Japan Election Preview: High Probability of Policy Continuity
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 17h ago
0mins
Source: Benzinga
- Election Outlook: Japan is heading to the polls on February 8, with markets pricing in a 99% chance that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will remain in power, indicating strong expectations for policy continuity.
- Policy Impact Expectations: The market anticipates that Takaichi will continue aggressive fiscal stimulus and adopt a slower approach to interest rate hikes from the Bank of Japan, which will support economic growth and bolster market confidence.
- Yen Performance Analysis: Ahead of the election, the yen has been trading heavily, with USD/JPY hovering near the 157 level, reflecting market uncertainty about future policies and strong confidence in Takaichi's re-election.
- Governing Party Dynamics: The market shows a 99% support rate for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) while the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) stands at only 22%, suggesting that the LDP may govern without its coalition partner, providing Takaichi with a “clear runway” to implement more hawkish policies.
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Analyst Views on LMT
Wall Street analysts forecast LMT stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for LMT is 535.50 USD with a low forecast of 430.00 USD and a high forecast of 605.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
12 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
7 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 609.180
Low
430.00
Averages
535.50
High
605.00
Current: 609.180
Low
430.00
Averages
535.50
High
605.00
About LMT
Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global aerospace and defense company. The Company is engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. Its segments include Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control (MFC), Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) and Space. Aeronautics segment is engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, sustainment, support and upgrade of advanced military aircraft. MFC segment provides air and missile defense systems, manned and unmanned ground vehicles, energy management solutions, and others. RMS segment designs, manufactures, services and supports various military and commercial helicopters, surface ships, sea and land-based missile defense systems, and others. Its Space segment is engaged in the research and design, development, engineering and production of satellites, space transportation systems, and strategic, advanced strike, and defensive systems.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Policy Impact Expectations: The market anticipates that Takaichi will continue aggressive fiscal stimulus and adopt a slower approach to interest rate hikes from the Bank of Japan, which will support economic growth and bolster market confidence.
- Yen Performance Analysis: Ahead of the election, the yen has been trading heavily, with USD/JPY hovering near the 157 level, reflecting market uncertainty about future policies and strong confidence in Takaichi's re-election.
- Governing Party Dynamics: The market shows a 99% support rate for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) while the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) stands at only 22%, suggesting that the LDP may govern without its coalition partner, providing Takaichi with a “clear runway” to implement more hawkish policies.
See More
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See More
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- Diverse Contract Nature: This contract is a cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price IDIQ contract, reflecting Lockheed Martin's flexibility and adaptability in managing complex defense projects, thereby enhancing its competitive edge in the market.
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