Around the World's Markets: Tokyo

A SLIDE in Softbank triggered a tumble in high-technology stocks that left the Japanese stock market down 1 per cent. The benchmark Nikkei 225 average fell 1 per cent to end at 18,248.30. Warburg Dillon Read changed its recommendation on Softbank from a "hold" to a "sell" and set its target price for the stock at 20,000. Softbank shed 7.18 per cent to end at 32,300 yen. They had hit 37,800 in the morning, their highest level since being listed.

Analysts said rising tensions between Taiwan and China also contributed to selling in Tokyo.