‘Japan’s Thatcher’ drives stocks to record high after signalling snap election

Sanae Takaichi has called Margaret Thatcher her political idol - Eugene Hoshiko/AFP via Getty Images The Japanese stock market has surged to a record high as Sanae Takaichi, the country’s prime minister, prepares to gamble on an election in early February. Stock market investors are piling into the so-called “Takaichi trade”, betting that an election victory will empower her to rev up the economy with higher spending or tax cuts. But bond and currency investors pulled back, fearing that any fresh fisca ...