Investment case for Japan remains intact

In the short term major Western markets are set to continue to move sideways as investors try to second-guess the intentions of the monetary policy makers. That said, it is not inconceivable that equity markets can do well against a backdrop of rising interest rates. Fundamentally the trend of core inflation remains stable to downward and strong economic growth will help generate healthy increases in profits. The disinflationary and intensely competitive pressures which prevail globally will sustain the corporate activity and industrial consolidation that has been underway for some time. ...