Around the World's Markets: TOKYO

THE BENCHMARK index staged its first three-day rally in two months on signs that the political deadlock over a bailout plan for the financial sector may be broken. The Nikkei 225 rose 6.99 points, or 0.05 per cent, to 14,376.62.

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi rose 68 yen to 1,088 and Sumitomo Bank gained 88 to 1,139 after the Nihon Keizai newspaper reported that the opposition New Peace Party has drafted a plan to bolster the banking system that includes provisions to inject public funds into lenders before they go bankrupt.