Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Global stocks ended mixed as US markets retreated from yearly highs while Tokyo's Nikkei soared past 40,000, highlighting diverging year-end momentum between markets.</li>
<li>Toyota targets ambitious 20% return on equity through share buybacks and reduction of cross-shareholdings, potentially fuelling wave of similar corporate announcements.</li>
<li>Honda and Nissan's potential merger talks could reshape Japan's auto industry and affect thousands of smaller suppliers.</li>
</ul>


Global stocks ended mixed as US markets retreated from yearly highs while Tokyo's Nikkei soared past 40,000, highlighting diverging year-end momentum between markets.
Toyota targets ambitious 20% return on equity through share buybacks and reduction of cross-shareholdings, potentially fuelling wave of similar corporate announcements.
Honda and Nissan's potential merger talks could reshape Japan's auto industry and affect thousands of smaller suppliers.


<ul>
<li>Japan's markets displayed resilience this week, with the Nikkei 225 surging 4% and the Topix climbing 3.7%, buoyed by a weaker yen that bolstered exporter gains</li>
<li>Honda’s stock soared 25% this week, driven by the announcement of a massive share buyback of up to ¥1.1 trillion</li>
<li>Sega Sammy’s stock surged 18% this week, fueled by the stellar box office performance of the film Sonic × Shadow</li>
</ul>


Japan's markets displayed resilience this week, with the Nikkei 225 surging 4% and the Topix climbing 3.7%, buoyed by a weaker yen that bolstered exporter gains
Honda’s stock soared 25% this week, driven by the announcement of a massive share buyback of up to ¥1.1 trillion
Sega Sammy’s stock surged 18% this week, fueled by the stellar box office performance of the film Sonic × Shadow


Japan Weekly | Market Resilience - Honda, MMC, Sega

<ul>
<li>Stocks climbed Monday to kick off a holiday-shortened week, buoyed by strong gains in technology</li>
<li>Trading remained light and is expected to stay muted with early closure Tuesday and markets closed Christmas Day.</li>
<li>Honda Motor plans to conduct a large-scale share buyback of up to ¥1.1 trillion (24% of issued shares) over the next one year.</li>
</ul>


Stocks climbed Monday to kick off a holiday-shortened week, buoyed by strong gains in technology
Trading remained light and is expected to stay muted with early closure Tuesday and markets closed Christmas Day.
Honda Motor plans to conduct a large-scale share buyback of up to ¥1.1 trillion (24% of issued shares) over the next one year.


Ohayo Japan | Santa Rally: Honda Mega Buy Back

<ul>
<li>U.S. stocks rebounded Friday after inflation data revealed a slowdown in price increases for November, with the core PCE index coming in below expectations</li>
<li>Despite the rally, all three major indices ended the week in the red, with the Nasdaq losing 1.8% and both the Dow and S&amp;P down 2%</li>
<li>Nippon Sanso will acquire Australia and New Zealand's Core Gas Group for AUD 770 million (¥75 billion)</li>
</ul>


U.S. stocks rebounded Friday after inflation data revealed a slowdown in price increases for November, with the core PCE index coming in below expectations
Despite the rally, all three major indices ended the week in the red, with the Nasdaq losing 1.8% and both the Dow and S&amp;P down 2%
Nippon Sanso will acquire Australia and New Zealand's Core Gas Group for AUD 770 million (¥75 billion)


<ul>
<li>The Nikkei 225 ended the week down 1.9% at 38,701, with investors cautious ahead of key central bank decisions</li>
<li>The Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady at 0.25% on Thursday, deferring potential rate hikes amidst global economic uncertainty</li>
<li>Nissan's stock surged +24% this week following reports of potential merger talks with Honda and Mitsubishi Motors.</li>
</ul>


The Nikkei 225 ended the week down 1.9% at 38,701, with investors cautious ahead of key central bank decisions
The Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady at 0.25% on Thursday, deferring potential rate hikes amidst global economic uncertainty
Nissan's stock surged +24% this week following reports of potential merger talks with Honda and Mitsubishi Motors.


Japan Weekly | Nikkei Slides Amid Cautious Sentiment; Nissan, Park24, Kadokawa

Over 20 years experience in equities and asset management in Asia and Japan. Qualified CFA with experience analyzing companies as a buy-side analyst. In-depth knowledge of company fundamental analysis, corporate governance and valuations.

Mark Chadwick
Japan Specialist

Ohayo Japan | Toyota Targets 20% ROE

Global stocks show mixed year-end momentum with US markets retreating and Tokyo's Nikkei soaring past 40,000. Toyota aims for 20% return on equity...

Mark Chadwick

Japan Weekly | Market Resilience - Honda, MMC, Sega

Japanese markets showed strong resilience this week, with the Nikkei 225 and Topix both climbing significantly, boosted by a weaker yen benefiting...

Mark Chadwick

Ohayo Japan | Santa Rally: Honda Mega Buy Back

Stocks rose on Monday, led by tech gains, as trading remained light ahead of the holiday with Honda planning a large share buyback.

Mark Chadwick

Ohayo Japan | Friday Bounce

U.S. stocks rebounded on Friday due to lower inflation data, but all major indices ended the week in the red. Nippon Sanso to acquire Core Gas...

Mark Chadwick

Japan Weekly | Nikkei Slides Amid Cautious Sentiment; Nissan, Park24, Kadokawa

Investors cautious as Nikkei 225 drops 1.9% ahead of central bank decisions, while Nissan's stock surges 24% on merger talks with Honda and...

Mark Chadwick

Ohayo Japan | Toyota Targets 20% ROE

​Global stocks show mixed year-end momentum with US markets retreating and Tokyo's Nikkei soaring past 40,000. Toyota aims for 20% return on equity...

Mark Chadwick

Japan Weekly | Market Resilience - Honda, MMC, Sega

​Japanese markets showed strong resilience this week, with the Nikkei 225 and Topix both climbing significantly, boosted by a weaker yen benefiting...

Mark Chadwick

Ohayo Japan | Santa Rally: Honda Mega Buy Back

​Stocks rose on Monday, led by tech gains, as trading remained light ahead of the holiday with Honda planning a large share buyback.

Mark Chadwick

Ohayo Japan | Friday Bounce

​U.S. stocks rebounded on Friday due to lower inflation data, but all major indices ended the week in the red. Nippon Sanso to acquire Core Gas...

Mark Chadwick

Japan Weekly | Nikkei Slides Amid Cautious Sentiment; Nissan, Park24, Kadokawa

​Investors cautious as Nikkei 225 drops 1.9% ahead of central bank decisions, while Nissan's stock surges 24% on merger talks with Honda and...

Mark Chadwick

Global stocks show mixed year-end momentum with US markets retreating and Tokyo's Nikkei soaring past 40,000. Toyota aims for 20% return on equity...

Japanese markets showed strong resilience this week, with the Nikkei 225 and Topix both climbing significantly, boosted by a weaker yen benefiting...

Stocks rose on Monday, led by tech gains, as trading remained light ahead of the holiday with Honda planning a large share buyback.

U.S. stocks rebounded on Friday due to lower inflation data, but all major indices ended the week in the red. Nippon Sanso to acquire Core Gas...

Investors cautious as Nikkei 225 drops 1.9% ahead of central bank decisions, while Nissan's stock surges 24% on merger talks with Honda and...