Quote from BlueHorseshoe:
If the Yen breaks down big time, say to 200=250JPY/USD, what impact on the Nikkei? I'm sure there are precedents in ... Thailand, S. America, just not up on global economics. Any thoughts?
Without doing any research, my guess is that the Nikkei must follow the currency down initially but afterward domestic production costs decline, exports rise, thus profits and Nikkei rise? Also, inflation returns which is good for asset values and earnings improvement?
Have to agree on the bear yen. Should have been devalued years ago back when the world's largest economy could weather a deval of the currency of #2 economy. Now both economies are in the toilet. Still recall the Reagan/Bush administrations harrassing the Japanese to open up trade barriers and undertake structural reform - apparently nobody was listening ...
It seems now Japanese are attempting to address structural problems in earnest - Thursday WSJ had some good related articles. Debate seems to be centered on whether it is too little too late.
Interested in further reasoned opinions on Yen/Nikkei ...
Nobody can predict future especially in the market, known fact.
However, there is one fact we rarely and definitely can predict in Japan. Which is it is going to be a aging society, rapidly.
I see a currency is not going to be strong in such a country.
So, Yen is bear in super long trend, IMO.