Around the World's Markets: Tokyo

STOCKS ENDED HIGHER as the recent rally in high-tech and Internet stocks prompted investors to hunt for peripheral issues such as trading houses.

Market sentiment was also buoyed by record levels on Wall Street on Friday that saw the Dow Jones, S&P500 and Nasdaq all hit highs. The Nikkei 225 average closed up 284.28 points or 1.56 per cent at 18,532.58, renewing a 22-month closing high set late last week. The market is closed today for a national holiday.