Exports and property aid Japan pick-up

In traditional fashion, the export sector is leading the way in Japan's current economic pick-up, closely accompanied by a resurgance in house price growth. Although the burgeoning recovery has not been reflected in the performance of the stock market, the breadth of the recovery has given fund managers hope that it will last long enough to have a significant impact on the equity markets. Jamie Jenkins, director of Japanese equities at F&C, says: "Japan has traditionally traded as a geared play on the global economy as it is an exporting nation. However, what is different is that we are...