Around the World's Markets: Tokyo

JAPANESE SHARES finished slightly higher after healthy growth figures raised confidence that the economy remained on track for a recovery.

The Nikkei 225 closed up 36.18 at 17,677.56. Japan's real gross domestic product rose 0.2 per cent in the April-June period from the previous quarter, the second straight quarter of growth and better than forecasts of a slight fall.

But a 2 per cent surge in the yen against the dollar revived fears over exporters' profits, leaving investors focussed on small growth stocks that are immune to currency fluctuations.