Global markets tumble as war drums beat louder

RISING fears of imminent war against Iraq sparked selling in global stock markets yesterday, with many indices touching fresh lows.  

In Asia, Japan was the worst hit. Its benchmark Nikkei 225 Index plunged 225 points or 2.7% to a 20-year low of 8,144. The Japanese market was also dampened by reports of a probe into alleged stock manipulation by Nikko Salomon Smith Barney.