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Q4 2019 Commentary

Market summary and performance review

The Japanese market rose in each month of the quarter to record a total return of 8.6%, but underperformed other major markets, especially in December. Across the quarter as a whole the yen weakened slightly against the US dollar but generally remained in a range which is comfortable for both the US and Japan. The cross-rate with sterling was much more volatile, driven primarily by the UK’s domestic political timetable. For the quarter as a whole there was a significant net weakening of the yen which restricted the total return for a sterling investor to just 0.5%.

Sentiment towards Japanese equites fluctuated in line with geopolitical tensions but was ultimately helped by signs of some easing in relations between the US and China and expectations for the signing of a Phase 1 trade agreement. Foreigners generally remained net buyers of Japanese equities for most of the quarter, which also influenced stock leadership and sector performance. In reaction to the market strength, the Bank of Japan has stepped back from ETF purchases over the last three months and has therefore undershot its own target for the calendar year. Although this has led to some suggestions that the Bank of Japan is already tapering its monetary policy, we do not currently expect any reduction in the ETF purchase target for 2020.

Japan’s economic data continued to show a significant divergence between the strength in service sectors and the weakness in manufacturing. There were also signs that the long-running trend towards an ever-tighter labour market had finally reaching its natural limit. Japan has effectively been operating at full employment for some time and it was statistically inevitable that the unemployment rate must bottom out eventually. However, this does not necessarily imply that the wage growth cycle is also peaking, as structural conditions remain in place for wages to move higher.

The main economic event for the quarter was the consumption tax increase on 1 October. Some evidence of front-loading demand ahead of the tax increase was visible, but it is now clear that the subsequent downturn has been somewhat greater than consensus expectations, even if allowance is made for the devastating typhoon which hit central Japan in the same month. In response, the government has announced a significant supplementary budget, with a particular focus on reconstruction, which should help to support economic growth after this short term weakness. Investors have generally responded positively to this planned fiscal stimulus, while the Bank of Japan governor, Mr Kuroda, has welcomed the change in emphasis away from monetary policy alone.

The Bank of Japan itself made no change in policy this quarter, although there had been a possibility that rates would be cut further into negative territory in late October following the latest rate reduction by the US Federal Reserve. In the event, views remained balanced between the need to continue aggressive easing and fears over the detrimental impact of negative rates on the financial system. The Bank of Japan was also able to take advantage of the recent period of modest yen weakness against the US dollar to postpone any further moves until at least the next meeting.

The most recent quarterly reporting season for Japanese companies ended in November and was generally in line with expectations. The overall impression from the numbers was that we may be close to the end of the recent cyclical slowdown in earnings. The revision index for corporate profits remains in negative territory, but could reverse as we approach the end of the fiscal year in March 2020.

At the individual stock level there have recently been several examples of corporate activity which we see as a direct consequence of Japan’s drive towards better corporate governance. During December, for example, an impending restructuring among Toshiba’s group companies became particularly interesting as the parent company has found itself in a competitive tender to acquire Nuflare Technology. The emergence of an alternative bid for Nuflare from Hoya, despite a previously close relationship between Hoya and Toshiba, has again focused attention on the rights of minority shareholders and the ways in which value can be realised from within Japanese companies.

Unfortunately, Japan’s path to better governance appeared to be interrupted in October by the announcement of tighter restrictions on foreign investment into a very broadly defined range of “security-related” industries. Although the new regulations are aimed at protecting these industries from undue foreign influence, we recognised the potential for significant collateral damage to foreign asset managers and, by extension, to the equity market. The situation continues to evolve through dialogue with the authorities and a series of clarifications, which now suggest to us that this change will ultimately have much less impact on the market than we initially feared. Nevertheless, there will be some negative implications for foreign activist investors who will face an additional administrative burden. We continue to engage with the authorities on this issue, but we need to wait to see the actual regulatory framework and a definitive list of companies ahead of the final implementation, which is likely to be in April 2020.

Discrete yearly performance (%)

	Q1/2015 - Q1/2016	Q1/2016 - Q1/2017	Q1/2017 - Q1/2018	Q1/2018 - Q1/2019	Q1/2019 - Q1/2020
Share price	-10.6	46.1	6.8	-11.5	-14.1
Net Asset Value	-6.3	37.8	8.3	-6.5	-8.4
TOPIX TR JPY (GBP)	-1.7	33.0	8.2	-1.8	-2.5

The value of investments and the income from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the amount originally invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance and may not be repeated.

What are the risks?

Past performance is not a guide to future performance and may not be repeated. The value of investments and the income from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the amount originally invested.

The Company invests in smaller companies that may be less liquid than in larger companies and price swings may therefore be greater than investment companies that invest in larger companies.

The Company will invest solely in the companies of one country or region. This can carry more risk than investments spread over a number of countries or regions.

The Company holds investments denominated in currencies other than sterling, investors should note that exchange rates may cause the value of these investments, and the income from them, to rise or fall.

The Company may borrow money to invest in further investments, this is known as gearing. Gearing will increase returns if the value of the investments purchased increase in value by more than the cost of borrowing, or reduce returns if they fail to do so.

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Please remember that the value of investments and the income from them may go down as well as up and investors may not get back the amounts originally invested.

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Issued by Schroder Unit Trusts Limited, 1 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU. Registered Number 4191730 England.

Schroder Unit Trusts Limited is an authorised corporate director, authorised unit trust manager and an ISA plan manager, and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Please note: for the Schroder UK Public Private Trust plc, the important information is below:

Schroder Investment Management Limited, 1 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU. Registration No. 1893220 England. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Schroder UK Public Private Trust plc is incorporated in England and Wales, company number 09405653. Registered as an investment company under section 833 of the Companies Act 2006. Registered address Beaufort House, 51 New North Road, Exeter, EX4 4EP.

On 17 September 2018 our remaining dual priced funds converted to single pricing and a list of the funds affected can be found in our Changes to Funds. To view historic dual prices from the launch date to 14 September 2018 click on Historic prices.

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