Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has refuted reports of his resignation

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told the media this afternoon (July 23) that the Japanese media reports that he himself will resign are "all without factual basis". Ishiba said that he had just concluded a meeting with Taro Aso, the top adviser of the Liberal Democratic Party, former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Fumio Kishida, and "did not discuss the issue of resignation". Media reports that he intends to resign are completely untrue. Ishiba once again said that he will stay in office and continue to govern. Justin Low, an analyst at the US financial media, commented that Ishiba has not officially conceded defeat, but for now, his fate is a foregone conclusion. Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party will hold a party meeting on July 31, which can be predicted to be the last straw for Ishiba. Sentiment in Japanese asset markets was markedly mixed, with stocks rising, bonds selling off and the yen trading up and down as they tried to balance trade news and political uncertainty.