Around the World's Markets: Tokyo

RECORD JOBLESS numbers and the slump in spending figures hit hopes of an early recovery in the Japanese economy. Unemployment in Japan has topped 3 million for the first time, according to official figures, and household spending tumbled 5.7 per cent in January to a 13-year low.

The weak economic data took their toll on the Nikkei 225 index, which shrugged off Monday's record performance on Wall Street to close down by 149.72 points at 15,859.12.