Amman - King Abdullah II of Jordan is to pay a working visit to Japan starting on Sunday, the royal court announced Wednesday.

During the visit, which is due to last for several days, the monarch will meet Emperor Akitio and hold talks with Prime Minister Taro Aso that focus on latest developments in the Middle East, particularly efforts under way to spur peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, a royal court statement said.

The discussions will also tackle means of boosting bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic spheres, it added.

Tokyo  - Asian stocks slumped Wednesday on concerns over upcoming corporate earnings reports and profit taking.

The day's sharpest stock losses were seen in Hong Kong and mainland China, where the major indices fell more than 3 per cent, as analysts predicted dismal earnings for companies for the quarter that just ended as well as for this year.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average plunged 2.69 per cent to 8,595.01 while its broader Topix index of all first-section issues was also down 2.08 per cent at
815.26.

Tokyo - Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara on Wednesday expressed confidence in winning the bid to host the 2016 Olympics and said that North Korea's recent rocket launch was no security threat.

"I am confident in the race to host the Olympics," the controversial governor said at a press conference in Tokyo.

"Of the four candidate cities, Tokyo is the most appropriate place for it."

Tokyo  - Sharp Corp on Wednesday enlarged its expected losses for the fiscal year that ended March 31 in its third downward earnings revision.

The Japanese electronics company said it expected its net loss to expand to 130 billion yen (1.3 billion dollars) from a February forecast of 100 billion yen and its operating loss to worsen to 60 billion yen from 30 billion yen.

Sharp was to suffer its first annual operating loss since 1977 as demand for digital products dwindled amid harsh price competition and the global economic downturn, it said.

Tokyo - Japan's current account balance was cut more than in half in February compared with the same month a year ago but returned to the black after posting a deficit in January, government officials said Wednesday.

The nation's current account surplus narrowed 55.6 per cent in February to 1.12 trillion yen (11.14 billion dollars) on declining exports, the Finance Ministry said.

The trade surplus in goods and services fell 94.3 per cent from a year before to 53 billion yen.

The income surplus fell 34.1 per cent to 1.1 trillion yen, the biggest fall in almost three years.

Tokyo  - The Tokyo market fell Wednesday after concerns over US firms' earnings reports led Wall Street to overnight losses.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average dipped 174.22 points, or 1.97 per cent, in morning trading to 8,658.63.

The broader Topix index of all first-section issues was down 12.73 points, or 1.53 per cent, at 819.87.

On currency markets at 9 am (0000 GMT), the dollar traded at 100.62-67 yen, up from Tuesday's 5 pm quote of 100.54-56 yen.