Franklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETF

FLJH

Market cap $163M

I am bullish on Japanese equities, emphasizing that Japan's high debt/GDP is offset by a robust asset base and pension fund scale. Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund and BOJ asset accumulation provide significant competitive advantages and underpin market resilience.

The Franklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETF (FLJH) is positioned amid shifting Japanese macroeconomic and market dynamics. The Bank of Japan has trimmed its 2026 growth target to 0.5% while raising inflation expectations. Japan's energy mix and reliance on Middle Eastern oil remain key macro factors influencing the investment landscape.

Franklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETF offers broad Japanese exposure, focusing on industrials, automotive, and financials, while hedging Yen risk. Potential US tariffs on EU autos could incrementally benefit Japanese exporters, but these would be coming from the uncertain Greenland tariff threats and supposedly in June. FLJH's significant financial exposure is problematic, though, amid Japan's fiscal-monetary policy conflict reflected in fiscal concerns in rising long-term bond yields.

Nikkei 225 struggles below 50,000 as upside momentum fades. Daily RSI drifts into neutral territory, signaling consolidation.

The Nikkei 225 falls to 49,303 as rate-hike odds for December 19 approach 80%. Electronics, pharma, and industrials lead declines as liquidity expectations tighten.

Nikkei closes at 51,063, extending gains for a second session. Manufacturing confidence hits a four-year high as exports strengthen.

Solid growth and ongoing shareholder-friendly reforms are driving Japanese equity gains, keeping us overweight. We see the AI theme playing out globally.

Berkshire's higher stakes in Mitsubishi and Mitsui spark a rally in Japan's trading houses. ETFs like FJP, EWJV, DFJ, SCJ, FLJH are likely to benefit.

The Franklin FTSE Japan Hedged ETF, which covers around 500 Japanese stocks and aims to mitigate Yen currency risk, has underperformed developed markets this year. We see how FLJH stacks up against the largest currency hedged Japanese themed ETF- DXJ. We examine if current conditions are supportive for a long position in FLJH.

As the global private equity industry took tentative steps toward recovery in 2024, Japan raced ahead. The value of private equity investment in Japan jumped nearly 41% over the prior-year total in 2024, far outpacing the 25% year-over-year gain in global private equity deal value, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data.