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. 

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Last week in Japan's retail sector: continued weakness in shopping mall development due to both falling demand from tenants and competition from online.</li>
<li>Don Quijote operator, Pan Pacific posted strong results, reflecting high demand from both locals looking for value and tourists browsing for fun.</li>
<li>The retail sector had a record year in FY23, but a big constraint is the labour shortage but, with many fit older Japanese, some employees are now over 80. </li>
</ul>


Last week in Japan's retail sector: continued weakness in shopping mall development due to both falling demand from tenants and competition from online.
Don Quijote operator, Pan Pacific posted strong results, reflecting high demand from both locals looking for value and tourists browsing for fun.
The retail sector had a record year in FY23, but a big constraint is the labour shortage but, with many fit older Japanese, some employees are now over 80. 


Japan's Retail Week: New Malls Slow, Lawson/Muji Get Closer, Donki Booms and Jobs for the over 80s

Japanese Equity Specialist, Ortus Advisors

Andrew Jackson

Japanese Equity Specialist

Ortus Advisors

<ul>
<li>More tech weakness in the US but most names off their lows, with Japan futures pointing to a recovery</li>
<li>Big margin calls yesterday at Japanese retail brokers may see continued forced selling in the most crowded names.</li>
<li>A quick glance at names with upside catalysts/strong fundamental drivers which should have room to run on an overall market recovery.</li>
</ul>


More tech weakness in the US but most names off their lows, with Japan futures pointing to a recovery
Big margin calls yesterday at Japanese retail brokers may see continued forced selling in the most crowded names.
A quick glance at names with upside catalysts/strong fundamental drivers which should have room to run on an overall market recovery.


Japan Morning Connection: 7453 JP, 4307 JP, 6857 JP

<ul>
<li>8697 Japan Exchange and retail facing brokers such as Matsui, SBI, and Monex may do better with Cboe +4.3% given the outlook for increased trading amid higher market volatility. </li>
<li>Japanese MedTech firms Terumo, Asahi Intecc, and Olympus underperformed globally. While FX plays a role, lower rates boost elective surgeries, making them prime candidates for a rebound.</li>
<li>NKY225 inclusion candidates 7453 Ryohin Keikaku and 7453 NRI look attractive as oversold longs as Index arbs will no doubt be rushing back as soon as the panic subsides.</li>
</ul>


8697 Japan Exchange and retail facing brokers such as Matsui, SBI, and Monex may do better with Cboe +4.3% given the outlook for increased trading amid higher market volatility. 
Japanese MedTech firms Terumo, Asahi Intecc, and Olympus underperformed globally. While FX plays a role, lower rates boost elective surgeries, making them prime candidates for a rebound.
NKY225 inclusion candidates 7453 Ryohin Keikaku and 7453 NRI look attractive as oversold longs as Index arbs will no doubt be rushing back as soon as the panic subsides.


Japan Morning Connection: 8697 JP, 7453 JP, 7453 JP

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 review period for 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> September rebalance ended yesterday. There could be three changes at the rebalance with sector balance in focus for the additions.</li>
<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 capping in the index has been confirmed and its index weight will drop by around 0.9% resulting in big selling at the close on 30 September. </li>
<li>Passive trackers will need to buy between 3.5-35x ADV (2.4%-24% of real float) on the inclusions and sell between 3.7-42.5x ADV on the deletions.</li>
</ul>


The review period for the Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) September rebalance ended yesterday. There could be three changes at the rebalance with sector balance in focus for the additions.

Fast Retailing (9983 JP)'s capping in the index has been confirmed and its index weight will drop by around 0.9% resulting in big selling at the close on 30 September. 
Passive trackers will need to buy between 3.5-35x ADV (2.4%-24% of real float) on the inclusions and sell between 3.7-42.5x ADV on the deletions.


Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance Preview (Sep 2024): Review Period Done; Fast Retailing Capping Confirmed

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Lowya began as an online furniture retailer and is still one of the largest in e-commerce, but limited brand awareness has held it back and sales fell last year. </li>
<li>Vega Corporation, Lowya’s parent, is now expanding physical stores and offering omnichannel solutions to fix the problem.</li>
<li>This makes sense in a market where stores remain preeminent and are likely to remain so.</li>
</ul>


Lowya began as an online furniture retailer and is still one of the largest in e-commerce, but limited brand awareness has held it back and sales fell last year. 
Vega Corporation, Lowya’s parent, is now expanding physical stores and offering omnichannel solutions to fix the problem.
This makes sense in a market where stores remain preeminent and are likely to remain so.


Vega's Lowya Expanding Omnichannel to Grow Audience

Japan

RYOHIN KEIKAKU CO., LTD. is a retailer and wholesaler of Mujirushi Ryohin brand products, which were originally a generic private-brand product.  The Company's product line includes knitwear, food, and household items

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
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Ryohin Keikaku (7453 JP)

Japan's Retail Week: New Malls Slow, Lawson/Muji Get Closer, Donki Booms and Jobs for the over 80s

Japan's retail sector in the last week: Shopping mall development slows, Don Quijote operator Pan Pacific sees strong demand from locals and...

Michael Causton

Japan Morning Connection: 7453 JP, 4307 JP, 6857 JP

US tech stocks showing weakness but on the rebound. Japanese market may see forced selling due to margin calls. Discussion of stocks with...

Andrew Jackson

Japan Morning Connection: 8697 JP, 7453 JP, 7453 JP

Japanese brokers may benefit from increased trading with Cboe, MedTech firms could rebound, and NKY225 inclusion candidates highlighted as...

Andrew Jackson

Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance Preview (Sep 2024): Review Period Done; Fast Retailing Capping Confirmed

Review period ended yesterday. Fast Retailing's capping will result in a 0.9% drop in index weight. There could be 3 index changes with sector...

Brian Freitas

Vega's Lowya Expanding Omnichannel to Grow Audience

Lowya, the online furniture retailer, is expanding physical stores and omnichannel solutions to boost sales due to limited brand awareness and...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Japan's Retail Week: New Malls Slow, Lawson/Muji Get Closer, Donki Booms and Jobs for the over 80s

Japan's retail sector in the last week: Shopping mall development slows, Don Quijote operator Pan Pacific sees strong demand from locals and...

Michael Causton

Japan Morning Connection: 7453 JP, 4307 JP, 6857 JP

​US tech stocks showing weakness but on the rebound. Japanese market may see forced selling due to margin calls. Discussion of stocks with...

Andrew Jackson

Japan Morning Connection: 8697 JP, 7453 JP, 7453 JP

​Japanese brokers may benefit from increased trading with Cboe, MedTech firms could rebound, and NKY225 inclusion candidates highlighted as...

Andrew Jackson

Nikkei 225 Index Rebalance Preview (Sep 2024): Review Period Done; Fast Retailing Capping Confirmed

Review period ended yesterday. Fast Retailing's capping will result in a 0.9% drop in index weight. There could be 3 index changes with sector...

Brian Freitas

Vega's Lowya Expanding Omnichannel to Grow Audience

​Lowya, the online furniture retailer, is expanding physical stores and omnichannel solutions to boost sales due to limited brand awareness and...

Michael Causton

US tech stocks showing weakness but on the rebound. Japanese market may see forced selling due to margin calls. Discussion of stocks with...

Japanese brokers may benefit from increased trading with Cboe, MedTech firms could rebound, and NKY225 inclusion candidates highlighted as...

Lowya, the online furniture retailer, is expanding physical stores and omnichannel solutions to boost sales due to limited brand awareness and...