Japan hits plateau after 'exceptional' 2003

After an exceptional year in 2003, average returns of funds investing in Japan have been more subdued this year. Standard & Poor's fund analysts said in July's report on the sector that the rally that was evident in 2003 continued into the first four months of this year. However, factors such as booming oil prices, worries about a possible slowdown in China, and the probability that US interest rates would increase (which they subsequently did), caused a sell-off. Since then, concerns remain regarding the strength of Japan's economy, and the continuing weakness of the US currency is also l...