Around the World's Markets: Tokyo

SHARE PRICES closed broadly higher, buoyed by public fund buying and window-dressing ahead of the end-month book closing, with the Nikkei 225 ending up 185.53 points, at 13,909.37, after a 3.39 per cent fall on Friday.

Tokai and Asahi banks detailed plans to combine, forming Japan's second- largest financial group with over 61 trillion yen ($451bn) in assets, while concerns mounted about credit risks as Long-Term Credit Bank's affiliate, Japan Leasing Corp, filed for bankruptcy.