Tokyo - Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average extended losses in early trading Friday on prolonged economic concerns and the yen's strength against other currencies, with the benchmark index down 423.18 points, or 4.76 per cent, to 8,475.96.

The Nikkei lost more than 6 per cent in Thursday trading.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 97.27-32 yen, down from Thursday's 5 pm quote of 97.90-93 yen.

Wellington - New Zealand's conservative National Party is poised to sweep from power the Labour-led coalition that has governed for nine years, according to election-eve opinion surveys published Friday.

But the polls indicate that up to 1-in-10 voters are still undecided, and New Zealand's proportional representation system, which is designed to ensure minor parties are represented in Parliament, could still produce some surprises in Saturday's general election.

Hamburg - There were victories for most favourites in Thursday's UEFA Cup group games, with Serie A clubs AC Milan and Udinese being two of six club with two wins from two matches.

Former Champions League winners Milan needed a goal four minutes into injury time from substitute Ronaldinho to break down the Sporting Braga defence.

The other Group E game saw German Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg come from behind to beat Dutch club Heerenveen 5-1 in the so-called Group of Death.

Washington - Democrat Barack Obama won the presidency with a groundswell of support from youth, women, suburbanites and minorities, according to exit polls analyzed by various media organizations since Tuesday's vote.

Both Obama and McCain got 28 per cent of their support from independents, however.

Obama also benefited from what is expected to have been an unprecedented turnout projected at 133.3 million, or 62.5 per cent of eligible voters, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Washington - In an ironic twist, the US will be celebrating the 200th birthday of president Abe Lincoln - the US leader who ended slavery - just weeks after the inauguration of its first black president, Barack Obama.

Thus, it's hardly surprising that the theme of Obama's January 20 historic inauguration will be dominated by Lincoln, a president who also took office as the nation faced huge challenges.