Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks bounced back Thursday as investors bought mainly export-oriented issues on the US dollar's advance against the yen.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average was up 37.93 points in morning trading, or 0.5 per cent, to 7,572.37. The index hit a four-month low the previous day on worries over a prolonged recession worldwide.

The broader Topix index of all first section issues was also up 3.09 points, or 0.41 per cent, at 752.35.

Tokyo  - Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average ended at a four-month low Wednesday on worries over prolonged recession after Wall Street fell overnight and Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa resigned in disgrace.

The Nikkei index closed at 7,534.44, down 111.07 points, or 1.45 per cent, and the broader Topix index of all first section issues was also down 7.27 points, or 0.96 per cent, at 749.26.

Tokyo  - Honda

Tokyo  - Tokyo stocks ended morning trading lower Wednesday on worries over prolonged recession after Wall Street fell overnight and following a scandal involving Japanese Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average dipped 90.86 points, or 1.19 per cent, to end morning trading at 7,554.65.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was down 6.59 points, or 0.87 per cent, at 749.94.

Tokyo  - The Japanese public has over the years got used to the occasionally embarrassing escapades of its politicians.

But the performance of Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa at a weekend press conference left even staunch government supporters speechless.

The 55-year-old appeared utterly drunk as he met the international press during the final day of the G7 meeting in Rome and started to mumble into the microphone.

He later attempted to excuse his excruciating performance, saying it was a combination of exhaustion, possibly aggravated by having taken too much cold medicine.

Tokyo  - Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell to a four-month low Tuesday after Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa said he would step down following accusations he was drunk at a Group of Seven press conference.

The Nikkei closed at 7,645.51, down 104.66 points, or 1.35 per cent, and the broader Topix index of all first section issues was also down 13.57 points, or 1.76 per cent, at 756.53.