Around the World's Markets: Tokyo

THE NIKKEI 225 average finished marginally up as investor appetite, backed by Japan's recent strong growth figures, overwhelmed a temporary negative impact from rising tensions on the Korean peninsula. The blue- chip index closed up 0.54 per cent at 17,282. A trader said: "The positive outcome of Japan's GDP data has completely changed the market's tune."

Last Thursday the market was stunned by GDP growth of 1.9 per cent between January and March, far above market expectations.