Around the World's Markets: Tokyo

THE NIKKEI 225 ended down 1.1 per cent at 14,144.7 as late falls in the shares of banking and securities houses dampened market sentiment. Government curbs on short selling also came into effect, helping to halt the five-day rally.

The retreat was led by brokerage houses such as Nikko Securities, which finished the half year 57.7bn yen (pounds 290m) in the red: shares in Nikko fell 8.3 per cent. The mobile phone operator, DoCoMo, fell 4.3 per cent on its second trading day after rising a higher-than-expected 19.2 per cent on its debut.