NIKKEI 225

Michael Woodford, the ousted boss of Japan's Olympus Corp, has won the battle to force his former employer to admit to more than a decade of accounting fraud. His bid to return as chief executive officer, however, appears doomed.

Southeast Asian stock markets were mixed with an easier bias on Tuesday as market players cashed in any quick gains and remained focused on risks attached to the unresolved sovereign debt crisis in the euro zone.

Gold prices rose more than 1 percent and silver popped nearly 2 percent Tuesday on fresh evidence the struggling U.S. housing industry is recovering plus rising German business sentiment that boosted investors' risk appetite.

Olympus Corp is preparing to issue about $1.28 billion (100 billion yen) in new shares, with Japanese high-tech stalwarts Sony and Fujifilm seen as possible buyers, as it tries to bolster its depleted finances, the Nikkei business daily reported Tuesday.

Asian stocks and the euro edged up on Tuesday, but sentiment remained fragile on concerns that efforts to contain the euro zone debt crisis were faltering and tougher rules to strengthen banks' capital would further undermine their profits.

Japan's Nikkei share average fell to a three-week low on Monday, hurt by news that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il had died and as worries over Europe's debt crisis increased after Fitch Ratings warned of possible downgrades for seven European nations.

Japan's Nikkei share average rose modestly on Friday after signs of strength in the U.S. economy but it slipped for the week, as investors continue to worry about the impact of Europe's debt crisis.

Asian shares rose and the euro edged higher Friday, as signs of strength in the U.S. economy temporarily broke through gloom over the European debt crisis that had driven a selloff in riskier assets over the past three days.

Major Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Thursday for the third day, led by banks and commodities as a decline in Chinese factory output added to worries about the global economy and Europe's debt crisis.

Asian shares fell into bear market territory for the year and commodities and the euro nursed stinging losses Thursday, after fears that Europe's debt crisis is still worsening prompted investors to dump riskier assets and huddle in the safety of the dollar and Treasuries.

Most Southeast Asian stock markets closed weaker on Wednesday in light trading volumes after the Federal Reserve warned that turmoil in Europe poses a big threat to the world's biggest economy.

Asian shares drifted lower and the euro idled near an 11-month low on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve failed to take any new steps to stimulate growth and offset the chilling effects of Europe's still-unresolved sovereign debt crisis.

Asian stocks sank on Tuesday and the euro languished near a two-month low as investors took fright at the prospect of mass euro zone sovereign ratings downgrades after the outcome of a last chance European Union summit failed to convince markets.

The Japan Business Federation has decided to punish scandal-tainted Olympus Corp and Daio Paper Corp on December 21, the Nikkei business daily said.

The Japan Business Federation has decided to punish scandal-tainted Olympus Corp and Daio Paper Corp on December 21, the Nikkei business daily said.

Major Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Monday on the European Union's deal to pursue stricter budget rules, but investors remained cautious and concerned about whether Europe is taking sufficient steps to resolve its debt crisis.

Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Friday on growing doubts that European leaders will be able to forge a credible scheme to contain the euro zone's debt crisis at a summit in Brussels.

Asian shares, commodities and the euro fell Friday on growing doubts that European leaders could forge a credible plan to solve the euro zone's debt crisis at a summit later in the day.

Southeast Asian stock markets fell on Thursday, anxious about coming key events in the euro zone and as doubts emerged about the ability of European leaders to agree on a plan to tackle that region's debt crisis.

Most Southeast Asian stock markets rose on Wednesday on optimism that European leaders will take strong steps to resolve the region's debt crisis at a summit later this week.

Meiji Holdings Co.'s shares have plummeted following the discovery of radiation in its baby formula this week, which added to concerns about baby-food contamination nine months after an earthquake and tsunami hit the nation.