Witan investment trust ramps up Japan exposure

The Witan investment trust has bolstered its exposure to Japanese equities as the country's aggressive fiscal stimulus continues to take hold.

In its half-yearly report to 30 June, the trust said the decision to take Japan exposure up from 1% to 7% of the portfolio was based on "the radical approach adopted by the Japanese authorities to boost their economy." The increase in weighting was partly achieved by appointing Matthews International Capital Management in February to run a mandate based on its Asia Dividend Strategy, replacing Comgest, whose remit had excluded Japan. This was supplemented in the second quarter by a purchase of Japan Equity Index futures and by holdings in the Polar Japan Growth and Polar Japan Alpha f...