INTERVIEW: Investors Rediscovering Japan’s Competitiveness

Tokyo, Sept. 1 (Jiji Press)–A senior Bank of America official has indicated that there is room for further gains in Japanese stocks, as investors are rediscovering Japan’s competitiveness. “Japanese competitiveness was always there, but is being rediscovered by investors again,” Chris Oberoi, head of Asia-Pacific equity research at Bank of America Global Research, said in an interview with Jiji Press on Monday. Oberoi noted that the artificial intelligence and semiconductor sectors will continue to drive the Japanese stock market. He added that the global competitiveness of Japanese companies “is being recognized” in the fields of materials, robots, industrial machinery, factory automation technology and semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Oberoi also pointed out that investors are watching the Bank of Japan’s moves to normalize monetary policy. He predicted that the central bank will accelerate its rate hikes to nearly once every quarter, resulting in a policy rate of 2 pct in July 2027. Meanwhile, Oberoi said that global investors are concerned about elevated interest rates in the United States, which are requiring them to be more “selective” in their investments. The interview took place in Tokyo on the sidelines of Bank of America’s Japan Conference for institutional investors and corporate executives. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]