Around the World's markets: Tokyo

THE NIKKEI fell 185.69 points, or 1.23 per cent, to close at 14,883.70 in light trading as technical dealers tried to push the market low enough to fill a price gap of roughly 125 points, created after Japanese markets were closed on 23 November while overseas markets traded.

The gap starts at 14,779.94 and ends at 14,904.20. "On a day when there's very little fundamental news, the gap tends to get focused on," said a trader. Sega Enterprises rose over 3 per cent after reporting its new 128-bit Dreamcast game player sold out.