Japan Specialist

Mark Chadwick

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>OVERSEAS.  SPX Clings to Positive gains - barely; Powell Testimony in Focus;  Commodities Weak on dissappointing China growth target; GS upgrade Apple to BUY; Telsa cuts prices (again)</li>
<li>JAPAN. NKY Futs Flat vs Cash; USDJPY 136; Progress on Japan-S.Korea Relation normalization; Public increasingly supports nuclear restarts;  Toyota rolls out BEV in China; Win for Rakuten in "Open Ran"</li>
<li>NUGGET. AI Development platforms are being rolled around across Japan's manufacturing sector to improvement R&amp;D efficiency. This has the potential to drive significant value, especially in Japan Big Pharma</li>
</ul>


OVERSEAS.  SPX Clings to Positive gains - barely; Powell Testimony in Focus;  Commodities Weak on dissappointing China growth target; GS upgrade Apple to BUY; Telsa cuts prices (again)
JAPAN. NKY Futs Flat vs Cash; USDJPY 136; Progress on Japan-S.Korea Relation normalization; Public increasingly supports nuclear restarts;  Toyota rolls out BEV in China; Win for Rakuten in "Open Ran"
NUGGET. AI Development platforms are being rolled around across Japan's manufacturing sector to improvement R&amp;D efficiency. This has the potential to drive significant value, especially in Japan Big Pharma


Good Morning Japan |SPX Holds On..barely; Powell Testimony in Focus; NUGGET: AI & Japan Big Pharma

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

<ul>
<li>Inflation remains the biggest headwind but most retail formats will see growth in 2023 with e-commerce expected to become the largest channel in the next 18 months.</li>
<li>Supermarkets are ripe for consolidation as new competitors emerge from the discount sector and online while convenience stores will consolidate further in a saturated sector.</li>
<li>Department stores will rebound further but only the leading firms will survive in a contracting sector.</li>
</ul>


Inflation remains the biggest headwind but most retail formats will see growth in 2023 with e-commerce expected to become the largest channel in the next 18 months.
Supermarkets are ripe for consolidation as new competitors emerge from the discount sector and online while convenience stores will consolidate further in a saturated sector.
Department stores will rebound further but only the leading firms will survive in a contracting sector.


<ul>
<li>OVERSEAS.  SPX close flat and keeps the 4100 support; CPI inline but Rates higher; USD stronger as Fed Hawks back out; Telsa +7% Bullish Initiation; Boeing Again-massive India order.</li>
<li>JAPAN.  Nikkei Futures +0.5% vs Cash; USDJPY weakens to 133. 15;  BOJ Governor designate nominated but with weak GDP print, don't expect much chg ST; Massive ShareBuyback  from  Idemetsu Kosan</li>
<li>DAILY NUGGET. Global EV Sales in 2022  was $388 billion, +58%YoY. Is this what it will take to get to Japanese OEM to step on the gas ?</li>
</ul>


OVERSEAS.  SPX close flat and keeps the 4100 support; CPI inline but Rates higher; USD stronger as Fed Hawks back out; Telsa +7% Bullish Initiation; Boeing Again-massive India order.
JAPAN.  Nikkei Futures +0.5% vs Cash; USDJPY weakens to 133. 15;  BOJ Governor designate nominated but with weak GDP print, don't expect much chg ST; Massive ShareBuyback  from  Idemetsu Kosan
DAILY NUGGET. Global EV Sales in 2022  was $388 billion, +58%YoY. Is this what it will take to get to Japanese OEM to step on the gas ?


Good Morning Japan |SPX Holds Key 4100 Level in Choppy Session Post CPI; EVs-Where Are the Japanese?

Telco/Internet specialist

Kirk Boodry

Redex Research

<ul>
<li>Japan trails global peers in the proportion of payments that are cashless but it is starting to close the gap led by Internet and telecom companies</li>
<li>Rakuten is a fintech leader in Japan (15% of cashless payments) but PayPay is closing the gap as it ramps up cashless app users</li>
<li>We expect compound annual growth in the mid-teens but margin expansion will be limited by competitive intensity</li>
</ul>


Japan trails global peers in the proportion of payments that are cashless but it is starting to close the gap led by Internet and telecom companies
Rakuten is a fintech leader in Japan (15% of cashless payments) but PayPay is closing the gap as it ramps up cashless app users
We expect compound annual growth in the mid-teens but margin expansion will be limited by competitive intensity


Japan Fintech - Cashless Payments Competition Is Heating Up

<ul>
<li>OVERSEAS: SPX +1.5%. Reflex US Rally post recent sell-off. Energy, Industrials, Tech lead in the Beta rally; Cons Confidence BTE; Nike +12% rpt inspires; Micron -ve after hrs</li>
<li>JAPAN: Futs flat vs Cash. USDJPY supported at ¥132  (for now); BOJ related/JGB  rates aside dominate narrative;  INBOUND tourists return;  Decarb spend to accelerate; Debt rating D/G for Rakuten</li>
<li>DAILY NUGGET: Yōkoso!  Japan. The November tourist numbers saw a doubling MoM to 934,500 visitors. However, the Chinese visitors are not here yet. It likely takes some time...</li>
</ul>


OVERSEAS: SPX +1.5%. Reflex US Rally post recent sell-off. Energy, Industrials, Tech lead in the Beta rally; Cons Confidence BTE; Nike +12% rpt inspires; Micron -ve after hrs
JAPAN: Futs flat vs Cash. USDJPY supported at ¥132  (for now); BOJ related/JGB  rates aside dominate narrative;  INBOUND tourists return;  Decarb spend to accelerate; Debt rating D/G for Rakuten
DAILY NUGGET: Yōkoso!  Japan. The November tourist numbers saw a doubling MoM to 934,500 visitors. However, the Chinese visitors are not here yet. It likely takes some time...


Good Morning Japan |Stocks (Finally) Catch a Break; Cyclicals Rebound; And..we Resume in 2023 !

Japan

Rakuten Group, Inc. provides Internet services. The Company offers Internet finance services which including "Rakuten Card" and "Rakuten Bank". Rakuten Group also provides digital content services including electronic book services.

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Rakuten (4755 JP)

Good Morning Japan |SPX Holds On..barely; Powell Testimony in Focus; NUGGET: AI & Japan Big Pharma

SPX holds on to gains ahead of Powell testimony; Progress on Japan-S.Korea Relation normalization; Nuclear restart support increases; Toyota...

Mark Chadwick

Outlook for Japanese Retail in 2023

Most Japanese retailers can look forward to a good year in 2023 but there will be challenges for formats like supermarkets where consolidation is...

Michael Causton

Good Morning Japan |SPX Holds Key 4100 Level in Choppy Session Post CPI; EVs-Where Are the Japanese?

CPI leaves markets confused, but Beta and cycliclals bid anwyay. Nikkei Futures +0.5% vs Cash; BOJ Governor designate nominated but with weak GDP...

Mark Chadwick

Japan Fintech - Cashless Payments Competition Is Heating Up

Japan telecom and Internet companies are driving growth in cashless payments led by Rakuten in credit cards and PayPay in cashless apps. This is a...

Kirk Boodry

Good Morning Japan |Stocks (Finally) Catch a Break; Cyclicals Rebound; And..we Resume in 2023 !

JAPAN: Futs flat vs Cash. USDJPY supported at ¥132; INBOUND tourists return; Decarb spend to accelerate - we see this as the BIG THEME FOR 2023...

Mark Chadwick

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