JAPAN

Government Opposes Investment Tax Cut: A finance ministry official has expressed opposition to calls for a cut in taxes on investment. Mamoru Ozaki, the ministry’s vice minister for administrative affairs, said he opposed the idea, which some business leaders have suggested as a means of reviving the economy. Ozaki said the government’s budgetary situation is too tight to allow a cut in taxes. Reiterating the position of other Finance Ministry officials, including the minister, Tsutomu Hata, Ozaki said he is watching the effects of recent fiscal and monetary measures designed to revive the economy.