There was widespread opposition Tuesday in Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori's Cabinet to the idea of using public funds to prop up the faltering stock market.
Economy Minister Takeo Hiranuma said that ensuring the natural movement of equity prices is essential and that infusing the market with public funds will not gain international support.
He spoke of the need to get the 82.65 trillion yen state budget for fiscal 2001, which starts April 1, enacted soon to ensure an early, full-fledged economic recovery.