Tomokatsu Mori Increasing Quotations

Earnings are now the focus as results will be an indication of companies' future profitability. Banks will benefit from increasing capital spending and their stocks are still cheap.

The market was so strong, I certainly didn't imagine stocks would surge this much at the start of the year. Foreign investors have been betting on Japan's economic recovery, and that's why they are increasing their holdings of domestic-demand-related stocks.

Better prospects for Japan's economy were at the heart of the surge in the second half. Consumer spending is increasing and the labor market underwent great change with companies expanding their hiring. It was a year for domestic-demand stocks.