Fund bargain-hunters should head to Japan

When there are double-digit gains being made in the country's next door neighbours, it's very hard to get excited about Japan. However, Japanese stock are amongst the best-value in the world. We look at the funds to help you get in.

"There are plenty of thankless jobs in banking these days," writes the FT. "Marketing Japanese equities is one of them." The Nikkei 225 fell by more than 11% in 2007, while the broader Topix fared even worse, dropping 12.2%. When investors spot double-digit gains in the country's next-door neighbours, it's hard to get excited by Japan.

And so far, 2008 hasn't bucked the trend in fact, Japan is now officially in a bear market, with the Topix having fallen by more than 30% since its 12-month peak in February last year.

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