Japan: Poised for a post-COVID-19 recovery

Article Excerpt

The Japanese economy ranks among the top 5 in the world and hosts some of the most-profitable global corporations. The economy is, however, hamstrung by a declining and rapidly aging population. Still, an older population also presents opportunities, and Japanese companies are already coming up with innovative and technology-driven aids for the elderly. That technological drive helps Japan maintain its place as a leading exporter of high-profit products. Here is one ETF that provides exposure to the top Japanese public companies. JP MORGAN BETABUILDERS JAPAN ETF $26.50 (New York symbol BBJP; TSI Network ETF Rating: Aggressive; Market cap: $5.3 billion) tracks the performance of the largest publicly listed Japanese companies. Industrial companies account for 21% of its assets, while Consumer Cyclical (16%), Technology (13%), Healthcare (12%) Financial Services (9%), Communication Services (9%) are other key segments. The ETF holds a large portfolio of 361 stocks; the top 10 stocks make up 20% of its assets. They include Toyota (automotive, 4.3%), Softbank (technology, 2.6%), Sony…