The best ways to invest after the quakes

ON JAPAN

Royal London's David Varley says a domestic/export combination is the safest way forward in light of the disasters in the country.

‘Exporters or domestics?' is one question always uppermost in Japanese fund managers' minds. High-quality purveyors of cars and electronics for global buyers, or domestic demand-oriented stocks, likely to grow more slowly but sometimes undervalued and ripe for a turnaround. It is a difficult question to answer in the light of the disasters in Japan. The most obvious conclusion might be the export sector is more attractive. What could be more insulated from damage than a company that makes most of its products outside the stricken region and sells them internationally? But what about t...