outlook

A 10% loss on Japan's Nikkei 225 index since the third week of April is no reason to panic given the country's strong fundamentals supporting corporate profitability, suggests Stephen Mitchell, manager JPMorgan Fleming Japanese investment trust.

ISIS Asset Management says corporate earnings in the US should stay strong through this year, but adds there are still dangers in the form of continued high unemployment and the weak dollar.

Investments in Japan could produce bumper returns this year, according to statements from both SG Asset Management and JPMorgan Fleming.