Japan

Many market commentators started the year tipping Japan as a contrarian, laggard equity investment for 2010.

Artemis Strategic Assets manager William Littlewood increased his fund's net equity exposure by over 10% last month after buying into market weakness and closing short positions in the mining sector.

If the US - the world's importer of last resort - is going on an export drive, the implications for Asia may be profound, writes Aberdeen's Hugh Young.

The £1.9bn Foreign & Colonial investment trust has brought management of its Japan mandate back in-house to F&C after removing Goldman Sachs.

J O Hambro Capital Management's Scott McGlashan believes the recovery of Japan's economy and stock market should continue in 2010, especially if the Bank of Japan eases monetary policy.

Neptune Japan Opportunities manager runs a consolidated portfolio of evenly sized holdings of between 2% and 3%

Japan Growth fund to redenominate allowing shares to be included in FTSE All Share

Nomura's Yasuhiro Mimbuta believes Japanese equities remain attractive despite facing a tough year in 2010.

HSBC Global Asset Management is to launch a pair of ETFs tracking emerging market indices.

Jupiter's Philip Gibbs has opened up a net short position on "overvalued" UK commercial property stocks as the manager develops a number of early themes into his new Absolute Return fund.