Around the World's Markets: Tokyo

STOCKS finished modestly lower as investors closed positions ahead of the Japanese national holidays.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index ended down 15.03 points, or 0.09 per cent, at 16,942.24. Nikkei June futures were down 10 points at 16,980.

Traders said sharp swings in the value of the yen against the dollar added to the cautious sentiment in the market. Early in the session, the dollar briefly slipped as much as two yen in the wake of official hints at a supplementary budget later in the year.