Insights

This month we discuss signs of improvement in the Bank of Japan (BOJ)'s market communication following its recent rate hike; we also focus on Japan's economic resilience amid a flurry of trade-related headlines impacting the markets.

In the 2024 October-December quarter, risk assets largely moved in line with expectations surrounding the US presidential election. We maintained an overweight position on growth assets over the quarter amid indications of resilient economic conditions. Our view of defensives improved with higher yields having made this group of asset classes more attractive.

The Federal Reserve is seemingly following in the footsteps of the Bank of Japan and adopting a strategy of monetary policy gradualism. This measured approach is aimed at balancing rate cuts with inflation expectations and stabilising the economy without triggering price volatility.

We retained our positive view on growth on resilient economic data and dovish monetary policies globally as inflation is now closer to central bank targets worldwide. Our view of defensives improved as higher yields now make the asset class marginally more attractive.

The BOJ increased overnight rates by 25 basis points, raising the Mutan call rate to its highest since 2008. The decision reflects the BOJ's belief that the economy is performing in line with its view, with positive real wage growth and an upgraded near-term inflation outlook. Uncertainty over US tariffs persists, but Japan's need for AI-related technologies may play an indirect role in reducing trade-related risks.

The future of US policy is surrounded by great uncertainty, particularly regarding tariff measures that the US may impose upon its trading partners. We explore options that are available to Japan to safeguard against tariffs the US may decide to implement.

Despite concerns about Donald Trump's impact on emerging markets, historical data shows that during his first term as US president, China, South Korea and Taiwan outperformed the S&P 500 although they are the most trade-sensitive equity markets.

We expect Asian local government bonds to perform well in 2025, supported by accommodative central banks amid an environment of benign inflation and moderating growth. The ongoing global easing cycle is expected to lower global yields, further supporting Asian bond markets.

Following the surprise result of the snap election in October 2024, Japanese politics has entered a very unique phase. We discuss how the fluid political situation could positively impact the Japanese market, which is already feeling the benefits of corporate governance reform, and assess how engagement could play a role in improving shareholder returns in such an environment.

This month we discuss how a rise in delistings reflects efforts to create a more attractive equity market; we also assess ways in which a merger by large automakers in Japan could stimulate reforms beyond the industry.

Despite its small size and geographic location, New Zealand has led the World in a number of fields – physics, Postwar economic theory (Bill Phillips was born in NZ), inflation targeting (amongst the first to make this a statutory target), globalization, and of course in many sports.

With their central banks bringing interest rates down from previously restrictive settings, 2024 has been the year when most of the world’s economic players have finally begun to experience an easing of monetary policy. In each instance, these reflected confidence that inflation, or perhaps more accurately inflation expectations, had reached a desired level, or were at least on a path towards it.

We retain our positive view on growth on resilient economic data and dovish monetary policies globally as inflation starts to ease worldwide. As for defensives, sovereign bond curves are steepening amid the beginning of the global rate-cutting cycle and bonds are gradually becoming more attractive.

The Fed and the BOJ both made interest rate decisions that were in line with market predictions, with the former cutting interest rates and the latter standing pat on policy. However, uncertainty around future policies and potential impacts of U.S. fiscal and trade policy changes have led to market volatility.

Our comprehensive analysis of the Yanagi Model, which provides an example of how sustainability issues have become a key part of corporate governance practices, showed that ESG integration can drive shareholder value. The significant correlations found, especially in social and governance factors, require our attention; moreover, the analysis shows that integrating ESG factors is essential for long-term value creation.

In what has turned out to be an eventful year for interest rates, one of the major factors for New Zealand's bond market in 2024 has been the impact of monetary policy. We expect the Reserve Bank of New Zealand to continue monetary easing in 2025. In addition to monetary policy, the forthcoming Trump presidency will be another key factor for the bond market in the coming year.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand began cutting interest rates late in 2024 and is anticipated to ease further in 2025. The interest rate environment is expected to be a positive factor for the equity market, which has seen the retail and property sectors suffer in particular under higher rates.

Very thoughtfully, my father presented me with a compendium of newspaper front pages covering all 60 of my birthdays. There were two sections, one for a “broadsheet” and one for a “tabloid”. In 1964, the front page of the broadsheet was dominated by an informed discussion about the enacting by a Labour Party Chancellor of a shock 200 b.p. rise in the UK Base Rate in order to stabilize the pound.

We have upgraded our near-term economic outlook for the US and anticipate Japan's "virtuous circle" to remain intact. Predicting the timing of any cyclical market downturn remains challenging. However, we also highlight heightened tail risks associated with policy disappointments in the US going into 2025. We continue to see risks as biased towards the inflationary, and we also foresee expansionary US fiscal policy as ultimately unsustainable.

China has been feeling the pressure with Donald Trump due to return for his second term as US president. However, during Trump's first term China actually outperformed the S&P 500 index, which demonstrates the importance of domestic policies over external pressure.

This month we evaluate factors expected to attract attention in 2025 from a Japanese economy and equity market perspective. And as the government compiles another stimulus package, we discuss how Japan could be about to test the Laffer curve theory, which argues that tax cuts can actually increase overall tax revenue.

Asian local government bonds are positioned to perform well in 2025, supported by accommodative central banks amid an environment of benign inflation and moderating growth. We expect Asian corporate and bank credit fundamentals to stay resilient, aside from a few sectors and specific credits which may be impacted by tariff threats or US policy changes.

In 2025, US economic growth is expected to continue due to fiscal stimulus, despite above-target inflation. Meanwhile, the strong dollar could face disruptions, the Bank of Japan may keep raising interest rates and China is seen balancing domestic stimulus with potential US tariffs. European growth may recover slowly due to US tariff risks, and global central banks' policies will likely diverge to manage these challenges.

Many may expect the incoming Trump administration's transactional approach to be detrimental to the geopolitical and macroeconomic landscapes. However, we believe that Washington's mercantilist stance should not prevent Asian markets from offering attractive absolute returns, as was the case during the 2017-2021 period under Trump's first term.

Asian local government bonds are poised to perform well in 2025 thanks to accommodative policies by central banks amid benign inflation and moderating growth. The global easing cycle is expected to lower global yields, thereby providing additional support to Asian bond markets.

New Zealand's economy is faced with challenges including a weak currency, low productivity growth and slowed immigration. However, there are potential posi'tives, such as declining interest rates and possible gains in longer maturity bonds. Ultimately, recovery will require time and effort, with the central bank playing a crucial role.

As we head into 2025, we have picked three key elements that we believe will have the greatest influence over market behaviour and performance: interest rates, the strength of the New Zealand dollar and geopolitical uncertainty.

Throughout history, equity investors have benefitted from maintaining a long-term view and an optimistic outlook on humanity's ability to prevail in the face of adversity. This might once again be the case, meaning that the biggest risk might be not having exposure to the highest quality earnings streams through a diversified portfolio of global equities.

We believe that a changing political environment could present opportunities across asset classes in 2025, with fixed income in particular poised to benefit as markets adjust to more realistic inflation expectations.

While 2024 was characterised by broad market gains (or “beta” returns) in Singapore, we expect 2025 to be more centred on generating excess returns (or “alpha”). We believe the service economy, represented by financial services and transportation, will continue to contain key sectors which offer high sustainable returns, positive fundamental change and growth.

With Japan overcoming deflation and ushering in a period of progress and consolidation despite market volatility and political upheaval, we expect Japanese companies to make strategic decisions in 2025 that attract global investors in larger numbers.

Our outlook for 2025 is relatively positive. We expect the business-friendly stance of the Republican Party, coupled with easier monetary policy, will be supportive for risk assets, particularly in the US market. While we hold various views, we rely on our strategic asset allocation to guide our long-term outlook—with healthy equities, short-dated credit, the US dollar and gold forming our backbone for the medium term.

We believe that investors should strive for a diversified global portfolio of quality companies that can thrive in an environment where the cost of capital may be higher than previously expected. Our collective experience of the pandemic reminds us that such an approach is a good idea.

We increased the overweight to growth assets given that economic data remains resilient against falling inflation and as global central banks lower interest rates. Regarding defensive assets, we have been relatively negative on sovereign bonds, and despite the rate-cutting cycle underway, we maintain this view.

During the first Trump presidency, China outperformed the S&P 500 and all the perceived beneficiaries of "China Plus One". While history may not be repeated, it is clear that China's domestic policy and market environment will become significant factors during Trump's second presidency.

We have adopted a more cautious stance on Thai bonds with the Bank of Thailand not expected to ease policy further following its interest rate cut in October. Elsewhere in the region, the reappointment of Sri Mulyani Indrawati as Indonesia's finance minister provides a positive medium-term outlook for Indonesian government bonds

France’s Macron became a lame duck President this year. The Tory Party was dumped out of office at the UK general election in favour of a party of relatively inexperienced micro-focussed policymakers who have witnessed a remarkably short electoral honeymoon.

The highly anticipated Global Plastics Treaty carries high hopes as it will be the first attempt at forming a global legally binding instrument to address plastic pollution across its entire lifecycle. Tackling plastic pollution will be a long, bumpy road requiring international cooperation, stringent policies and significant financial investment to drive effective solutions.

The bond market has turned its attention to the likely size of further interest rate reductions now that the RBNZ has made two cuts to the Official Cash Rate in quick succession. Our view is that New Zealand's monetary policy is on track to revive the economy, although the recovery will take some time.

The RBNZ's recent shift to a more dovish stance already appears to have buoyed New Zealand's equities at this early stage of the cycle, with examples including signs of strength in the retirement village and rental sectors, and the market has been delivering strong returns.

The Federal Reserve's interest rate cut in November was largely expected. However, Fed Chair Powell's comments pointed to changes in language, suggesting a shift towards a more uncertain policy, with inflation and employment trends influencing future rate adjustments.

As with the other markets, Japanese equities reacted immediately to Donald Trump's US presidential election win. The immediate election impact is expected to fade relatively quickly, with market focus turning to the trade policies Trump may pursue upon his return to the White House.

Volatility dominated risk markets in the early part of the July-September quarter, while perceptions of the US employment environment also had an impact. Over the quarter, we kept an overweight position on growth assets and maintained a neutral position on defensive assets.

Following Donald Trump's US presidential election win, in the near term we remain constructive on US growth and stocks, with the markets expecting corporate tax cuts and seeing a general penchant toward deregulation across industries as positive for earnings. In the longer term, we anticipate a rise in tail risks associated with fewer hurdles to fiscal expansion and higher US inflation.

The start of the Fed’s rate cut cycle was a boost to risk sentiment, with resilient US data and declining inflation placing the market in a goldilocks situation. Likewise, the start of a global rate cutting cycle sets up a positive environment for defensive assets.

In a move that reflected their disapproval of Japan's ruling coalition, voters deprived it of a lower house majority. While this outcome may not have a direct impact on the market, it is important to monitor the impact of political developments on economic policies in the short term.

The markets suggest that growth will stay at a premium in the short term. Hence, our focus on Future Quality companies, especially those capable of taking market share as the economic backdrop worsens, may prove beneficial.

The market expects more rate cuts from the Fed, giving Asian central banks room to lower rates, which is very supportive for domestic growth. Meanwhile, with more China stimulus measures anticipated, we see asset allocation into Chinese equities picking up pace and lift the entire market.

Japan’s long history of undercompensating equity investors, a legacy of deflation, is coming to an end with its risk premium now achieving parity with that of the US. This historic shift is being driven by rising dividend payouts ratios, strong earnings and reasonable valuation of underlying equities.

The start of the Fed’s rate cut cycle has created room for monetary easing across Asia. We expect Asian government bond yields, particularly high yielders like those of India, Indonesia and the Philippines, to trend lower.

This month we assess views in the market that the BOJ may have taken a dovish turn at its September policy meeting; we also point to further signs of a steady rise in wages and how that paves the way for a recovery in consumption and, ultimately, higher stocks.

Nikko AM NZ released its first annual “climate statement” under New Zealand’s new climate-related disclosures regime in July. The framework requires approximately 200 organisations, including large publicly listed companies, to release reports on how their activities may impact the climate and the effect of the climate on their businesses.

The raft of stimuli recently unveiled in China is the most coordinated policy since the start of the country’s economic downturn. This, along with the start of the Fed’s monetary policy easing, represents key fundamental changes. However, as the old saying goes, the devil is in the details.

We perceive heightened risk to both growth (two-way) and inflation (upside) compared to our previous guidance. Nevertheless, our central near-term scenario remains for slowing but positive growth in the US, alongside slowly moderating prices.

As global equity investors, we are often asked how we have successfully navigated an evolving market landscape since the strategy’s inception in 2014. The truth can ultimately be attributed to three key factors: humility, collaboration with people who share the same core team values and a robust investment philosophy.

Perhaps there may be disappointment at the lack of money-spinning applications pertaining to AI which may cause investor sentiment to cool. Nevertheless, the improvements in earnings and cash flow appear sustainable so far and are certainly much more attractive than those being produced by many other parts of the economy.

For August we maintained our overweight growth position and a neutral position on defensives. Several factors continue to support our optimism towards growth assets, including the first rate cut from the Fed, earnings surprises remaining above their historic average, US economic growth beating expectations, and large fiscal spending globally.

The Federal Reserve’s 50 bps rate cut demonstrated the power of financial markets at present. As the markets had already priced in a significant probability of a 50 bps reduction, the Fed could have viewed such conditions as a good time to “buy insurance” and implement a half a percentage point cut while the markets were likely to absorb it well.

There is one major thing to keep in mind going into Japan’s upcoming leadership contest for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)—the country’s looming general election. The ruling party’s chief concern is to select a candidate who can prevail at this election. This makes the candidacy of an incipient LDP leader more of a marathon than a sprint.

We believe that the biggest fundamental change for Asian markets in the medium term is a shift in the interest rates regime, notably that of the US.

In a positive bond market environment driven by global monetary easing expectations, we favour government bonds from India, Indonesia and the Philippines, where higher yields remain attractive to investors.

This month we assess why the market is unfazed by Japan’s upcoming leadership change; we also explain how a bid for a prominent Japanese convenience store operator has highlighted how affordable domestic firms now look in the eyes of their foreign counterparts.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s rate cut in August appears to constitute a slight easing of the brakes rather than a large change. With the Official Cash Rate at 5.25%, conditions are still restrictive. The first signs of recovery are likely to be seen in improvements in business and consumer confidence, but it will take some time for the impact to filter through to borrowers.

In August the Reserve Bank of New Zealand lowered interest rates, marking the first change in the Official Cash Rate since May 2023. We expect New Zealand equities to be supported if the central bank maintains an accommodative approach.

The Global Equity Team answers the following questions related to the key trends they see emerging: 1)does the AI investment theme still offer significant long-term potential? 2) will the market leadership broaden beyond technology names into other sectors? and 3) what are the main risks and challenges equity investors may face in the remainder of 2024?

As the November 2024 US presidential elections draw ever closer, we explore the global trade, economic and geopolitical implications from an Asian equity perspective, focusing on the uncertainties and opportunities that could arise if Donald Trump secures a second term in office.

For August we reduced our overweight on growth assets amid volatility in the markets and maintained a neutral position on defensives. We expect volatility to be quelled, given that the markets have factored in the Fed cutting interest rates in September and with more easing anticipated over the following 12 months.

On 13 August, the Global Investment Committee held an extraordinary session to review the impact of recent volatile market movements. We maintain our central scenario for positive GDP growth in most major economies, although we see heightened downside risks to our US GDP growth outlook.

India remains the long-term growth story in Asia and continues to attract fresh investment flows. China, on the other hand, has become the value play waiting for positive catalysts to turnaround sentiment.

We expect the broader trend of easing global yields, prompted by expectations for the Fed to begin lowering interest rates, to support a downward bias in Asian bond yields. We continue to favour Indian and Philippine government bonds over their regional peers.

The weak yen has played a key role in Japan’s economic recovery by boosting its corporate profits, gross national income and current account surplus. However, it may be time to consider ways Japan can retain its recovery without help from a weak yen should the financial markets eventually change direction. The need for portfolio diversification and Japan’s structural reforms are some of the factors that could incentivise investors to trim their exposure abroad and reinvest domestically.

July was a remarkably strong month for New Zealand equities, with the strength of the market partly reflecting the dovish turn taken by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

The Nikkei experienced its worst single-day fall early in August after reaching a record high just the previous month. Despite the recent slide, domestic factors supporting Japanese equities remain relatively unchanged, in our view. We believe that the narrative of Japan overcoming deflationary pressures due to increasing real wages is still intact.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand stood pat on interest rates in its latest Monetary Policy Review in July, but it signalled a shift towards a more dovish stance, suggesting that a first rate cut could be conducted by the end of 2024.

We assess the extreme turbulence this week that rocked Japanese equities, which had reached record highs just last month. We discuss the factors that led to the sharp downturn at the start of the week and consider what could be in store for the market, including prospects for recovery.

A few weeks ago, we began experimenting with the hypothesis that households – and even some governments – were starting to reassess their long-term income expectations. Years of weak productivity growth, concerns over economic efficiency, the cost of living, the climate and troublesome geopolitics are all likely weighing on confidence in the future, along with the seemingly changed outlook for interest rates.

Japan Equity Investment Director Junichi Takayama explains how active management can help identify opportunities, particularly within the small and mid-cap markets.

Although market volatility resurfaced in the early part of the April-June quarter as interest rate cuts in the US began to look less likely amid higher-than-expected inflation, risk assets bounced back and rallied strongly later in the quarter. This reflected signs of softness in the US economy, which made it more likely that the Fed would be able to cut interest rates.

We retained both our overweight to growth assets and our neutral position on defensives. The outlook for growth remains positive as global central banks have started monetary easing, with Europe and Canada leading the way by cutting their interest rates.

Japan, a nation of “cash-rich” companies, is undergoing corporate reforms aimed at raising valuation of companies by improving their capital efficiency. The reforms, along with cash-rich companies' historical outperformance and strategic options due to their ample cash holdings, make these firms well worth exploring.

In China, we await confirmation of real, positive fundamental change before increasing our confidence towards the country, and we maintain a highly selective approach. Elsewhere, a combination of AI-induced excitement and positive structural reforms has driven Asian markets higher, particularly in Taiwan, South Korea and India.

We favour South Korean, Indian and Philippine government bonds and have adopted a neutral stance on Indonesian bonds. Meanwhile, the fundamentals backdrop for Asian credit remains supportive.

A look back at the past six months reveals the extent to which New Zealand’s equity market has missed out on the strength seen in many other global markets. Amid these struggles, however, the New Zealand market’s sensitivity to interest rates also offers a note of hope.

Given the current weakness in New Zealand’s economy, the key question regarding interest rates is not so much the direction they will take but when they are likely to be cut. The struggles seen in the economy span from GDP to employment and look set to persist for some time.

This month we focus on the surge in long-term JGB yields and whether it poses a threat to equities; we also discuss the potential upside for Japan’s small- and mid-cap stocks.

Asian small caps, ranging from “indie” cosmetics brands to bicycle manufacturers, present a chance to get involved with the future economic powerhouses of the world. The strategic positioning, high growth potential, adaptability, and innovation of Asian small caps make them a compelling choice.

The US and most other authorities’ reaction to the Global Pandemic was to flood the financial system with cash, principally via the act of central banks buying government bonds. The sums involved were massive, in part because the authorities understandably did not know “just how bad the crisis would be” but also because there was a need in March 2020 to ensure that some financial institutions that were “the wrong side” of the bond market did not perish.

Recently, China has been frequently appearing in global headlines, although many of these stories are not particularly encouraging. Amidst a fixation with the slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy, global markets may be missing the obvious, quieter China trade.

Our central scenario is for positive GDP growth in most major economies, with mild upside risks to growth in all regions but Europe. Within this central scenario, we anticipate range-bound inflation with a gradual disinflationary trend in the US and Europe. We expect reflation to continue in Japan and also to pick up in China.

Markets have continued their strong growth through 2024, as odds continue to grow that central banks are able to walk the tight rope and avoid any real slowdown of global growth. US inflation has remained above expectations. However, some marginal softness is now appearing to flow through consumer spending and employment.

The early economic cycle dynamics and cheap valuations in Asia contrast starkly with the expensive late cycle dynamics in the West, and we expect this to provide good diversification options for global investors.

We have shifted to a mildly positive stance on overall duration, preferring high-yield markets such as India, Indonesia and the Philippines. We expect Asia credit to remain well-supported due to subdued net new supply as issuers continue to access cheaper onshore funding.

The Bank of Japan maintained interest rates at its June meeting, disappointing market participants who expected a reduction in monthly bond purchases. The BOJ signalled a future reduction in bond purchases but only at the next policy meeting in July, without providing further guidance on possible rate hikes or balance sheet reductions.

New Zealand's fixed income market has struggled so far in 2024 and inflation has remained high. However, there is growing confidence that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand will lower the Official Cash Rate in the next six to 18 months due to a slowing economy, with the expectation that inflation will retreat to the central bank's target range by the end of 2024.

New Zealand’s equity market is currently facing challenging times. However, a sense that the country’s interest rates may have peaked are some of the indications that the market’s outlook may brighten.

In the 2024 Indian parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP won fewer seats than expected. However, with support from pre-alliance partners, Prime Minister Modi will lead a coalition government for a third term, indicating a public desire for policy continuity and reform. While economic fundamentals are strong, the election results also reflect rural distress and the need for job creation, suggesting the government may focus on expanding the manufacturing sector, infrastructure development and digitalisation.

This month we look beyond Japan’s impressive dividends and share buybacks from the perspective of corporate governance reform; we also explain how the “quantity effect” associated with exports may reduce the relevance of currency levels.

In the days immediately following 9-11, markets understandably fretted that consumer spending would collapse as people would be too scared to go out. In fact, spending picked up – even the author’s usually frugal spending increased.

As the market comes to grips with the US rate structure potentially remaining high, we expect to see increased market volatility and a potential return of the positive correlation between bond and equities that was evident in the market through 2022.

The ongoing weakness in the yen has led to intense debate over whether Japan can cope with further challenges to its global purchasing power. Although it is a matter of concern, a weak currency isn't necessarily undermining Japan's economic recovery. That said, a prolonged downtrend for the yen warrants vigilance as it could destabilise the economic recovery by triggering inflation.