Around the World's Markets: TOKYO

TOKYO'S KEY Nikkei stock index ended a shade weaker, dragged down by a late round of year-end position squaring after spending most of the session in positive territory.

"The earlier gains were ruined by dealers' position-squaring selling," said Hidenori Karaki, an equities manager at Tokyo Mitsubishi Personal Securities. The Nikkei 225 finished down 16.19 points or 0.09 per cent at 18,095.12, extending its losing streak to a fifth day.