Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi announced plans Friday to come up with a fresh economic package aimed at preventing a further decline in Japanese stock prices, following their fall to a 19-year low.
"I want steps for finances and the economy to be taken to remove worries," Koizumi told reporters at his office.
Koizumi's announcement came after hints from Cabinet ministers earlier in the week that such a package is needed. The benchmark Nikkei Stock Average closed at 9,129.07 on Friday after falling to a fresh 19-year low of 8,969.26 during morning trading.