Japanese Equity Specialist, Ortus Advisors

Andrew Jackson

Japanese Equity Specialist

Ortus Advisors

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Mixed bag for tech earnings over the Japan long w/e with Lattice, Palantir and On Semi down, Lumentum and Coreweave up.</li>
<li>SMCI cutting guidance a mere 1-week after releasing prem numbers threatens to erode confidence in management.</li>
<li>Pharma will be under pressure after the FDA's picks a perceived vaccine hawk for its Center for Biologics and Research and Trump hints at price pressures.</li>
</ul>


Mixed bag for tech earnings over the Japan long w/e with Lattice, Palantir and On Semi down, Lumentum and Coreweave up.
SMCI cutting guidance a mere 1-week after releasing prem numbers threatens to erode confidence in management.
Pharma will be under pressure after the FDA's picks a perceived vaccine hawk for its Center for Biologics and Research and Trump hints at price pressures.


Japan Morning Connection: Indian-Pakistan Tensions Adding to Geopolitical Concern

Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/daiichi-sankyo-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3014:1" rel="noopener">Daiichi Sankyo (4568 JP)</a> reported strong FY25 results, with revenue and operating profit increasing 18% and 57%, YoY, to ¥1,886B and ¥332B, respectively. Performance was mainly driven by Enhertu (+45%).</li>
<li>The company expects FY26 revenue to increase 6% YoY to ¥2,000B. Core operating profit and operating profit are expected to increase 12% and 5%, YoY, respectively to ¥350B.</li>
<li>The company has announced a ¥200B buyback plan to acquire a maximum of 80M shares from May 1, 2025 to March 24, 2026.</li>
</ul>



Daiichi Sankyo (4568 JP) reported strong FY25 results, with revenue and operating profit increasing 18% and 57%, YoY, to ¥1,886B and ¥332B, respectively. Performance was mainly driven by Enhertu (+45%).
The company expects FY26 revenue to increase 6% YoY to ¥2,000B. Core operating profit and operating profit are expected to increase 12% and 5%, YoY, respectively to ¥350B.
The company has announced a ¥200B buyback plan to acquire a maximum of 80M shares from May 1, 2025 to March 24, 2026.


Daiichi Sankyo (4568 JP): Strong FY25 Result; Guidance Initiated for FY26; ¥200B Buyback Announced

Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

<ul>
<li>The stock market ended on a strong note, with both the Nikkei 225 (+3.4%) and the  Topix (+3.7%) indices posting substantial weekly gains amid ongoing U.S.-Japan trade negotiations</li>
<li>Japanese Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa's meeting with President Trump on Thursday proved pivotal, with Trump reportedly identifying a deal with Japan as a "top priority."</li>
<li>Auto stocks posted impressive gains Tuesday after reports that Trump was considering pausing his 25% levies on auto imports, with Mazda (+8%) leading the sector for the week.</li>
</ul>


The stock market ended on a strong note, with both the Nikkei 225 (+3.4%) and the  Topix (+3.7%) indices posting substantial weekly gains amid ongoing U.S.-Japan trade negotiations
Japanese Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa's meeting with President Trump on Thursday proved pivotal, with Trump reportedly identifying a deal with Japan as a "top priority."
Auto stocks posted impressive gains Tuesday after reports that Trump was considering pausing his 25% levies on auto imports, with Mazda (+8%) leading the sector for the week.


Japan Strategy Weekly | Stocks Rally as Trade Tensions Ease and Hopes Rise for Bilateral Deal

<ul>
<li>FDA has confirmed the primary endpoints for Neuren Pharmaceuticals’ planned Phase 3 pivotal clinical trial of NNZ-2591 in Phelan-McDermid syndrome. Eisai has ultimately received its long-waited European approval for Leqembi.</li>
<li>Chugai Pharmaceutical’s outlicensed oral GLP-1 drug candidate orforglipron has shown positive topline Phase 3 results. Telix announced preliminary results from the Phase 2 study of TLX101 in recurrent high-grade glioma.</li>
<li>Biocon secured market entry date for Yesafili, an interchangeable biosimilar to Eylea in the U.S. FDA has issued Form 483 with 11 observations for Aurobindo Pharma’s North Carolina inhaler plant.</li>
</ul>


FDA has confirmed the primary endpoints for Neuren Pharmaceuticals’ planned Phase 3 pivotal clinical trial of NNZ-2591 in Phelan-McDermid syndrome. Eisai has ultimately received its long-waited European approval for Leqembi.
Chugai Pharmaceutical’s outlicensed oral GLP-1 drug candidate orforglipron has shown positive topline Phase 3 results. Telix announced preliminary results from the Phase 2 study of TLX101 in recurrent high-grade glioma.
Biocon secured market entry date for Yesafili, an interchangeable biosimilar to Eylea in the U.S. FDA has issued Form 483 with 11 observations for Aurobindo Pharma’s North Carolina inhaler plant.


APAC Healthcare Weekly (April 20)- Neuren, Chugai, Eisai, Telix, Biocon, Aurobindo Pharma

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One, Periscope Analytics

Brian Freitas

Pan-Asia Index Rebalances/ Events/ Delta One

Periscope Analytics

Periscope Analytics focuses on event-driven trades across Asia Pacific and provides comprehensive, timely and systematic coverage of index changes to major Asia Pacific indices in a structured manner.

The analysis includes forecasted inclusions and exclusions to all major Asian indices that have significant amount of tracking assets, including estimates of passive buy/sell flow on the stocks. The service also provides commentary and impact of market consultations, ground rule changes, and other events (IPOs, spin-offs, M&A) that could lead to index changes and passive flow.

Periscope Analytics works with multi-strategy hedge funds, proprietary trading firms, stat arb trading groups and long-only investors that invest and trade in the Asia Pacific region with the data being used to trade index rebalances, avoid pre-positioning and passive flow, and to time entry into and exit from stocks.

Event-Driven Trades Across Asia Pacific

Index Rebalance

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a>'s weight in the <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/nikkei-225" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22909:1" rel="noopener">Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX)</a> has increased to 10.81% which will lead to another reduction in the CPAF in September.</li>
<li>Even after the reduction in CPAF and an increase in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/baycurrent-consulting-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:25985:1" rel="noopener">BayCurrent Consulting</a>'s PAF in September, there is a possibility of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing</a> being capped again in March 2026.</li>
<li>The continued passive selling sets up interesting trading opportunities after periods of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fast-retailing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:751:1" rel="noopener">Fast Retailing (9983 JP)</a> outperformance versus the other index constituents.</li>
</ul>



Fast Retailing (9983 JP)'s weight in the Nikkei 225 (NKY INDEX) has increased to 10.81% which will lead to another reduction in the CPAF in September.
Even after the reduction in CPAF and an increase in BayCurrent Consulting's PAF in September, there is a possibility of Fast Retailing being capped again in March 2026.
The continued passive selling sets up interesting trading opportunities after periods of Fast Retailing (9983 JP) outperformance versus the other index constituents.


Fast Retailing (9983 JP): More Capping-Led Selling in September (And Maybe More in March)

Japan

Chugai Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., manufactures and sells pharmaceuticals in the domestic and international markets through its subsidiaries. The Company develops drugs in the fields of cancer, infectious diseases, bone, blood, and circulatory systems. Chugai Pharmaceutical also conducts research studies on drugs with private and public medical research institutions.

Price Gauge
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Chugai Pharmaceutical (4519 JP)

Japan Morning Connection: Indian-Pakistan Tensions Adding to Geopolitical Concern

Tech earnings in Japan were mixed over the long weekend. Pharma faces pressure from FDA pick and potential price pressures. China talk...

Andrew Jackson

Daiichi Sankyo (4568 JP): Strong FY25 Result; Guidance Initiated for FY26; ¥200B Buyback Announced

Daiichi Sankyo reports strong FY25 results with double-digit growth in revenue and profit, driven by Enhertu. The company expects further growth...

Tina Banerjee

Japan Strategy Weekly | Stocks Rally as Trade Tensions Ease and Hopes Rise for Bilateral Deal

Stock market in Japan surges as U.S.-Japan trade talks progress, with auto stocks seeing significant gains amid potential tariff pause.

Mark Chadwick

APAC Healthcare Weekly (April 20)- Neuren, Chugai, Eisai, Telix, Biocon, Aurobindo Pharma

Neuren is a step closer to P3 trial in PMS. Chugai’s oral GLP-1 drug candidate shows promise in P3 trial. Eisai got Leqembi approval in EU. Biocon...

Tina Banerjee

Fast Retailing (9983 JP): More Capping-Led Selling in September (And Maybe More in March)

Fast Retailing will be capped in September unless the stock underperforms the index over the next 3 months. There could be more capping next March....

Brian Freitas

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Japan Morning Connection: Indian-Pakistan Tensions Adding to Geopolitical Concern

​Tech earnings in Japan were mixed over the long weekend. Pharma faces pressure from FDA pick and potential price pressures. China talk...

Andrew Jackson

Daiichi Sankyo (4568 JP): Strong FY25 Result; Guidance Initiated for FY26; ¥200B Buyback Announced

​Daiichi Sankyo reports strong FY25 results with double-digit growth in revenue and profit, driven by Enhertu. The company expects further growth...

Tina Banerjee

Japan Strategy Weekly | Stocks Rally as Trade Tensions Ease and Hopes Rise for Bilateral Deal

​Stock market in Japan surges as U.S.-Japan trade talks progress, with auto stocks seeing significant gains amid potential tariff pause.

Mark Chadwick

APAC Healthcare Weekly (April 20)- Neuren, Chugai, Eisai, Telix, Biocon, Aurobindo Pharma

Neuren is a step closer to P3 trial in PMS. Chugai’s oral GLP-1 drug candidate shows promise in P3 trial. Eisai got Leqembi approval in EU. Biocon...

Tina Banerjee

Fast Retailing (9983 JP): More Capping-Led Selling in September (And Maybe More in March)

Fast Retailing will be capped in September unless the stock underperforms the index over the next 3 months. There could be more capping next March....

Brian Freitas

Tech earnings in Japan were mixed over the long weekend. Pharma faces pressure from FDA pick and potential price pressures. China talk...

Daiichi Sankyo reports strong FY25 results with double-digit growth in revenue and profit, driven by Enhertu. The company expects further growth...

Stock market in Japan surges as U.S.-Japan trade talks progress, with auto stocks seeing significant gains amid potential tariff pause.