Tokyo - Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso on Monday ordered the government and the ruling parties to immediately implement measures to stabilize the stock market.

"Stock prices greatly influence the real economy," Aso said at a press conference. "In that sense, we have to consider various measures and implement them."

The government was expected to implement emergency measures such as a larger government fund to recapitalize ailing banks and help for employees to purchase stock in their companies, Aso said.

Tokyo -

Tokyo - Japan's future prime minister Taro Aso should call for an early general election and be judged by the public, Japanese media said Tuesday.

Aso was elected president of the nation's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Monday to succeed outgoing Yasuo Fukuda, who announced his resignation on September 1.

The 68-year-old veteran politician Aso awaits Wednesday's election to become prime minister.

Tokyo - Japan's rul

tokyo - Former Foreign Minister Taro Aso was set to succeed outgoing Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda Monday as he was expected to win Japan's governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election.

Aso, 68, was determined to prevail against four other candidates in his fourth bid in the LDP presidential election, while hoping to lead the ruling party to victory in the House of Representatives election soon to be held.

Tokyo - Former Japanese foreign minister Taro Aso, the top contender for succeeding newly resigned prime minister Yasuo Fukuda, Friday promised measures to kick-start Japan's lacklustre economy.

When officially announcing his candidature for the September 22 election for the presidency of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the 67-year-old party hawk promised to "dispel the concerns of the population."

Frustrated by low poll ratings and the opposition blocking his policies in Japan's upper house, Fukuda unexpectedly announced his resignation on Monday.