Investment team updates – Bullet points 22 October

MarketUpdates

Our investment team provide their weekly snapshot of market events.

Topix hits 30-year high as PM Suga announces resignation

Daisuke Nomoto examines the events that have seen Yoshihide Suga resign as PM, looks at the potential candidates to replace him, and the implications of each for the market.

Is Japan really a disappointing equity market?

Alex Lee challenges the country’s reputation as poor for equities, examines its performance over the past decade and outlines why he thinks Japan’s long-term prospects remain favourable.

Japan: Olympic host’s equity market is uniquely positioned

Japan

With the Tokyo Olympics scheduled to take place later this month, all eyes will be on Japan this summer.

Japan’s software revolution is making up for lost time

https://www.columbiathreadneedle.com/media/13827806/japans_strengthening_fundamentals_go_unnoticed_1280x450.jpg

Despite being a global hardware leader, Japan is behind the curve on software. However, the use of software solutions by companies is at last picking up pace

Sustainable aviation fuel is ready for take-off

The aviation sector consumes around 8% of all oil. How realistic are attempts to reduce emissions through the use of sustainable aviation fuel?

Covid-19 index: when might life return to ‘normal’?

people on shopping street

With every country attempting to return to normality following the coronavirus pandemic, we are monitoring US economic activity as well as other measures of ‘normality’ such as entertainment and leisure, high street shopping, and schools reopening.

Discover our market outlook for 2021

Our investment experts share their views on markets for 2021. Click below to access all our viewpoints.

Style rotation towards value is a temporary phenomenon

Global

William Davies, Chief Investment Officer for EMEA and Global Head of Equities, discusses the recent style moves within markets

CIO EMEA outlook 2021 – knowns and unknowns after a tumultuous year

We see three themes dominating 2021: the development
of a Covid-19 vaccine; the political make-up of the US
following the November election; and Brexit.