Fidelity Japan Trust PLC (LON:FJV) published its monthly factsheet for the period ended December 2023.
Portfolio Manager Commentary
The Trust recorded NAV returns of 12.2% over the 12 months to December 2023, underperforming the reference index, which returned 13.3%. The Trust’s share price rose by 12.3% over the same period and the discount to NAV narrowed marginally.
Holdings in factory automation and machinery-related companies that faced a temporary slowdown in earnings due to supply chain disruptions and sluggish demand in China detracted from performance. However, signs of a recovery in the order cycle are emerging. The underweight exposure to traditional value areas of the market, primarily banks and automobiles, weighed on relative returns. Conversely, key active positions in technology-related cyclicals outperformed.