Marking its 50th year in the United States, Daiwa Capital Markets America Inc. has steadily built a standing as a reliable seller of Japanese securities to institutional investors, a reputation that eventually earned the attention and trust of the U.S. government.
In 1986, the Japanese investment firm became one of the primary dealers of U.S. government securities in the world’s largest economy, offering investors back home comprehensive research on American equities, bonds and other investment instruments. DCMA, a subsidiary of one of Japan’s largest securities companies (Daiwa Securities Group), also sells Asian equities to American investors.
“Although Japanese equities are larger in flow, U.S. equities are more profitable. They have more velocity." - Takayuki Sawano, DCMA President and CEO
Because of such a close connection to the government and financial centers in the United States, President and Chief Executive Officer Takayuki Sawano believes DCMA serves as an ambassador of his country as it reflects patently Japanese values and perspective.
“Although Japanese equities are larger in flow, U.S. equities are more profitable. They have more velocity. Japanese investors are hungrier for higher returns because of the low interest rate (in Japan),” explained Sawano.
With the Japanese prime minister’s economic stimulus and reform program, dubbed “Abenomics,” Daiwa Securities had a profitable year in 2013 on both the Japanese and the U.S. sides.
But despite signs of economic recovery, Sawano has chosen to proceed “cautiously.”
In the United States, DCMA plans to expand its fixed-income instruments into new products such as the credit business, but exercising the same prudence and conservativeness the company has been known for.
- Originally prepared by Global Media for The Japan Times Special Report on the East Coast 2014 (Credit: Elizabeth Arcega)
