Around the World's Markets: TOKYO

A NEAR eight-year low for the yen dominated Asian markets on Friday. Selling by short-term speculators and Japanese investors pushed the Japanese currency to 144.75 to the dollar, its weakest point since August 1990.

The Nikkei index breached the key 15,000 barrier for the first time since January, but ended marginally up by 8.29 points at 15,022.33. The downside in Tokyo was limited by government-led pension fund buying around the key 15,000 support level.