Japanese Assets Most Vulnerable to U.S. Election Outcomes

Japanese Assets Most Vulnerable to U.S. Election Outcomes: Japanese markets are watching the upcoming U.S. election results
and their potential impact on Japanese assets.
While a win for Kamala Harris might support the Japanese yen,
a victory for Donald Trump could have varied effects on stocks and currency markets in Tokyo.
With multiple scenarios drawn for the path of Japanese assets,
investors are cautiously awaiting the election outcome and its impact on the Japanese economy.

 

Content

Impact of the U.S. Elections

Market Focus on Japan

Harris’s Policies

Trump’s Return

Potential Impact

Expected Yen Decline

Close Poll Results

Dollar-Yen Volatility

Short-Term Effects

Tariff Increases

 

 

 

 

Impact of the U.S. Elections on the Yen and Japanese Stock Markets

A win for Kamala Harris could support the yen,
while a Trump victory might energize the Tokyo stock market
but pose a greater risk of a sharp decline for the yen.
Analysts warn that markets may face significant volatility if the U.S. election results are disputed.

 

Markets Focusing on Japan During the U.S. Vote Coun

Japanese markets are gaining special attention due to their size and liquidity,
as traders monitor the U.S. election results and their impact on the dollar and yen during Asian trading sessions.

 

Harris’s Policies and Expected Impact on the Yen

If Harris wins, she is expected to maintain an economic policy aimed at a soft landing for the U.S. economy.
This could potentially allow the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates if inflation doesn’t rise significantly,
strengthening the yen due to a narrower yield gap between Japan and the U.S.

 

Trump’s Return and Its Impact on the U.S. Economy and the Yen

On the other hand, Trump’s victory could boost the U.S. economy in the short term,
Tax cuts and regulatory easing will likely drive the dollar up and negatively impact the yen.

 

Potential Impact on the Yen and Dollar Prices

A stronger dollar could benefit Japanese exporters,
yet Trump’s plans for imposing tariffs may pose a risk to Japanese stocks.
If Trump wins, the focus will shift to the congressional elections
and the impact of a Republican majority on U.S. policies.

 

 

 

 

 

Expected Yen Decline if Trump Wins

Analysts at Crédit Agricole and Mizuho predict the yen
could fall to 160 per dollar if Trump wins, the lowest level in 38 years.

 

Close Race in Poll Results 

Recent polls show that Harris and Trump are close in the election race,
increasing the likelihood of market volatility.
With a decline in the U.S. dollar and a rise in Treasury yields,
the election outcome could influence the prices of local assets in Japan.

 

Dollar-Yen Volatility

Implied volatility in the dollar-yen exchange rate has risen to its highest level since August,
reflecting expectations of increased fluctuations due to the election.

 

Short-Term Impact of Trump’s Victory on Japanese Stocks

Any boost to Japanese stocks from a Trump win may be short-lived if he imposes new tariffs,
especially in China, which could negatively impact the Japanese economy.

 

Tariff Increases and Their Effect on Japanese Exports

Masahiko Loo from State Street believes that if Trump imposes tariffs of up to 20% on imports,
Japan’s exports of cars and machinery could suffer,
potentially impacting the Japanese economy and slowing global growth.

 

Japanese Assets Most Vulnerable to U.S. Election Outcomes

 

How European Investors Prepare for the U.S. Election

How European Investors Prepare for the U.S. Election: As the U.S. presidential election approaches,
European stock investors take precautionary steps to anticipate a potential victory for Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Trump is expected to impose protectionist policies on European industries,
echoing a period of poor performance for European stocks under previous U.S. administrations.

 

Content

Betting on a Trump Victory

Investor Shifts

Tariff Threats

European Auto Sector Concerns

Renewable Energy Industry Under Trump

Defense Stocks

investment Tips

 

 

 

 

Betting on a Trump Victory and Its Impact on the European Market

 

Some investors expect a Trump victory to result in protectionist policies harmful to Europe’s export-driven industries.
Neil Birrell, Chief Investment Officer at Premier Miton Investors,
noted that the European market has begun to anticipate a potential Trump win,
with investors avoiding the investments that performed poorly during his previous term.

While companies listed on the S&P 500 derive about 72% of their sales from the U.S. market,
companies in the Stoxx 600 index generate only 40% of their revenues from within Europe.
The remainder largely depends on the EU’s largest trading partner, the U.S. markets.

 

Investors Avoid Stocks Tied to Democratic Policies

 

With increasing bets on Trump’s victory,
European investors have begun to shy away from stocks that benefitted under Democratic policies,
such as the  Inflation Reduction Act and renewable energy firms.
These stocks include renewable energy companies like
Vestas Wind Systems and consumer goods firms like Pernod Ricard and
Volkswagen.

Conversely, stocks that may benefit from a Republican victory have risen,
such as defense companies Rheinmetall and  Thales and tobacco giant Imperial Brands.

 

Tariff Threats

 

Trump’s proposed policies include imposing high import tariffs and reducing corporate taxes,
raising concerns among European companies.
Strategists at Bank of America suggest that a Republican victory may give
the government has more leeway to impose higher tariffs and lower taxes.
According to
Morgan Stanley, a 10% global tariff could reduce Europe’s growth by 0.3 to 0.6 percentage points.

 

 

European Auto Sector and Tariff Concerns

 

The European auto sector is particularly vulnerable to the threat of tariffs.
Trump has pledged to offer tax breaks to Americans who buy cars made in the U.S.,
which could jeopardize European automakers.
Unlike Volkswagen and Porsche,
companies like BMW and Mercedes-Benz
 may be less exposed due to their U.S.-based production
.

 

Renewable Energy Industry and Trump’s Policies

Renewable energy companies such as Orsted and EDP Renovaveis
may face pressure if Trump halts support for clean energy projects.
On the other hand, companies connected to fossil fuels,
such as oil giants BP, TotalEnergies, and Repsol, may benefit from his pro-inflation policies.

 

Defense Stocks and Potential Increase in Defense Spending

European defense stocks like BAE Systems, Rheinmetall,
and Thales could see gains if Trump pressures NATO allies to increase defense spending.
Additionally, these companies may be impacted by developments in Ukraine,
as Trump has expressed a desire to end the conflict through direct negotiations with Russia.

 

Investment Tips Amid Political Noise

Some experts advise investors to look beyond the immediate impact
of the election and focus on company strategies, business cycles, and earnings as key market drivers over the long term.
Frédérique Carrier, Head of Investment Strategy at RBC Wealth Management,
said, “Our main message to clients is that business, innovation, and earnings cycles are far more important
drivers for financial markets in the medium to long term than those who sit in the White House.”

 

 

How European Investors Prepare for the U.S. Election

Five Key Sectors Affected by U.S. Election Results

Five Key Sectors Affected by U.S. Election Results: As the U.S. elections approach,
attention is focused on the potential impact of their results on the global economy.
Each candidate brings different visions and policies that could clearly influence key economic sectors.
The Five Key Sectors Affected face various risks and expectations depending on the election outcome.

 

Contents 

Major Banking Sector  

Healthcare Sector  

Electric Vehicle Sector  

Retail Sector  

Energy Sector  

 

 

 

 

Major Banking Sector

The most significant eight U.S. banks are preparing for new requirements
to hold more capital to enhance their ability to meet obligations during financial crises,
which could reduce the returns investors receive from stock buybacks or dividends.
Banks indicate that this new rule may limit lending to consumers and businesses.

The presidential election will determine the timing for implementing
These requirements and the additional capital are needed from these banks.
If Harris wins, U.S. regulators are expected to implement parts of the “Basel III” agreement,
a global regulatory standard developed in response to the 2008 financial crisis.

Major financial institutions, such as Bank of America, Goldman Sachs,
Citigroup, Wells Fargo, and J.P. Morgan
may need to increase capital by up to 9% under a plan presented by the Federal Reserve last month.
According to Bloomberg Intelligence,
capital requirements may be finalized by the third quarter of 2025 if a Democratic administration takes office.

Isaac Boltansky, managing director at BTIG financial services,
noted that if Trump wins, the rule’s implementation may be delayed and eventually significantly reduced,
as Trump tends to relax regulatory restrictions on the financial sector in various areas.
He added that increased capital requirements generally reduce bank profits,
although it’s difficult to predict the impact on net income until all details are finalized.

 

Healthcare Sector

If the increased support for “Obamacare” is not extended when it expires at the end of next year,
revenues for significant insurance companies
like Centene and United Health could drop by $25 billion by 2026,

according to Bloomberg Intelligence estimates.
Larry Levitt, executive vice president of KFF, a nonprofit health policy research group,

pointed out that Harris and congressional Democrats strongly support extending the increased support.
At the same time, Trump and Republicans,
who have vowed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, do not prioritize this issue.

This support helps millions of Americans afford healthcare coverage,
and the Congressional Budget Office projects a 3.8 million-person decline in
Obamacare enrollment within a year if support is not extended.
Levitt added that the Republican party’s significant influence could reduce
pressure on the pharmaceutical sector to negotiate lower prices for Medicare.

 

 

 

 

Electric Vehicle Sector

Electric vehicle manufacturers, such as Tesla and Rivian, and traditional automakers,
like General Motors, have made substantial technological investments
and are counting on election results to support their trajectory.
These companies face challenges related to tax incentives for electric vehicle
purchases and emissions standards that encourage more low-emission vehicles.

If Harris wins, federal tax credits for new electric vehicles
up to $7,500 and $4,000 for used ones will remain.
However, as Bloomberg Intelligence has noted, if Trump wins,
these credits may be eliminated or reduced under stricter “Buy American” policies.
Trump has pledged to eliminate Biden’s electric vehicle support policies on “day one” of his term.

Although Trump has softened his stance on electric vehicles
since receiving the support of Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk,
he remains committed to criticizing Biden’s policies,
inaccurately describing them as a “mandate for electric vehicles.”

Sarah Bianchi, senior managing director at Evercore ISI,
noted that repealing government support for industries or clean energy incentives
for consumers would require Republicans to hold a majority in both the House and Senate.
The greatest risk is Trump’s potential executive power to reduce support through regulatory changes.

 

Retail Sector

Bloomberg Intelligence noted that retail companies could face a crisis if tariffs
on consumer goods are sharply increased under a Trump win,
which could reduce sales volume and profit margins, with the most significant impact expected on products made in China.

Trump has pledged 10% to 20% tariffs on all imported goods and 60% on Chinese products.
Trade tensions may lead to even higher tariffs due to retaliatory measures.
Retail is particularly vulnerable, as the tariffs cover a wide range of goods,
according to Henrietta Treyz, managing partner at Veda Partners, an investment advisory firm.

According to the American Apparel and Footwear Association,
imported goods comprise a large portion of products sold in the U.S.,
representing 79% of clothing and 98% of shoes.
Furthermore, according to the Consumer Technology Association,
90% of consumer electronics sold in the U.S. are imported-.

Based on data from industry trade groups, China is the main source of these imports,
providing over a third of the clothing, more than half of the shoes,
79% of laptops, 78% of smartphones, and 87% of video game consoles.

In contrast, Harris is unlikely to impose broad tariff increases like Trump.
Instead, she would focus on specific sectors, production lines, and export restrictions, Treyz added.

Although importers pay the tariffs,
the higher costs are ultimately passed on to U.S. retailers and consumers.

 

Energy Sector

Oil, gas, and coal companies are expected to benefit from a Trump victory,
as he plans to reduce regulatory restrictions and expand natural gas exports.
While a Harris win would bolster clean energy support,
Trump’s policies could threaten offshore wind projects and limit emissions from fossil-fuel power plants.

 

 

Five Key Sectors Affected by U.S. Election Results