Around the World's Markets: Tokyo

LATE GAINS by exporters offset declines by trading companies and helped the benchmark index erase most of an early deficit. Mitsui and Mitsubishi fell on concerns that profits will be eroded by crumbling investments, while Sony led a rally by electronics companies and car makers as public pensions bid up shares in anticipation of the month-end book closing.

The Nikkei 225 index fell 87.94 points, or 0.63 per cent, to 13,821.4. In morning trading the benchmark fell below a 12-year closing low of 13,597.30 set on 21 September.