SWFs behind Japan sell-off, Nomura CEO says

By FXStreet Nomura’s CEO Koji Nagai thinks, in an article via the FT, that the collapse in Nikkei 225 shares over recent weeks can be largely attributed to oil-related Middle Eastern SWFs (sovereign wealth funds) selling stocks as crude prices continue to slide.

Nagai said that once these SWFs liquidate their Japanese stocks, a “sharp rebound” can be expected. According to the Financial Times: “Brokers estimate the biggest petrodollar-funded SWFs held a collective 6 per cent of the Japanese equity market in mid-2015.”

Mr. Nagai adds, via FT: “Right now in the market everyone is taking a risk-off stance and there are not many buyers and that is why the stock prices keep coming down. The SWF don’t have an infinite amount of Japanese equities. Once they have sold what they have on hand then the decline of stock prices will come to a bottom.”
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Source:: FX Street