Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>We turn bullish on Fast Retail as the current quarter marks the bottom for China sales</li>
<li>The company continues to surprise in its mastery of gross margins and operating costs</li>
<li>China is key, but the US is emerging as a new (and profitable) growth driver</li>
</ul>


We turn bullish on Fast Retail as the current quarter marks the bottom for China sales
The company continues to surprise in its mastery of gross margins and operating costs
China is key, but the US is emerging as a new (and profitable) growth driver


Fast Retailing (9983) | Time to Ditch the Shorts

Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

<ul>
<li>Broad global MSCI equity indexes (ACWI,ACWI ex-U.S.,EAFE, and EM) remain bearish with YTD downtrends intact. Until these indexes reverse downtrends, we are bearish and view bounces as bear market rallies.</li>
<li>Major non-U.S. countries appear to be much further along in the bottoming process, a potential sign that U.S. indexes could take a back seat once global equities finally bottom.</li>
<li>Indexes that have not made a new low since March: Nikkei 225, TOPIX, TOPIX Small, Hang Seng, Europe’s EURO STOXX 50, and China's MSCI China (MCHI-US) and China Internet (KWEB-US).</li>
</ul>


Broad global MSCI equity indexes (ACWI,ACWI ex-U.S.,EAFE, and EM) remain bearish with YTD downtrends intact. Until these indexes reverse downtrends, we are bearish and view bounces as bear market rallies.
Major non-U.S. countries appear to be much further along in the bottoming process, a potential sign that U.S. indexes could take a back seat once global equities finally bottom.
Indexes that have not made a new low since March: Nikkei 225, TOPIX, TOPIX Small, Hang Seng, Europe’s EURO STOXX 50, and China's MSCI China (MCHI-US) and China Internet (KWEB-US).


Hang Seng, MSCI China Near Major Base Breakouts; Bottoms-Up Stock Rec's in Hong Kong, China, & Japan

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Equity Analyst

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a>’s share price continues to hold at the post 2QFY22 level despite clear signs of weakness in many of its growth markets.</li>
<li>Even though markets have partially priced in the losing competitiveness in the Chinese market, it still believes Fast Retailing can offset that with growth from North America and Europe businesses.</li>
<li>As North America and Europe expose their true colours in the next quarterly results due mid-next month, we expect a much-needed correction to Fast Retailing’s share price.</li>
</ul>



Fast Retailing (9983 JP)’s share price continues to hold at the post 2QFY22 level despite clear signs of weakness in many of its growth markets.
Even though markets have partially priced in the losing competitiveness in the Chinese market, it still believes Fast Retailing can offset that with growth from North America and Europe businesses.
As North America and Europe expose their true colours in the next quarterly results due mid-next month, we expect a much-needed correction to Fast Retailing’s share price.


Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shimamura-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15213:1" rel="noopener">Shimamura (8227 JP)</a> is on a roll at the moment, clawing back share after a troubled few years of mis-merchandising and confused targeting.</li>
<li>After a record year, Shimamura now thinks its merchandise teams are strong enough to take on urban centre consumers – without raising operating costs. This could be a worry for Uniqlo.</li>
<li>Shimamura has tried this before but back then its focus was on young women and had weaker merchandising skills. This time around too urban consumers want more discount apparel.</li>
</ul>



Shimamura (8227 JP) is on a roll at the moment, clawing back share after a troubled few years of mis-merchandising and confused targeting.
After a record year, Shimamura now thinks its merchandise teams are strong enough to take on urban centre consumers – without raising operating costs. This could be a worry for Uniqlo.
Shimamura has tried this before but back then its focus was on young women and had weaker merchandising skills. This time around too urban consumers want more discount apparel.


Shimamura Back on Track, Targeting Urban Centres

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a> market consultation released last week could lead to some tweaks to the index methodology and the stock selection process. Nothing really material enough though.</li>
<li>Potential index inclusions in September are <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/renesas-electronics-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15933:1" rel="noopener">Renesas Electronics</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oriental-land-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13517:1" rel="noopener">Oriental Land</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pan-pacific-international-holdings-corporation" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13475:1" rel="noopener">Pan Pacific International Holdings</a>, while <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/toyobo-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6187:1" rel="noopener">Toyobo Co Ltd</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nippon-light-metal-holdings" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1485:1" rel="noopener">Nippon Light Metal</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/oki-electric-industry-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2181:1" rel="noopener">Oki Electric Industry</a> are potential index deletions.</li>
<li>Passive <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225</a> trackers will need to buy between 4-9% of the real float on the high/ medium probability names, while they need to buy between 2.5-14 days of ADV.</li>
</ul>


The Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) market consultation released last week could lead to some tweaks to the index methodology and the stock selection process. Nothing really material enough though.
Potential index inclusions in September are Renesas Electronics, Oriental Land and Pan Pacific International Holdings, while Toyobo Co Ltd, Nippon Light Metal and Oki Electric Industry are potential index deletions.
Passive Nikkei 225 trackers will need to buy between 4-9% of the real float on the high/ medium probability names, while they need to buy between 2.5-14 days of ADV.


Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance Preview: Market Consultation & Potential Changes

Japan

FAST RETAILING CO., LTD. operates a chain of clothing stores, UNIQLO, throughout Japan and in other markets overseas including UK, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, US, France, Singapore and Russia.  The Company designs, manufactures, and retails its own line of casual clothing.

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Fast Retailing (9983 JP)

Fast Retailing (9983) | Time to Ditch the Shorts

We turn bullish on Fast Retail as the current quarter marks the bottom for China sales. The US is emerging as another growth driver. Valuations...

Mark Chadwick

Hang Seng, MSCI China Near Major Base Breakouts; Bottoms-Up Stock Rec's in Hong Kong, China, & Japan

Hong Kong's Hang Seng and China's $MCHI and $KWEB are near major base breakouts. We are watching is 22,700 on Hang Seng and $56.60 on MCHI; we are...

Vermilion Research

Fast Retailing: A Breakdown Overdue

After rising more than 23% following earnings on strong NA and Europe performance, Fast Retailing’s share price is refusing to go down despite...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Shimamura Back on Track, Targeting Urban Centres

Shimamura has fixed many underlying problems and looks stronger than in a decade. It is now targeting city centres and the athleisure and golf...

Michael Causton

Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance Preview: Market Consultation & Potential Changes

Based on the market consultation and the new liquidity measure, we have Renesas Electronics, Oriental Land and Pan Pacific International Holdings...

Brian Freitas

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