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 - The Japanese parliament on Tuesday adopted a resolution urging North Korea to halt its scheduled rocket launch.

The resolution was adopted unanimously during the parliamentary session, calling the possible launch of a long-range ballistic missile "an action that would damage peace and stability not only in Japan but in the north-east Asian region."

Japan would not "tolerate the act and would demonstrate its firm protest against the notice of the launch."

Tokyo - Japan's jobless rate hit the worst level in more than three years, the government said Tuesday.

The unemployment rate rose 0.3 percentage point to 4.4 per cent in February from the month before, with 2.99 million people left jobless, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said in a preliminary report.

Japan's working community faces a tough time, and "the deterioration of payrolls is getting severe," the ministry said.

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.

Hanoi - Vietnamese officials said Monday that government representatives will sign an agreement tomorrow resuming aid from Japan to Vietnam.

Japan had suspended all aid to Vietnam in December due to a corruption scandal on a Japanese-funded transportation project.

Tokyo  - The Japanese market started the week lower Monday as investors sold shares to lock in profits from the previous week's gains.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average dropped 151.91 points, or 1.76 per cent, to 8,475.06.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 15.91 points, or 1.93 per cent, to 808.62.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 98.05-10 yen, up from Friday's 5 pm quote of 97.88-91 yen.