Tokyo  - Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso is enjoying a boost in public support as opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa is dragged down by a scandal over party funding, media reports said Thursday.

The support rate for Aso's administration increased 7.7 percentage points to 23.7 per cent from early March, according to a survey by the Kyodo News Agency.

It once tanked to single-digits, going as low as 9.7 per cent in February.

Tokyo  - In the West, most people his age enjoy their well-deserved retirement. But 80-year-old Kazuo Kashio has no time for that.

"I have to continue for now, until the prospects for our company improve again," the president of Japanese electronics company Casio Computer Co says.

Kashio has been on the helm of the company, which he founded together with his three brothers in 1957, for more than 20 years.

Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks ended Thursday morning trading higher on a more positive outlook of the US economy.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 43.1 points, or 0.51 per cent, to 8,523.09.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was up 1.26 points, or 0.15 per cent, to 819.75.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar was quoted at 97.75-80 yen, up from Wednesday's 5 pm quote of 97.71-74 yen.

Tokyo  - Japan's exports dropped by 49.4 per cent in February, the biggest plunge on record, as global demand for cars and electronics declined, the Ministry of Finance said Wednesday.

Exports dropped to 3.5 trillion yen (35.7 billion dollars) year-on-year in February, the fifth consecutive monthly drop and the biggest since the beginning of records in 1980.

Imports were down by 43 per cent to 3.4 trillion yen, creating a trade surplus of 82.4 billion yen, down 91.2 per cent compared with the same month last year. It is the first trade surplus in five months.

Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks fell in early trading on Wednesday on profit-taking, breaking a two-day climb.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average dipped by 0.73 per cent, or 61.58 points to 8,426.72 by mid-trading, reversing earlier gains.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was almost flat, dropping 0.27 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 812.45.

Traders also reacted to reports that Japan's overseas exports dropped by 49.4 per cent in February year-on-year, with consumer electronics titles contributing most to the slump.

Tokyo - Exhibitor numbers for this year's Tokyo Motor Show are down as carmakers are hit by the global downturn, organizers said Tuesday.

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) said only 122 companies were to take part in the show held every two years, down from 241 exhibitors in 2007.

Carmakers including Germany's Volkswagen AG, Bayerische Motorenwerke AG and Mercedes-Benz have not registered their participation, neither did their ailing US rivals General Motors Corp, Ford Motor Co and Chrysler LLC.