Tokyo - Japan's central bank on Thursday decided to keep the short-term interest rate unchanged at 0.1 per cent as the nation suffers through the worst recession in its postwar era.

The Bank of Japan's policy board voted unanimously to forego an rate hike at the end of a two-day meeting after it lowered the rate from 0.3 per cent in December.

Tokyo  - Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso on Thursday apologized for having to replace his finance minister during a recession and while the budget was being debated and accepted responsibility for appointing Shoichi Nakagawa to the post.

"The responsibility for appointing him to a cabinet minister resides on me, of course," Aso told the House of Representatives Budget Committee in response to an opposition party demand for an apology.

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.