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Japan's net overseas investment down in 2017; still world's largest

18 Comments

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Yeah... and all that money they're investing is printed and adding to the National Debt. When will the world currency markets wake up and see that the Yen is pretty much the same as Monopoly money.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

It's a shame when it's covered by 280% of Japan's GDP in loans.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Japan is on roll. The richest country the planet.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

The crumbling rusting bridges and lack of walkways show that Japan should be investing in its own infrastructure rather than trying to make profits abroad.

Public schools, so underfunded need to ration heating in the winter due to budget deficits.

Over 50% of Japanese workers only have part-time work!

Companies here don’t want to invest in a country with an ever ageing and graying population.

Japan is on the greased slope ever downwards......

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Companies here don’t want to invest in a country with an ever ageing and graying population.

Yep, there's no profit in those dying towns and villages of Tohoku, Hokkaido and other parts of rural Japan.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Although, the Japanese government is quite happy to allow the Chinese government to buy land in Hokkaido which will be utilized in ways not apparent at the moment.....

2 ( +4 / -2 )

...all that money they're investing is printed and adding to the National Debt.

How exactly does that work?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Where is the U.S in the mix? Really surprising they are not no.1 tbh.

Although, the Japanese government is quite happy to allow the Chinese government to buy land in Hokkaido which will be utilized in ways not apparent at the moment.....

I would be keeping an extremely close eye on that if I was Japanese.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Who would want to invest in japan without a 4th arrow, other 3 failed.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

It should be no surprise Japan is a world leader in foreign investment. There are very little investment opportunities within Japan with any kind of return due to so many fat cats and middle men taking money from companies for doing nothing.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

@Do the hustle - Japan does have problems. I would like to add some perspective however.

Overall, however, the country is in trouble if it continues on its present course. The responsibility for this rests on the shoulders of the central govt. As can be seen above; Japan has many capable companies and numerous capable individuals. The leadership though is caught in the Showa era which will hurt Japan in the long run.

On the other hand there are opportunities here. My portfolio has done really well over the past few years with the Japanese companies I chose to invest in (Yaskawa - nearly quadrupled in 4 years, Tokyo Electron, nearly tripled, ANA - about doubled). As stated above there are shining stars and still opportunities in certain sectors.

Relative to the central point of the article: I am not surprised, especially considering the investment Japan has poured into manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the EU. In this case Trump is wrong and needs to back off Japan as they have invested billions in manufacturing in the U.S. and this article provides evidence.

If you are to invest in Japan look at technology where precision is required. You will generally do quite well. Do not look to the behemoths as they tend to be behind the times and make business decisions that often leave me baffled.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

My post should have read....as can be seen below....looks confusing....Need more coffee

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Many of you don't seem to understand that the net figure was down because foreigners made more money with thier investments in Japan. (That includes me.) I would hardly call that a symptom of a weak or faiiling economy.

"...the country is in trouble if it continues on its present course. The responsibility for this rests on the shoulders of the central govt." 

Under the policies of the current administration, corporate profits have risen to the highest in the nation's history. The problem is with the corporations, who choose to hoard their surging earnings rather than give raises to their workers in line with their profit growth. That greed is suppressing consumption, which is 60% of GDP, holding down growth and harming us all.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Yeah... and all that money they're investing is printed and adding to the National Debt. When will the world currency markets wake up and see that the Yen is pretty much the same as Monopoly money.

Don't talk about the Big world out there when you've no knowledge :)

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The crumbling rusting bridges and lack of walkways show that Japan should be investing in its own infrastructure rather than trying to make profits abroad.

Not that I've been everywhere in Japan [ who does anyway? ] but what I see most of the time are engineer dreams. As an European I always found the above the ground electricity grid ugly but you at least it's well maintained.

Think you're referring to the situation the US.

Public schools, so underfunded need to ration heating in the winter due to budget deficits.

There's underfunding in other developed nations as well.

Over 50% of Japanese workers only have part-time work!

Based on what figures?

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-economy-labour-analysis/japan-inc-turns-contract-workers-into-permanent-staff-as-labor-market-tightens-idUSKCN1BC3PJ

Companies here don’t want to invest in a country with an ever ageing and graying population. 

So why is that there's labour shortage?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

The population has been shrinking and yet the economy still grows.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The money is being invested where it will earn a return. The fact that so much must be invested overseas says volumes about the current state of Japan’s.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

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