Tokyo - Tokyo stocks ended modestly higher Monday as investors bought back battered shares, but gains were capped due to anxiety over the slowdown of Japan's economic growth.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average inched up 60.19 points, or 0.71 per cent, to close at 8,522.58.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 3.58 points, or 0.42 per cent, to 850.49.

The government announced Monday that the nation's economy shrank at an annualized rate of 0.4 per cent in real terms in the July-September period.

Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks opened modestly higher Monday as investors bought back battered shares, but gains were capped due to anxiety over the slowdown of Japan's economic growth.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average edged up 98.8 points, or 1.17 per cent, to 8,561.19.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 6.31 points, or 0.75 per cent, to 853.22.

The government announced Monday that the nation's economy shrank at an annualized rate of 0.4 per cent in real terms in the July-September period.

Indian equities on Friday (Nov 14) opened strongly on account of strong worldwide signals and a sharp drop in weekly inflationary numbers.

However, the BSE Sensex shed most of its earlier gains amid choppy trades due to heavy profit booking seen across blue chip stocks.

Doubts regarding the success of different bailout packages declared by governments across the globe and lack of participation by institutional investors contributed to the market’s fall despite a fairly bright start this morning.

Washington  - US stocks dropped Friday, capping a dismal end to another volatile week, over concerns that a slump in retail sales revealed the extent of a looming recession.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 337.94 points, or 3.82 per cent, as investors grappled with the bleak outlook for consumer spending.

Frankfurt - The world's leading central banks are ready to take more steps to stabilize global markets if need be, Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the US Federal Reserve, said Friday.

He said continuing volatility and recent economic indicators show that there are challenges ahead. Bernanke was in Germany to attend a conference sponsored by the European Central Bank to review the history of the euro.

The stock market continued to trade in negative terrain because of heavy selling action witnessed across some of the frontline stocks.

Auto, consumer goods, metal and IT stocks have registered sharp losses.

While some modest buying was seen in the smallcap space, a number of midcap stocks were struggling in the red zone because of sustained selling pressure.

The market breadth was weak. Out of 2381 stocks, 1329 stocks were down in the negative territory. 961 stocks recorded gains and 91 stocks traded flat.