Japan’s stock markets traded slightly down on Wednesday after Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe told executives of his ruling Liberal Democratic Party he will resign his post. Mr Abe apparently made the decision because approval ratings for his cabinet have not recovered amid controversy over appointments of ministers to his new cabinet after suffering a resounding defeat in the upper house election in late July. Bloomberg reports that Mr Abe 52, will hold a press conference in Tokyo at 2pm (6am BST). Mr Abe, whose approval rating is about 30 per cent, said at the start of the week he might quit unless he won support to extend logistical aid to US forces in Afghanistan. Japan’s opposition has said it will try to block the bill. Taro Aso, secretary general of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said last month he would seek to become prime minister after Mr Abe.
