It was not that long ago that a significant fall in the Yen was met with open arms by major Japanese companies seeking to be more competitive in the global market. However, when this month began with the currency at a 20-year low, the reaction from Japan’s biggest companies has been decidedly mixed. In recent decades, Japan’s manufacturing sector has largely moved their factories to lower cost markets, negating the competitiveness boost a declining Yen once offered. Other Japanese companies do still find benefits from a slump in the currency, including, perhaps surprisingly, major global investment group Softbank. “SoftBank’s massive bets on overseas startups mean it is poised to clearly benefit from a weaker yen. The value of SoftBank’s assets will rise 9% if the yen weakens 12% year-on-year as the group has 86% of its value in dollar-linked assets,” said Kirk Boodry, analyst at Redex Research. “The softer currency also helps SoftBank’s ¥1 trillion share buyback program […]