IN BRIEF (Page 17)

Asian stocks stumble

Asian stock markets stumbled yesterday as fresh concerns about banks and upcoming results from US companies led many investors to book profits following a massive global rally in recent weeks. European markets were mostly flat.

Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average closed down 25.08 points, or 0.3 percent, to 8,832.85. The central bank also announced it was keeping its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a super low 0.1 percent, as was widely expected.