Japan's stock market has surged to a record high as Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secured a crushing victory in the country's latest election. The LDP won 316 of the 465 seats in the lower house, surpassing two-thirds of the chamber for the first time since Japan's parliament was established in 1947.
Takaichi's landslide win has given her party a supermajority with 352 seats, making it easier for her to push through key legislation without opposition. As Japan's first female prime minister, Takaichi had called a snap election in January, and this victory eases the legislative agenda for her.
The LDP's win has been seen as a boost for fiscal stimulus, with stocks like Nikkei rising by 3.9% to a record high of 56,363 points. Bonds, however, have fallen as investors remain wary about how Japan will fund its proposed 21 trillion yen (Β£99 billion) stimulus package.
The yen initially weakened but has since recovered slightly, closing at 156.43 yen against the dollar on Monday. Analysts warn that the currency is unlikely to strengthen significantly in the near term, citing concerns over intervention risk and inflation expectations.
Takaichi's plans for the stimulus package have been met with skepticism from some investors, who are concerned about how Japan will offset a consumption tax cut that would cost around 5 trillion yen per year. The LDP has ruled out issuing fresh debt but remains vague on alternative funding sources, sparking questions over whether the bond market will support Takaichi's plans.
As the new prime minister sets her agenda, investors and analysts are watching closely to see how she will navigate Japan's complex fiscal landscape. With a supermajority in hand, Takaichi is poised to push through key reforms with relative ease β but at what cost to the economy?
Takaichi's landslide win has given her party a supermajority with 352 seats, making it easier for her to push through key legislation without opposition. As Japan's first female prime minister, Takaichi had called a snap election in January, and this victory eases the legislative agenda for her.
The LDP's win has been seen as a boost for fiscal stimulus, with stocks like Nikkei rising by 3.9% to a record high of 56,363 points. Bonds, however, have fallen as investors remain wary about how Japan will fund its proposed 21 trillion yen (Β£99 billion) stimulus package.
The yen initially weakened but has since recovered slightly, closing at 156.43 yen against the dollar on Monday. Analysts warn that the currency is unlikely to strengthen significantly in the near term, citing concerns over intervention risk and inflation expectations.
Takaichi's plans for the stimulus package have been met with skepticism from some investors, who are concerned about how Japan will offset a consumption tax cut that would cost around 5 trillion yen per year. The LDP has ruled out issuing fresh debt but remains vague on alternative funding sources, sparking questions over whether the bond market will support Takaichi's plans.
As the new prime minister sets her agenda, investors and analysts are watching closely to see how she will navigate Japan's complex fiscal landscape. With a supermajority in hand, Takaichi is poised to push through key reforms with relative ease β but at what cost to the economy?