Market Chatter: Japanese Investors Look Abroad as Weak Yen Pressure Persists
A weaker yen has done little to slow overseas investment by Japanese companies and households, as low domestic interest rates and limited growth prospects at home continue to push capital abroad, Nikkei reported Wednesday.Net foreign direct investment by Japanese companies reached 33 trillion yen in 2025, doubling over the past decade and surpassing the previous annual record as businesses expanded in faster-growing markets overseas, according to the report.Sumitomo Forestry (TYO:1911) in February agreed to acquire US homebuilder Tri Pointe Homes for $4.2 billion, with President Toshiro Mitsuyoshi citing growth opportunities in the US and Australia amid shrinking demand in Japan, the report said.Japanese manufacturers and industrial groups are also increasing overseas spending despite the weaker yen raising acquisition costs. JFE Holdings (TYO:5411) unit JFE Steel last year agreed to invest about 270 billion yen in a unit of India's JSW Steel (BOM:500228, NSE:JSWSTEEL), according to the report.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)