SEPTEMBERASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK9NEWSROOMHEDGE FUNDS REVERT THEIR ATTENTION BACK TO JAPANESE STOCKSAustralia has approved a significant solar energy project worth A$20 billion (US$13.5 billion) aimed at transporting power from a vast solar farm in the country's north to Singapore via a 4,300km undersea cable. Announced on August 21, this initiative is led by SunCable and represents a major step in meeting both domestic and international renewable energy demands.Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek highlighted that the solar farm, once operational, will be the largest of its kind globally, capable of powering three million homes. It will feature extensive solar panels and batteries and include the infrastructure for the long-distance cable connecting Australia with Singapore. "It will be the largest solar precinct in the world and heralds Australia as the world leader in green energy," Plibersek stated.The project is set to undergo a final investment decision by 2027, with electricity delivery anticipated to start in the early 2030s. The approval is contingent upon stringent environmental conditions, including measures to avoid disrupting the habitat of the greater bilby, a small marsupial with distinctive long ears.SunCable plans to develop the project in two phases, aiming to provide up to 6 gigawatts of green electricity to both industrial customers in Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory, and in Singapore. This approval aligns with the Australian government's increased focus on renewable energy projects, despite opposition proposals to build nuclear plants as a replacement for coal-fired power by 2050. Currently, nuclear power is banned in Australia. Hedge funds that follow trend-based strategies, known as Commodity Trading Advisers (CTAs), have recently shifted their stance on Japanese stocks from bearish to bullish, according to a note from J.P. Morgan analysts. These funds, which utilize algorithms to capitalize on market trends, began buying Japanese stocks late last week, particularly futures tied to the Nikkei 225 and TOPIX indices.This move marks a quicker reversal than expected. J.P. Morgan analysts had initially predicted that CTAs would adopt a cautious approach, potentially re-entering the market if the Nikkei share index recovered to above 35,000 following an early-August downturn. However, as the Nikkei 225 surged more than 20 percent from its lows on August 5, closing above 38,000, CTAs restored their positions sooner than anticipated.The August 5 plunge in the Nikkei was the steepest since 1987, triggered by massive deleveraging in systematic trading strategies, partly due to a surprise interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan. CTAs' systematic approach relies on algorithms and strict rules rather than speculative instincts, and their recent buying spree reflects the strength of the index's rebound. AUSTRALIA FINALIZES PROJECT TO TRANSPORT POWER TO SINGAPORE VIA UNDERSEA CABLESEPTEMBERASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK9
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