Around the World's Markets: Tokyo

STOCKS came off sharply as traders grew nervous that the market had jumped too high the previous day.

The Nikkei 225 closed down 2.05 per cent, or 354.09 points, at 16,946.52. The correction was prompted by an overnight retreat on Wall Street, suggesting Thursday's 3 per cent surge in Tokyo share prices had been overdone.

Shares in Nintendo defied the trend, climbing 700 yen or 5.69 per cent to 13,000 yen, buoyed by a tripling in sales of the hand-held Game Boy video game player.