Akira Inujima

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Japan purchases of foreign bonds hit record on stronger yen

Sep 9, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Miki Kamiyama |Akira Inujima

TOKYO -- Investors in Japan bought a record amount of overseas bonds in August, the latest data from the Finance Ministry shows, as a stronger yen prompted pension funds and other players to rebalance their portfolios. The purchases totaled a net 7.34 trillion yen ($51.3 billion) for the month, topping the previous record of 5.45 trillion yen from July 2016.
Japan pension giant GPIF delivers record $280bn annual return

Jul 5, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Akira Inujima

TOKYO -- A global stock rally powered a year of record returns for Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund, one of the world's biggest institutional investors, which is likely to face a higher bar for gains as wages rise. The GPIF booked a gain of 45.4 trillion yen ($282 billion) for the fiscal year ended March. Besides higher share prices, the fund also benefited from a weak yen, which made overseas gains worth more in its home currency.
Japan firms that engage with investors see 6% higher market cap: GPIF

May 22, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Akira Inujima

TOKYO -- Japanese companies that engage in dialogue with investors enjoyed a boost in market capitalization and other performance indicators, a study by Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund has found. GPIF is the world's largest pension fund, with 224 trillion yen ($1.43 trillion) in assets under management. It analyzed exchanges between 21 external asset managers it entrusts with domestic equity investment and their target companies over roughly six years, through December 2022.
Yen seen sliding as far as 154 to dollar as charts show steady selling

Feb 26, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Akira Inujima

TOKYO -- The yen looks poised to continue its recent depreciation against the dollar, as technical indicators point to steadier conditions than the overselling that came with its last few periods of weakness. The Japanese currency was seen Friday in the low-150 range against the dollar, where it has spent at least some time every trading day since Feb. 13. This marks a third straight year in which the yen has crossed the 150 threshold, following October 2022 and October-to-November 2023.
Japan's NISA investments seen adding downward pressure on yen

Feb 2, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Akira Inujima |Toshihiro Sato

TOKYO -- Japanese retail investors are snapping up foreign assets through the revamped Nippon Individual Savings Accounts, stoking speculation that the tax-exempt investing program could contribute to further weakness in the yen. "Every investor overseas knows about the revamped NISA," said a source at a brokerage. "Many are especially interested in the scale of yen-selling and dollar-buying tied to the program, and comparing it to Japan's trade deficit."
Japan pension giant GPIF hit record $232bn return in 2023

Feb 2, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Akira Inujima

TOKYO -- Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund booked a record gain of 34.31 trillion yen ($232 billion) in 2023, buoyed in large part by a rise in Japanese stock prices. The fund, one of the world's largest institutional investors, saw investment returns of 5.73 trillion yen in October-December, amounting to a 2.62% gain, according to quarterly results announced Friday.
Japan pension giant GPIF opens door to more asset managers

Jan 21, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Akira Inujima |Hinako Sato |Takenori Miyamoto

TOKYO -- Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund plans to expand its choice of asset managers, bringing in newer companies as part of a push into active management. "We look forward to discovering superior asset management companies by opening our door wider," GPIF President Masataka Miyazono told reporters Friday.
Yen 'crisis buying' goes absent after Japan quake

Jan 4, 2024 | asia.nikkei.com | Akira Inujima

TOKYO -- The yen often gained in the aftermath of past disasters and geopolitical crises, but that has not been the case following Japan's Jan. 1 earthquake. The Japanese currency touched a roughly two-week low in the range of 144 yen to the dollar on Thursday. It has weakened by about 3 yen since the end of 2023.
Japan households' investments drive 80% of asset growth

Dec 25, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Toshihiro Sato |Akira Inujima

TOKYO -- Japanese households are putting a growing share of their assets into investments like equities and bonds as rising domestic and U.S. stock markets and a weak yen encourage a shift away from a long-standing preference for cash. Investment assets -- stocks, investment trusts, bonds and foreign securities -- accounted for 82% of the overall 100 trillion yen ($700 billion) increase in households' financial assets in the year through September, based on Bank of Japan data.
Yen hits 2-month high as speculators tap brakes on sell-off

Nov 21, 2023 | asia.nikkei.com | Akira Inujima

TOKYO -- The yen has sharply reversed direction against the dollar after hitting historic lows as speculative traders close out short positions before the upcoming holidays. The yen continued to surge on Tuesday, pushing into the lower half of the 147 range to the dollar and strengthening to a level not seen since mid-September. After the yen weakened to the upper 151 range on Nov. 13, the Japanese currency has gained 4.70 yen per dollar in roughly a week.