Capital IdeasTM
Investment insights from Capital Group
Japan
Anne Vandenabeele
Christophe Braun
Japanese equities have continued rising over recent months, with the Nikkei 225 breaching its 1989 peak and climbing above the psychologically important 40,000 for the first time in history. While this resurgence is capturing attention, what is potentially more significant is the fact that over the next five to ten years, many of the factors that have held back the region’s equity returns for so long are likely to change.
Japanese equities have been on a tear for more than a year, driven by a combination of strong corporate earnings, a weaker yen that helps exporters, and an influx of foreign investors looking for an alternative to China. Looking forward, we see three key factors supporting a longer-term renaissance, namely improving corporate governance, reflation, and changing monetary policy and yen appreciation. All have the potential to generate traction for increasing capex (future digitalisation, new supply chains in manufacturing and logistics) and higher domestic consumption.
After decades of deflation, rising productivity growth and inflationary conditions could boost earnings growth; meanwhile, greater corporate efficiency and improved governance could raise profitability, valuations and dividend income.
Japanese company dividends to hit record high (in yen, trillions)
Past results are no guarantee of future results
Source: Nikkei analysis, 2023 share buybacks are estimated
As a further driver, with more companies passing on inflation costs to consumers, labour unions were able to secure the biggest payrise for Japanese workers since 1991. This appears to have given Bank of Japan officials confidence that mild inflation will continue to remain stable and at its March meeting, officials ended eight years of negative interest rates and also removed yield curve controls.
While company fundamentals should become more relevant in Japan, we also note the US Federal Reserve’s hiking cycle is coming to an end. Together with gradual BoJ policy normalisation, that would be expected to drive a narrowing of the yen-USD interest rate differential and yen appreciation. Our team believes this environment could benefit ‘quality-growth’ stocks in Japan with domestic exposure, across areas such as precision instruments, electric appliances, chemicals and the service sector.
Given all these factors, we believe a core, well-diversified multi-cap strategy is worth considering for investors re-evaluating their asset allocation in order to address a long-term underweight exposure to Japan.
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Past results are not predictive of results in future periods. It is not possible to invest directly in an index, which is unmanaged. The value of investments and income from them can go down as well as up and you may lose some or all of your initial investment. This information is not intended to provide investment, tax or other advice, or to be a solicitation to buy or sell any securities.
Statements attributed to an individual represent the opinions of that individual as of the date published and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Capital Group or its affiliates. All information is as at the date indicated unless otherwise stated. Some information may have been obtained from third parties, and as such the reliability of that information is not guaranteed.
Capital Group manages equity assets through three investment groups. These groups make investment and proxy voting decisions independently. Fixed income investment professionals provide fixed income research and investment management across the Capital organization; however, for securities with equity characteristics, they act solely on behalf of one of the three equity investment groups.