Industry Voice: Japan Equity Market Outlook 2017

clock • 4 min read

Japan stands to benefit from Trump policies

Other than the US itself, we believe that the country that will benefit most from the policies to be implemented by the Trump Administration will be Japan.

The three pillars of President Trump's policies are tax reform, deregulation and infrastructure spending. We think that these measures are highly likely to be implemented - in particular the tax reform - given that there will be an absence of political gridlock in Washington.

These policies are expected to boost US GDP growth over the next few years. Given Japan's dependence on the US (20% of total exports, valued at JPY 15 trillion in 2015) and outbound direct investment into the US (USD 419 billion as of end 2015), it stands to benefit a great deal from these policies' implementation.

Changing policy mix in US to drive Yen lower

Looking at US monetary policy, the Federal Reserve has been in a rate hike cycle since December 2015, implying that the US economy is recovering steadily.

The job market is also tightening, as evidenced by the unemployment rate now at 4.7% in February 2017, which exceeded economists' expectations.

Fiscal stimulus under President Trump in the current environment is likely to cause interest rates to rise, resulting in the US dollar continuing to strengthen against all other major currencies.

If investors make decisions based on fundamentals (i.e. if the currency market is driven by interest rate differentials), we think that the currency that is likely to see its value drop the most is the Japanese Yen.

This is because the differential between US and Japan interest rates will widen as the US rate rises, and that of Japan remains anchored at a low level due to the Bank of Japan (BOJ)'s new policy framework. Under this framework, introduced in September 2016, the central bank commits itself to keeping the 10-year JGB yield around 0% through its "yield curve control" policy.

As an excessively strong US dollar may dampen US exporter earnings, ‘one-sided' strength in the greenback could trigger a political intervention. Having said that, the US already has a large trade deficit, and a stronger US dollar will result in lower import prices, boosting disposable income. This will likely have a positive impact on US GDP growth.

Outlook for Japan equities

Looking at the corporate earnings trend for Japan, revenues and profits fell year-on-year in the first half of 2016, with the second half being much stronger driven by profit growth in the manufacturing sector.

However, despite the stronger Yen, net profit margin is on the rise and is poised to surpass market expectations by reaching an all-time high this fiscal year (ending March 2017), thanks to companies' aggressive cost-cutting efforts.

Valuation-wise, the price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple for the broad market TOPIX is attractive. In fact, multiples have been driven down by foreign investors, as a strengthening of the Yen triggered skepticism of the government's ‘Abenomics' economic policies.

We believe that further improvement in corporate governance at Japanese companies will also translate into higher stock prices. Among the significant successes of Abenomics has been the implementation of Japan's Stewardship Code in 2014, and Japan's Corporate Governance Code in 2015. A few years following the introduction of the codes, we are seeing a significantly positive change in the way corporate managers are engaging with shareholders.

We believe that, in an increasingly uncertain world, Japan's less uncertain market will provide a compelling opportunity for serious investors.

This material has been prepared solely for the purposes of Nikko Asset Management Europe Limited to communicate about the market environment, etc. It is not solicitation for a specific fund. Moreover, the information in this material will not effect Nikko Asset Management Europe Limited's fund investment in any way.

Mentions of individual stocks in these materials neither promise that the stocks will be incorporated nor constitute a recommendation to buy or sell. The information in these documents have been prepared from what is considered to be reliable information but the accuracy and integrity of the information is not guaranteed by Nikko Asset Management Europe Limited. Figures, charts, and other data in these materials are current as of the date of publication unless stated otherwise. In addition, opinions expressed in these materials are as of the date of publication unless stated otherwise.

The graphs, figures, etc., contained in these materials contain either past or back-dated data, and make no promise of future investment returns, etc. These documents make no guarantee whatsoever of future changes to the market environment, etc.

Opinions expressed in these documents may contain opinions that are not Nikko Asset Management Europe Limited's but the personal opinion of the author, and may be changed without notice.

Nikko Asset Management Europe Limited

Authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (reference number 122084).

More on Industry Voice

Event Voice: UK Equities - Your questions answered...

Event Voice: UK Equities - Your questions answered...

Ed Legget, Fund Manager, Artemis Fund Managers
clock 16 January 2024 • 5 min read
Event Voice: Your questions answered by Zennor Asset Management at the Funds to Watch Event

Event Voice: Your questions answered by Zennor Asset Management at the Funds to Watch Event

clock 25 October 2023 • 5 min read
Event Voice: Your questions answered by Zennor at the Japan Market Focus Event

Event Voice: Your questions answered by Zennor at the Japan Market Focus Event

David Mitchinson, Portfolio Manager, Zennor Asset Management
clock 09 October 2023 • 3 min read
Trustpilot