Around the World's Markets: Tokyo

SHARE PRICES closed higher, buoyed by position covering and bargain hunting, with investors optimistic over Sakura Bank's move to raise 300bn to strengthen its balance sheet.

The Nikkei 225 index closed up 192.26 points at 14,107.89, off a high of 14,224.18 and a low of 13,845.15. The index had sunk to a 12-year low on Friday.

The Topix index closed up 19.50 points at 1,106.49, with the Nikkei 300 index up 3.96 points at 216.22.