Senior Bank Analyst - Japanese Banks, Windamee Research

J. Brian Waterhouse

J. Brian Waterhouse has been covering the Japanese financial sector as an analyst continuously since 1976, working for CLSA, Japaninvest, Rabobank, HSBC Securities, James Capel, Marine Midland Bank of New York and National & Grindlays Bank.  He has been ranked No.1 overall in Japanese banks research in Japan by Asiamoney for 6 of the past 9 years and was runner-up in 2015.  He was awarded the coveted Starmine prize as top Japanese bank stock picker in 2012 and 2014 and was runner-up in 2013.  He frequently appears on TV, radio and in international print media as a commentator on Japanese banking.

Senior Bank Analyst - Japanese Banks

Mizuho Financial Group (8411 JP):  Defying the Skeptics

MUFG (8306 JP) - BigBank BigBuyback But A Bit Pricey Vs SMFG

Mizuho Financial Group (8411 JP):  Not So Lucky 7

Mizuho Financial Group (8411 JP):  Gotohbi Gremlins

Mizuho Financial Group (8411 JP):  Deja Vu All Over Again

Gravity Works As WeWork Doesn't; Now Plan B

Mizuho Financial Group (8411 JP):  Systemic Failures - A Human Factor?

Windamee Research

Japanese Banks

Equity Bottom-Up

Mizuho Financial Group / Equity Bottom-Up

The last day of September.  The end of the first half of the financial year.  A particularly busy day for bankers, with a surge in banking transactions as customers close out the half-year.  The FSA breathing down your neck for the multiple systems failures you have already had this year.  The last thing you need on this day is another systems failure.  But that is exactly what happened yesterday afternoon.  That makes eight straight systems failures since February 2021 for Mizuho Bank and the embattled management team of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mizuho-financial-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:219:1" rel="noopener">Mizuho Financial Group (8411 JP)</a>, the latest mishap coming only one week after the FSA issued a Business Correction Order to the bank and the holding company in respect of the previous systems failures.  Mizuho’s reputation with the financial authorities will not have been enhanced by this latest revelation.Caveat Emptor! (May the Buyer Beware!) remains our advice to would-be investors in this enormous but problematic banking group.

The last day of September.  The end of the first half of the financial year.  A particularly busy day for bankers, with a surge in banking transactions as customers close out the half-year.  The FSA breathing down your neck for the multiple systems failures you have already had this year.  The last thing you need on this day is another systems failure.  But that is exactly what happened yesterday afternoon.  That makes eight straight systems failures since February 2021 for Mizuho Bank and the embattled management team of Mizuho Financial Group (8411 JP), the latest mishap coming only one week after the FSA issued a Business Correction Order to the bank and the holding company in respect of the previous systems failures.  Mizuho’s reputation with the financial authorities will not have been enhanced by this latest revelation.Caveat Emptor! (May the Buyer Beware!) remains our advice to would-be investors in this enormous but problematic banking group.

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8316 JP)

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial (MUFG) (8306 JP)

Mizuho Financial Group (8411 JP):  Straight Eight