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News

Market Review for December 2021

TOPIX ended up on the previous month-end. The Japanese equity market rose as excessive concerns over a new Covid-19 variant, Omicron, receded although it saw temporary declines due to news of monetary policy meetings at the FRB, ECB and Bank of Japan.

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Insights

Japan Outlook in 2022

The emergence of the new variant Omicron poses new challenges to recovering economies, but what is the outlook for Japan in 2022? While rising energy prices and supply chain constraints continue to pose a risk, the normalisation of economic activities following a rapid uptake in vaccinations suggests an optimistic view towards economic recovery.
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News

Market Review for November 2021

TOPIX ended down on the previous month-end. The Japanese equity market plummeted in the latter of the month due to the news of the emergence of a new variant virus called Omicron, although the market was in an upward trend backed by solid quarterly corporate earnings.

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News

Inflationary Pressures in Japan

Prices are rising worldwide due to normalization of economic activity, soaring commodity prices, and supply constraints caused by turmoil in the value chain. In Japan, there are signs of inflation as seen in the sharp rise in the domestic corporate goods price index. But inflationary pressures on goods and services at the consumer level have not risen as much.
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Press Release

Endorsement of the Financial Sector Commitment Letter

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management Co., Ltd. (Representative Director and President: Yoshio Hishida; hereinafter “SuMi TRUST”) is pleased to announce that it has signed the Financial Sector Commitment Letter on Eliminating Commodity-Driven Deforestation announced at the 26th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26).

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News

Market Review for October 2021

TOPIX ended down on the previous month-end. The Japanese equity market was dragged down by some concerns over global stagflation on rising commodity prices, an increase in US bond yield and default of the Chinese property giant, EVERGRANDE.

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News

Normalization After the State of Emergency

Japan's most recent State of Emergency was lifted at the end of September, and with Japan joining the ranks of highly vaccinated countries we expected that a path of economic normalisation lies ahead for the country. Some sectors will see particular growth with the normalisation of economic activity, and Japan is unlikely to see similar restrictions re-imposed.
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News

Market Review for September 2021

TOPIX ended up on the previous month-end. Although the Japanese equity market was dampened by concerns over the default of the large Chinese property company, Evergrande and an increase in US bond yield, it rose on the expectations for new leadership after Prime Minister Suga’s announcement to step down and for the normalisation of economic activities with steady progress of Japan’s vaccination campaign.

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News

Promoting Women's Advancement in Japan

As the world evolves rapidly from globalisation and technological innovation, companies will need to diversify further and utilise women in order to grow and respond to such changes over the medium to long term. As its population declines and as further ESG investments rush into Japan, companies that continue to promote women in its workforce should be favoured by the market.