Japan stocks and the related ETFs are coming off scintillating performances in 2025. They currently rank among the best performers in developed markets. Last year, the MSCI Japan Index surged 25.9%, outperforming the S&P 500 by 820 basis points. The WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (DXJ) did even better. That venerable ETF gained nearly 33%. A sequel may be a big ask, but that doesn't mean advisor and investors should dismiss Japanese equities and ETFs like DXJ this year. In fact, 2026 could be another y ...

Core Insights - All nine global indexes tracked have shown gains through December 15, 2025, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng leading at a year-to-date gain of 30.6% [2] - The second and third positions are held by Canada's TSX with a gain of 26.5% and Japan's Nikkei 225 with a gain of 25.8% [2] - India's BSE SENSEX has the smallest year-to-date gain at 6.6% [2] Index Performance Context - A table is provided that compares each index's current value to its all-time peak, including the date of that peak and the distance from that record level [3] - Historical performance since March 9, 2009, is illustrated, showing the relative performance of world markets, with specific lows for various indexes [5] - A longer-term view starting from October 9, 2007, is also presented, highlighting the performance during a previous market peak [6]

Core Insights - All nine global indexes tracked have shown gains through December 1, 2025, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng leading at a year-to-date gain of 31.7% [2] - The second and third positions are held by Canada's TSX with a 24.9% gain and Japan's Nikkei 225 with a 23.6% gain, while India's BSE SENSEX has the smallest gain at 7.1% [2] Index Performance - The performance of the indexes is compared to their historical peaks, providing context on their current values and how far they are from record levels [3] - A chart illustrates the comparative performance of world markets since March 9, 2009, with various indexes indexed to 800 on that date for visualization [5] - Another visualization starts from October 9, 2007, to show relative performance during a previous market peak [6] Market Context - The analysis includes a recent recession starting from February 3, 2020, to provide context on market performance during economic downturns [4] - The DAXK is tracked as a price-only index for consistency with other indexes that do not include dividends [8]

Core Insights - All nine global indexes tracked have shown gains through December 1, 2025, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng leading at a year-to-date gain of 31.7% [2] - The second and third positions are held by Canada's TSX with a gain of 24.9% and Japan's Nikkei 225 with a gain of 23.6% respectively [2] - India's BSE SENSEX has the smallest year-to-date gain at 7.1% [2] Index Performance Context - A comparative performance chart illustrates the relative performance of world markets since March 9, 2009, with various indexes hitting their lows on different dates [5] - The performance visualization also includes a longer-term perspective starting from October 9, 2007, which was a previous closing high for the S&P 500 [6] - The DAXK is tracked as a price-only index for consistency with other indexes that do not include dividends [8]

Core Insights - All nine global indexes tracked have shown gains through November 24, 2025, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng leading at a year-to-date gain of 31.2% [2] - The second and third positions are held by Canada's TSX with a gain of 22.9% and Japan's Nikkei 225 with a gain of 21.9% [2] - India's BSE SENSEX has the smallest year-to-date gain at 6.2% [2] Index Performance Context - A table is provided that compares each index's current value to its all-time peak, including the date of that peak and the distance from that record level [3] - Historical performance charts illustrate the comparative performance of world markets since significant lows, with specific start dates for various indexes [5][6] Additional Information - The DAXK is tracked as a price-only index for consistency with other indexes that do not include dividends [8]

Core Insights - All nine global indexes tracked have shown gains through November 17, 2025, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng leading at a year-to-date gain of 34.5% [2] - Japan's Nikkei 225 follows with a 26.1% gain, while China's Shanghai Composite is at 21.8% [2] - India's BSE SENSEX has the smallest gain at 6.3% [2] Index Performance Context - A comparative performance chart illustrates the indexes' standings relative to their historical peaks, showing current values, all-time peaks, and the distance from those peaks [3] - The performance of world markets has been analyzed since March 9, 2009, aligning various indexes to visualize relative performance effectively [5] - Additional charts provide insights starting from October 9, 2007, and the turn of the century, offering a longer-term view of index performance [6] Index Tracking Methodology - The DAXK is tracked as a price-only index for consistency with other indexes that do not include dividends [8]

Core Insights - All nine global indexes tracked have shown gains through November 3, 2025, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng leading at a year-to-date gain of 33.3% [2] - Japan's Nikkei 225 follows with a gain of 31.4%, while China's Shanghai index has increased by 21.9% [2] - India's BSE SENSEX has the smallest year-to-date gain at 5.1% [2] Index Performance - The performance of the indexes is compared to their historical peaks, providing context on their current values and distance from all-time highs [3] - A chart illustrates the comparative performance of world markets since March 9, 2009, highlighting the relative performance of various indexes [5] - Another visualization starts from October 9, 2007, to show the relative performance during a previous market peak [6] Market Trends - The analysis includes a focus on the impact of recent recessions on world indexes, starting from the official NBER recession date of February 3, 2020 [4] - The data visualizations utilize a log-scale vertical axis for better comparison of performance across different indexes [5][6]

Core Insights - Japan's Nikkei index has reached an all-time high, crossing the 51,000-mark on October 30, 2025, with a 14% increase in the past month [1] - The Bank of Japan (BoJ) has maintained its policy rate at 0.5% and is not in a hurry to tighten monetary policy despite inflation expectations [2][3] - Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi supports "Abenomics" and aims to enhance investment in strategic sectors, which may lead to a weaker yen [4][5] Monetary Policy - The BoJ is expected to keep its monetary policy loose, with inflation projected at 2.7% for fiscal 2025, 1.8% for fiscal 2026, and 2.0% for fiscal 2027 [2] - Two board members advocated for a 25 basis points rate hike, but the majority preferred to wait for further assessment [2] Economic Environment - Japan's exports have faced a weakening environment, having dropped for four consecutive months before a slight increase in September [3] - A weaker yen could enhance the profitability of export-oriented sectors, benefiting from repatriated income [5] Investment Opportunities - The rally in Japanese equities is expected to increase demand for Japan-focused large-cap ETFs, such as WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (DXJ) and iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (HEWJ) [6][7] - ProShares UltraShort Yen (YCS) is anticipated to benefit from a declining yen, with the Invesco CurrencyShares Japanese Yen Trust (FXY) losing 3.2% over the past month [5][8]

Core Insights - The WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (DXJ) has increased nearly 21% year-to-date, showcasing its resilience despite a weak dollar environment [1] - The fund's performance is expected to benefit from the ascension of Sanae Takaichi as Japan's first female prime minister, who is anticipated to continue pro-market reforms [2][3] Fund Performance - DXJ has risen by 2.42% for the week ending October 21, indicating investor confidence in Takaichi's economic plans [3] - The pricing in of Takaichi's victory by Japan stocks and ETFs like DXJ reflects investor optimism regarding her economic strategies [4] Economic Policies - Takaichi is viewed as a leader focused on targeted public investment, with fiscal expansion likely to remain central to her policies, particularly in defense, technology, energy, and cybersecurity [5] - The ETF allocates 25.63% of its weight to industrial stocks and nearly 11% to technology stocks, making these sectors crucial for prospective investors [5] Market Sentiment - Global investors are increasingly embracing Japan's equities, which may signal confidence in Takaichi's platform and encourage American market participants to engage with DXJ [6] - Political stability and renewed fiscal ambition under Takaichi are seen as providing fresh impetus for a rally in Japan's markets [7]

Core Insights - All nine global indexes tracked have shown gains through October 27, 2025, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng leading at a year-to-date gain of 34.7% [2] - Japan's Nikkei 225 follows with a 26.6% gain, while Canada's TSX has increased by 22.5% [2] - India's BSE SENSEX has the smallest year-to-date gain at 6.1% [2] Index Performance Context - A table is provided that compares each index's current value to its all-time peak, including the date of that peak and the distance from that record level [3] - Historical performance is illustrated, showing the comparative performance of world markets since March 9, 2009, with various indexes indexed to 800 on that date [5] - Additional charts provide insights starting from October 9, 2007, and the turn of the century, allowing for a longer view of relative performance [6] Index Tracking Methodology - The DAXK is tracked as a price-only index for consistency with other indexes that do not include dividends [8]