Around the World's Markets: Tokyo

THE NIKKEI 225 fell 0.53 per cent to close at 14,086.85 as rumours that a mid-sized life insurer was likely to fail offset interest-rate hopes and currency stability.

The dollar rallied to stand at 113.54 yen just after the market closed, against 112.87 yen in late New York, as the benchmark 10-year government bond (JGB) fell sharply to yield 2.17 per cent. Speculation that the Bank of Japan could cut interest rates or take other credit-easing steps pushed down JGB yields sharply.