Japanese households amassing financial assets

Assets at their highest level in over five years.

Personal financial assets at end March rose 3.6% year-on-year to some US$16.5 trillion, the highest since September 2007.

The value of stocks and mutual funds held in personal assets both jumped by over 20%, while savings and cash holdings increased by 1.8%.

The Bank of Japan, the central bank, reported the rise in households’ financial assets was pushed up by stock rallies and the yen's rapid drop since the start of this year.