Around the World's Markets: Tokyo

SHARES IN Tokyo failed to follow the trend on other Asian markets and the Nikkei 225 share index closed 177.37 down at 16,674.21.

Worries about the future earnings of hi-tech companies spread to Tokyo from the US and telecoms also suffered from profit-taking, led by NTT DoCoMo, NTT and NTT Data.

Sony shed 160 to 11,450 yen, reflecting the strong currency, while other consumer electronics were mixed. Banks generally weakened.