Japanese stocks in for a bull market this year, say analysts

Tokyo

PRIME Minister Shinzo Abe pledged on Wednesday to make the recovery of the world's third largest economy his top priority in 2017, prompting Tokyo stocks to rise sharply amid predictions of a bull market this year on the back of continuing yen weakness.

Mr Abe said during his new-year press conference: "We will put the highest priority on the economy. We will keep shooting the three 'arrows' of monetary policy, fiscal policy and growth strategy to beat deflation."

Risk assets, namely equities and real estate, remain on track for "a multi-year structural bull market", said veteran financial analyst Jesper Koll, head of investment firm Wisdom Tree, Japan, in comments sup…