The Tokyo Stock Exchange held a ceremony Friday to mark the end of the year's trading, with Dai Tamesue, the bronze medal winner in the men's 400-meter hurdles at the International Association of Athletic Federations World Championships in August, cheering on the economy.

About 600 people, including TSE Chairman and President Taizo Nishimuro and other TSE executives, as well as officials from brokerage, took part in the ceremony.

"I hope Japan's economy will gain momentum (next year) when it faces difficulties," 27-year-old hurdler Tamesue said, in a track and field metaphor.

Tamesue added that he speeds up when he clears hurdles and takes advantage of them in competing with rivals.

Nishimuro meanwhile said the stock market saw brisk trading this year thanks partly to a recovery in corporate earnings.

The TSE's key Nikkei index fell 232.77 points Friday to finish the year at 16,111.43. Despite the weak finish, however, the market surged by some 40 percent for the year.

2005 was not without its setbacks. Nishimuro called the year a tough one for the bourse due to serious problems with its computer system.

"We wish to follow Mr. Tamesue, who runs at full speed when jumping hurdles," Nishimuro said.

Nishimuro was appointed as both chairman and president at TSE after his predecessor, Takuo Tsurushima, resigned earlier this month to take responsibility for the recent computer glitches.

On Nov. 1, a system failure caused the suspension of all stock trading for the first time in its nearly 60-year history.

The TSE's computer system failed again on Dec. 8 when Mizuho Securities Co. found itself unable to cancel an erroneous share offer, causing turbulence on the market.