according to share-specific factors than any comprehensive market factors.

Market players said reassurance in the market sparked by U.S. shares having dodged several potential bullets on Thursday, including jobs data that was in line with forecasts, was offset by a grim longer-term outlook.

"Basically the fact that the dollar held its own after the European Central Bank move and jobs came in as expected helped reassure the market a bit," said Hiroaki Osakabe, a fund manager at Chibagin Asset Management.