Japan sets you up for gains

Article Excerpt

ISHARES MSCI JAPAN INDEX FUND, $69.38, is a buy. The ETF (New York symbol EWJ; buy or sell through brokers; us.ishares.com) aims to mirror the return of the Morgan Stanley Capital International Japan Index. The fund’s top holdings include Toyota, 5.3%; Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, 3.2%; Sony Corp., 2.8%; Hitachi (conglomerate), 2.5%; Tokyo Electron (computer chips), 2.3%; Sumitomo Mitsui Financial, 2.3%; Keyence (sensors), 2.1%; and Shin Etsu Chemical, 2.1%. The ETF’s MER is an acceptable 0.50%. Japan’s outlook is improving steadily as the country continues to stimulate its domestic economy and as it reopens its borders to businesses, travellers and tourists. Meanwhile, despite the key manufacturing segment being hurt by the impact of higher raw material and fuel costs, Japan is now benefiting from the weaker yen and the boost that provides its exports. iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund is a buy. buy…