Around the World's Markets: TOKYO

STOCKS ENDED weaker, with traders cautious ahead of Japan's GDP data for the quarter to June, due early this morning. Expectations that the outcome may be lower than forecast depressed sentiment.

The Nikkei 225 ended down 66.12 points, 0.37 per cent, at 17,641.38. "A wait-and-see stance dominated the market, while slightly bearish expectations on GDP weighed on the Nikkei," a dealer said. A poll of economists produced an average forecast for GDP of minus 0.3 per cent, against a 2 per cent jump in the first quarter.