Daily FNArena News - International

Have the market fundamentals changed for Japanese equities? No, says NikkoCitigroup. Over at JP Morgan strategist Kitano is not so sure.

A share market down 12% and a decelerating domestic economy. Singapore doesn’t look an attractive opportunity, but Citigroup believes things won’t turn out as bad as they appear.

India’s economic importance is clearly on the up and ANZ says opportunities abound for Australia.

HSBC predicts US interest rates will be raised twice this year, but Hong Kong is unlikely to follow suit.

ABN Amro expects short covering to result in a bounce on Asian markets in coming weeks, and the broker advises investors to sell into it.

All major economies are facing an ageing problem, but China’s will be exacerbated by its One Child Policy introduced by the Communist regime in 1979. Balances will need to be struck.

China’s emerging middle class cannot be underestimated, and foreign companies wishing to benefit will need to follow the Chinese up the income ladder.

Contrary to the Bank of Korea’s policy stance, Alliance Bernstein feels South Korean growth is peaking.

A shift in China’s FX policies would probably help ease growth, but HSBC strategists see this as unlikely ahead of next year’s political reshuffle.

Stainless steel prices could rise by as much as 19% over the coming four months, MEPS says, pushed higher by nickel.