TOKYO -- Stocks and bonds pulled back noticeably toward the end of the week, as stock investors worldwide came to the realization that the U.S. and European central banks could start cutting back on their monetary easing programs sooner than they had thought.
The Nikkei Stock Average dipped below 20,000 temporarily Friday for the first time in about two weeks. Greater than expected consumer price growth has fueled prospects for the European Central Bank to taper monetary easing. Surplus funds have spurred market upticks since the start of the year, but that optimism now must be reassessed.
