Tokyo  - The Japanese market opened the new fiscal year in a positive light Wednesday, despite the Bank of Japan's Tankan survey results.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average increased 242.15 points, or 2.99 per cent, to 8,351.68.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 22.09 points, or 2.89 per cent, to 795.75.

Japan's key Tankan index of manufacturer sentiment hit a record low in March, the Bank of Japan said Wednesday.

Tokyo  - Nissan has started extensive testing of a fuel-cell prototype SUV based on the Nissan X-Trail that it hopes to have ready for serial production in 2015, reports said.

Compared to a previous model, the latest X-Trail FCV generation power output has been boosted from 90 to 130 kW. At the same time, the fuel cell stack has been reduced in size from 90 to 68 litres, giving the engineers more flexibility in the packaging, the German auto-motor-sport magazine reported.

Tokyo  - Toyota has developed the first cen

Tokyo - Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso on Tuesday ordered the government to draw up a supplemental budget by mid-April to finance fresh economic measures.

The new stimulus package, to be implemented over several years, would fund "drastic steps to boost domestic demand and create jobs."

To finance the stimulus package, Aso indicated that he may issue deficit-covering bonds in addition to reserves in the special account for fiscal investment and lending, as well as construction bonds.

Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks recovered Tuesday as buying was encouraged after the market lost more than 4 per cent the previous day.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average inched up 72.75 points, or 0.88 per cent, to 8,308.83.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also up 0.84 points, or 0.11 per cent, to 790.38.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 97.37-42 yen, up from Monday's 5 pm quote of 96.16-19 yen.