TOKYO, May 28 (Reuters) - Japan's stock market remained volatile in search of direction for a second straight day on Thursday as investor sentiment was weighed down by concerns over the Middle East crisis and technology sector valuations.

The Nikkei index slipped 0.11 percent to 64,928.28 in early trading. In the previous session, the index surged 2.2 percent to a record high of 66,428.81 before closing virtually unchanged. The broader Topix index fell 0.22 percent to 3,909.21.

Overnight, healthcare and consumer goods stocks pushed the Dow Jones Industrial Average to a record close, even as gains in the recently booming artificial intelligence and semiconductor sectors faded.

Shares of Japanese technology companies also declined broadly today as optimism faded over a deal to end the Middle East conflict following reports of new US strikes on Iran.

Since the beginning of the year, the Nikkei has risen 29 percent. 103 stocks on the index have advanced compared to 120 that have declined.

The biggest gainer in percentage terms was Taiyo Yuden, which jumped 17.1 percent, followed by Murata Manufacturing, which gained 8.9 percent.

The biggest loser was Fuji Electric, whose shares fell 7.1 percent, followed by Furukawa Electric, which lost 5.3 percent.