Japan considers more intervention

With Japan's economy faltering and manufacturers suffering from weak exports, the central bank is under pressure to do something it has never done before - buy foreign government bonds.

Previous stimulus measures by the central bank have had only limited success. Buying overseas bonds would weaken the high yen and make exports cheaper.

But it could force other nations to take similar action to lower their own currencies, thus cancelling out the Bank of Japan's action.

Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports from Tokyo.