Japan In Focus
This microsite highlights the key issues facing Japanese investors and the outlook for the Japanese economy. It takes inspiration from the Global Fiduciary Symposium held in Tokyo in November where Top1000funds.com was a media partner.
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Japan PM Kishida’s blueprint for asset owners met with cool response
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s ambitious strategy to reinvigorate the country’s $5 trillion asset management industry encounters a cool response from domestic corporate pension funds. Stakeholders express reluctance, citing uncertainties and a perceived lack of instant benefits as government panels form to craft the reform plans.
Japanese corporate pension funds navigate uncharted waters
Fixed income, once a stabilising force for asset-rich Japanese corporate pension funds, now struggles to counter stock and currency volatility. Japanese investors are reducing fixed income, and heavily diversifying their portfolio as high currency hedging costs prompt caution, seeking shelter in short-term strategies amid uncertainties surrounding global central bank policies.
Japan stocks shine amid global shifts, China uncertainty
With Japanese stock prices reaching a 33-year high, the economy emerging from deflation, and the positive impact of corporate governance reforms over the past decade, it’s not surprising that money managers, especially foreign investors, who previously showed little interest in Japan are now flocking to Tokyo.
Japan’s SMBC pension fund explores boosting exposures to alternatives
Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) Pension Fund, managing assets worth 1 trillion yen ($6.6 billion), is poised to increase investments in illiquid alternatives, including infrastructure private equity and debt aimed at maximizing returns.
Geneva pension fund finds confidence in Japanese equities
The $23 billion pension fund of the state of Geneva in Switzerland is favouring Japanese equities and seeking opportunities to acquire them when prices decline amid factors including attractive dividend yields, the monetary policy by the Japanese central bank and stable consumer habits.
Japan in focus