UPDATE 1-Nikkei Dec futures settle at 15,513.61

TOKYO, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Nikkei futures and options contracts expiring in December settled at 15,513.61, officials at the Osaka Securities Exchange said on Friday, confirming earlier estimates by local brokerages.

The closely watched settlement price, known in Japan as the special quotation or "SQ", is calculated from the opening prices of the 225 shares on the Nikkei share average .N225 on the second Friday of the month. (Reporting by Taiga Uranaka; Editing by Mike Miller)