Outlook for the Nikkei average this week [09-January 2023]

 [Recognition of the current state of fundamentals]

In the US market last week, the December jobs report showed slowing wage inflation, easing fears of a prolonged Fed tightening, and stock indices rose for the week.

Weekly change rate NY Dow: +1.46% NASAQ: +0.98% S&P500: +1.45%.

                                       

On the other hand, medium- to long-term risks include concerns about a prolonged conflict in Ukraine, energy costs, concerns about a slowdown in the global economy due to rising interest rates, and concerns about the bursting of the real estate bubble and a slowdown in China. This also raises concerns about the arrival of stagflation. In addition, geopolitical risks in East Asia and the Middle East continue to require attention.

The difference in the yield spread between the Japanese and U.S. markets is that the Japanese market is 4.40 points cheaper than the U.S. market, considering the announced OECD nominal GDP forecast for 2024. The reason for the undervaluation is the difference between the S&P 500's PER of 16.9 and the Nikkei 225's expected PER of 12.1 and the current fiscal year, as well as the difference in interest rates and GDP growth between the U.S. and Japan.

This means that if the GDP growth rate difference between Japan and the U.S. in 2021 expands by another 4.40 percentage points compared to the OECD forecast (Japan is revised downward or the U.S. is revised upward), or if the PER of the Nikkei 225 stocks for the current fiscal year is about 25.8 or if the Nikkei 225 is about 55510 yen compared to the current price of the Nikkei 225. The Japanese market is undervalued by about 29530 yen in the medium to long term.

 

Fundamentally, the Japanese market is 29530 yen less attractive than the US market. Last week, weakness in the Japanese market diminished.

 

[Conditions for Nikkei average rise]

In the future, the following assumptions are necessary for the Nikkei average to rise further.

①    Rising US market

②　Increase in profit forecast for the current fiscal year above the previous year's level

③ Further depreciation of the yen due to the widening interest rate gap between Japan and the U.S.

④ Upward revision of Japan's 2023 GDP estimate (now +3.5%) by OECD

⑤ Foreign investors over-buying

 

Looking at recent movements

①    Last week, the NYDow weekly trend was positive. The daily footstep is above the 200-day line and the clouds of the equilibrium chart. NASDAQ weekly trend was positive. The daily footstep is under the 200-day line and the clouds of the equilibrium chart. This week, we will be watching to see if the NYDow can keep above the 25-day average line.

②    As a result of the announcement of quarterly financial results, the ROE forecast for Nikkei 225 stocks is 9.0%. It is 0.2 point worse than 3 months ago. In addition, the profit growth rate was +6.0%, an improvement of 1.6 percentage points compared to three months ago.

③    Long-term interest rates in the United States fell, and the interest rate differential between Japan and the United States narrowed from 3.47 to 3.07. Dollar Index Gains +0.40% Weekly

④    The OECD's nominal GDP growth rate for Japan and the U.S. in 2024 is expected to be +2.51% for Japan and +3.54% for the U.S., so the Japanese market is 1.03 percentage points worse in this aspect.

⑤    The 4th week of December was net selling. It is likely that the first week of January was a net sell, and a net buy is expected this week. Last week, out of the five points, (1) was bullish. ①②③⑤ are expected to have an impact.

 

[Technical viewpoint]

Looking at the Japanese market from a technical perspective, the difference in the 200-day divergence rate from the NASDAQ is 6.3 points (about 1640 yen when calculated for the Nikkei 225) higher in the medium to long term. On the other hand, the difference in the 200-day divergence from the NYDow is 6.6 points (about 1720 yen when converted to the Nikkei 225) lower in the medium to long term.

 

The strength of the Japanese market relative to the US market weakened during the week. The VIX, a measure of US market volatility, fell to 21.1 in a week. Nikkei VI fell to 18.2 in a week. Both indices are near the optimistic-pessimistic border.

 

The Nikkei is below the 9th and 25th lines. A short-term trend has a "red light".

The Nikkei is below the clouds in the Ichimoku Kinko Hyo. The overall deviation rate was -13.4%, and the deviation rate from the 200-day moving average line was -4.8%. The medium-term trend has a "red light" because three factors are negative.

 

In the US market, the NYDow is above the 9-day and 25-day and the 200-day line. It is above the clouds of the Ichimoku Kinko Hyo. NASDAQ is above the 9-day line but below the 25-day line and 200 day line. It is below the clouds of the Ichimoku Kinko Hyo.

It is a “yellow light” in the short term and a “yellow light” in the medium term.

 

[Outlook for this week]

Looking at the U.S. market from a fundamental perspective, concerns about a global economic slowdown due to the spread of the new coronavirus have receded, but risk factors include inflation and rising interest rates due to the Russia-Ukraine war and economic slowdown due to energy shortages and deteriorating political conditions in the EU, U.S.-China trade friction, financial market turmoil caused by the bursting of the Chinese real estate bubble and credit contraction, and geopolitical risks in the Middle East and East Asia.

 

Recent LIBOR rates have been on the rise, and we continue to be wary of a resurgence of financial instability.

 

Looking at the technical aspects, the U.S. market is in a medium-term no trend and a short-term down trend. The Japanese market is in a medium-term downtrend, and the short-term is also downtrend.

 

Analyzing the foreign exchange market, the yen has been trending lower since early 2021, but has turned stronger since November. This week, the yen is expected to be in the 132-128 yen range.

 

Inflation reports, Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's speech at an international symposium, and consumer sentiment at the University of Michigan will be the focus of attention this week in the US. Also released are his CPI data for China, India, Mexico and Brazil. Additionally, investors will be watching trade data for China, Australia, the Eurozone and the UK, as well as the UK's GDP growth for November and the monetary policy meeting in South Korea.

 

Last week's Nikkei average remained within the expected range. The upper price was below the expected line by about 50 yen, and the lower price was above the expected line by about 1020 yen.

The expected range of the Nikkei average this week is that the upper value is the 25th line (currently around 27050 yen) and the lower value is expected to move between the Bollinger band -1σ (currently around 26210 yen).

 

The market environment seems to be a mixture of optimism and pessimism. This week's Nikkei average is likely to move toward the 25th line.