Finance & economics | Growth problems

Japan’s stockmarket rally may disappoint investors

Governance has improved; growth is still missing

Japan’s Nikkei stock index hits new 33 year high
Image: EPA

The last time Japan’s Nikkei 225 stock index was as high as it is today, the Soviet Union was collapsing, the internet was in its infancy and Emperor Akihito had just ascended to the Chrysanthemum throne. Japanese stocks are now only a fifth short of their all-time high, which was set in December 1989—at the absolute zenith of Japan’s bubble-era exuberance (see chart).

This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline “Growth problems”

Ukraine strikes back

From the June 10th 2023 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

More from Finance & economics

A white fish going into the ,outh of a group of black fishes forming a bigger fish.

Why your portfolio is less diversified than you might think

The most important idea in modern finance has become maddeningly hard to implement

A German flag waves in front of the buildings of the banking district in Frankfurt, Germany.

Can Germany’s economy stage an unexpected recovery?

The situation is dire, but there are glimmers of hope


Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni smiles at the Palazzo Chigi in Rome.

Giorgia Meloni has grand banking ambitions

Will Italy’s nationalist prime minister manage to concentrate financial power?


Tech tycoons have got the economics of AI wrong

Following DeepSeek’s breakthrough, the Jevons paradox provides less comfort than they imagine

Donald Trump’s economic warfare has a new front

The president has threatened to blow up the global tax system. Will allies be able to stop him?

Don’t let Donald Trump see our Big Mac index

America’s tariff-loving president could learn the wrong lessons from international burger prices