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Japan Investment Strategy

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Japan Investment Strategy
Nikkei to 20,000: Inventory cycle upturn →
cyclicals; inflation → banks, insurance
Investment Strategy 18 November 2016
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Bullish equities 2017; rotation into cyclicals, banks, insurance
We are bullish Japan equities for 2017 and we estimate the Nikkei 225 index will recover
to 20,000 by end-2017 (see $/¥’s eventual surge: Buy Nikkei 06 September 2016). Our
new Chief Japan Economist Izumi Devalier forecasts above-consensus Japan GDP growth
and inflation in 2017, which is also supportive of our bullish equities scenario (see Ready
for ignition 18 November 2016). We expect rotation into cyclicals, banks and insurance
as explained below.
1) Upturn in inventory cycle: Defensives→Cyclicals
We expect cyclicals to outperform defensives, premised on our end-2017 $/¥ estimate
of ¥120, and this is supported by our above-consensus economic growth outlook. Our
Japan economist sees a shift to fiscal easing, firms countering the tight labor market by
increasing capex, and estimates industrial production to grow 3.5% and 3.6% in 2017
and 2018, respectively. With the inventory cycle exiting a “contraction” phase and
entering a “recovery” phase, conditions are likely to remain conducive to cyclicals
outperforming defensives (Chart 1, Exhibit 3).
2) Higher inflation, rates: Deflation stocks→Inflation stocks
Up to 1H16, the Japan equity market saw continued preference for deflationary stocks
as domestic inflation remained subdued and the JGB curve underwent excessive bull
flattening. Defensives outperformed cyclicals (Chart 1), growth outperformed value
(Chart 2), and stocks that benefit from a low-yield environment (REITs) outperformed
the converse (banks, insurance; Chart 3). However, we expect conditions to reverse into
2017. We see US Treasury yields rising and Japanese core CPI inflation recovering to
+1.4% yoy by 2018 and core-core to +1.1% yoy. Stro

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