Japan equity: top performer in 2023; remains attractive option for 2024

Tuesday 13 February 2024

Cross Asset

   

Japan equity: top performer in 2023; remains attractive option for 2024

February 2024 | Three key arguments support the Japanese market: (1) A recovery in profits (2) A strong incentive from the Tokyo Stock Exchange for companies to improve their capital efficiency and (3) The shift out of deflation is boosting a market rerating. The risks to these positive arguments are mostly linked to the yen. A strong comeback by the yen, should global equity volatility increase sufficiently in 2024 to encourage the unwinding of carry trades, would weigh on the performance of Japan's equities in local currency It would penalize profits and, everything else being equal, slow the process of increasing inflation, weighing on valuations at the same time.

01 |  Japan's equity market is at a historical high in total return terms; in price return terms it is at its highest level in almost 34 years.

02 | The "easier part" of the disinflationary process is past, and the path to bringing core inflation back to target will require a substantial moderation in demand and growth.

03 | The reforms introduced by the Tokyo Stock Exchange in March 2023 should continue to produce positive effects in 2024.

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