After seeing the EWJ (Japan etf) rally +17% from its November lows, I am thankful this Christmas for having covered it. Next Christmas, I want to be thankful that I re-shorted this political and economic mess. This morning’s macro economic reports out of Japan are charted below.

Now that the Yen is appreciating alongside a depreciating US Dollar, it’s next to impossible to see how Q1 exports in Japan can turn out to be nothing but terrible. While the Japanese export print of -27% y/y for November was the worst number they have ever reported, there is no economic leadership in this compromised socialist story that gets me anywhere other than back on the short side of my longstanding bearish view of Japan.

There is huge “Trend” line resistance in the EWJ etf up at $9.38. We re-shorted it this morning.
KM