Japanese investors give thumbs-up to Abenomics

A man walks past a share prices board in Tokyo on June 9, 2015. Lots of money managers sitting in New York and London have opinions about Japanese efforts to spur economic growth, but what about hedge fund managers and bankers in Tokyo?

The answer is cautiously optimistic.

Some 72 percent of Japanese investors considered so-called Abenomics a success in 2013 and 2014, according to a new survey by hedge fund industry association AIMA Japan and data and research provider Eurekahedge.

“Abenomics” refers to the aggressive economic stimulus policy instituted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. It entails a money-printing operation similar to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing, aggressive government spending and economic reforms.

At the same time, almost 90 percent of respondents believe that the Bank of Japan will fail to reach its inflation target of 2 percent by year-end. Another 60 percent expect the BOJ will be forced to do another round of QE.

Investors also were asked about key factors driving the Japanese economy for 2015 and beyond. Nearly 70 percent cited government structural reforms, including adding more immigrants and women to the workforce.