Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The focus is on the **Asia-Pacific equity market** and its relationship with the **US dollar** movements, particularly how currency fluctuations impact equity performance in the region. Core Insights and Arguments - **Currency Impact on Equity Returns**: Currency moves have historically contributed an average of **16%** to the MXAPJ index USD price return over the past **20 years**. This impact is significant and varies across different Asian markets [2][9][15]. - **Correlation with Dollar Movements**: There is a strong inverse correlation (60-80%) between regional equity returns and the dollar, indicating that Asian equities tend to perform better when the dollar weakens [6][19]. - **Future Dollar Weakness**: The dollar has declined **10%** since its peak in January, and further depreciation is expected due to factors such as overvaluation, narrowing interest rate differentials, and high budget deficits [7][8][10]. - **Earnings Sensitivity**: MXAPJ earnings have a neutral beta of **+0.1x** to a weaker dollar, with a potential **+0.2%** earnings revision for a **5%** annual-average appreciation of local currencies against the USD. Japan's earnings are negatively impacted by a stronger yen, estimated at **-3%** for a **5%** appreciation [6][44]. - **Valuation Effects**: Each **1%** appreciation in Asian FX leads to a **0.1x** increase in the MXAPJ forward P/E ratio, with Japan being an outlier showing a negative sensitivity [6][57]. - **Portfolio Flows**: A weaker dollar is associated with increased foreign investor flows into Asian equities, which contribute to stronger equity returns. The correlation between foreign equity flows and Asian equity performance is about **75%** on a 3-year rolling basis [66][67]. Important but Overlooked Content - **Intraregional Differences**: Different Asian markets exhibit varying sensitivities to dollar movements. For instance, Hong Kong and China show higher sensitivity, while Japan and Taiwan are less affected [78]. - **Sector Performance**: Higher beta sectors such as media, entertainment, and autos tend to outperform during periods of USD weakness, while defensive sectors like telecom and utilities lag behind [33][34]. - **Implementation Strategies**: The report suggests screening for stocks that may benefit from a weaker dollar, focusing on those with negative share price correlation with the dollar and high USD debt exposure. Conversely, stocks with high US sales exposure may be negatively impacted [82][83]. Conclusion - The outlook for Asian equities remains constructive, supported by the expectation of further dollar depreciation and favorable monetary policy conditions. The dynamics between currency movements and equity performance will be crucial for investors to monitor as they navigate the market into **2026** [10][67].