Nikkei

Japanese equities have started to regain some of the ground lost since the end of last week after the Nikkei rose 1.2% in Tuesday's trading.

The Japanese market has gone from strength to strength this year, with shares soaring as the recent expansionary policies of new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe power the economy. But which funds offer investors the best way to play the ongoing rally?

The Japanese economy grew faster than any other G7 country in the first quarter of the year, reflecting the benefit of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's expansionary policies.

Japan's benchmark index has broken through the 15,000 barrier for the first time since 2008 as investors continue to cheer policymakers' efforts to weaken the yen.

London blue-chip index has crossed the threshold level of 6,600 for the first time since 2007 after a seven-day climb.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index has closed above 14,600, a fresh-five year high, as the yen dropped to a four-year low against the dollar.

Chinese and wider Asia stock markets were boosted today by better than expected inflation data from China.

Japanese shares have slumped in this morning's trading as equity markets struggle to consolidate gains seen in the first quarter of 2013.

Japan's Nikkei index experienced its biggest fall since November as concerns about Cyprus and the eurozone continued to batter markets.

Banking stocks continued to pull back the FTSE 100 on Monday, as the losses announced by Lloyds Banking Group last week continued to dog the group and its peers.