The investment seeks to track the investment results of the MSCI AC Asia ex Japan Index... Show more
The iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan ETF (AAXJ) has shown robust momentum in recent weeks, advancing within an uptrend supported by heavyweight technology constituents. Trading near multi-month highs around the 104 level, the ETF reflects renewed optimism across emerging and developed Asian markets outside Japan. Strong inflows, bolstered by AI-driven demand for semiconductors and stabilizing regional growth, have fueled gains, with the fund outperforming peers. Volatility remains elevated due to trade sensitivities, yet underlying earnings resilience in key holdings like TSMC and Tencent underpins the positive tone in recent trading sessions.
The iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan ETF (AAXJ), which tracks the MSCI AC Asia ex Japan Index, has experienced notable price appreciation over the past 30 days, climbing approximately 6% from supports near 97. This movement aligns with broader regional equity rallies, propelled by a confluence of macroeconomic data, policy signals, and sector-specific catalysts.
Central to the upswing has been the technology sector, comprising nearly 35% of AAXJ's portfolio, with top holdings Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (14.3%) and Samsung Electronics (5.4%) capturing AI infrastructure demand. Taiwan recently revised its 2026 GDP growth forecast upward to 7.7%, citing robust AI-related exports, which directly boosted TSMC and peers, contributing to AAXJ's gains. South Korea's Kospi also hit record highs, supported by $1.3 billion in foreign inflows to Korea-focused funds, lifting SK Hynix (3.6% weight) amid memory chip pricing strength.
In China, representing a significant allocation via Tencent (5.1%) and Alibaba (3.8%), January new loans surged but missed forecasts, while CPI cooled to 0.2% year-over-year, signaling contained inflation and persistent weak demand. However, final EU dairy tariffs were set lower than preliminary levels, easing trade tensions and stabilizing sentiment. Beijing's emphasis on domestic demand stimulus at its December 2025 policy meeting has provided a backstop, with Goldman Sachs projecting 20% upside for Chinese equities.
India's exposure, through HDFC Bank (1.2%) and Reliance Industries (1.0%), faced mixed pressures. Trade deals with the US and EU alleviated tariff overhangs, but weak earnings growth tempered enthusiasm, leading to January underperformance among major peers. Wholesale prices ticked up modestly, with focus shifting to upcoming PMI and unemployment data.
Institutional activity amplified the rally: BFI Infinity Ltd. boosted its AAXJ stake by 132,421 shares in Q4 2025 (valued at $12.3 million), elevating the position to 17% of its portfolio—a bullish signal amid record turnover on Chinese exchanges. AAXJ's AUM swelled to $3.7 billion, with average daily volume rising, reflecting heightened liquidity. Financial services (19%) and consumer cyclical (12%) sectors added support via banks like DBS Group (0.9%).
Macro tailwinds included a weakening US dollar and global rate-cut expectations, favoring export-heavy Asia ex-Japan. However, US tariff hikes on South Korean autos/pharma to 25% introduced volatility, partially offset by semiconductor resilience. Overall, these factors linked to a 5-6% monthly advance, with AAXJ breaking above its 50-day moving average in an uptrend pattern.
Looking to 2026, AAXJ's performance will likely track Asia ex-Japan's divergence: AI tailwinds propelling Taiwan and South Korea, Chinese stimulus amid property headwinds, and India's domestic momentum. Analysts project regional GDP growth moderating to 3.4% ex-China, supported by fiscal easing in key economies. Opportunities lie in technology hardware, renewables, fintech, and experience-driven consumption, with global liquidity aiding inflows.
Risks include US trade policies, with potential tariffs pressuring exports; China's structural challenges like aging demographics; and policy divergences across central banks. Investors should monitor Taiwan's AI capex, China's domestic demand initiatives, India's earnings recovery post-trade deals, and currency shifts from a softer dollar. Competitive positioning in semiconductors and supply-chain shifts remain pivotal, favoring selective exposure grounded in resilient growth drivers.
AAXJ's Aroon Indicator triggered a bullish signal on June 11, 2026. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor detected that the AroonUp green line is above 70 while the AroonDown red line is below 30. When the up indicator moves above 70 and the down indicator remains below 30, it is a sign that the stock could be setting up for a bullish move. Traders may want to buy the stock or look to buy calls options. A.I.dvisor looked at 243 similar instances where the Aroon Indicator showed a similar pattern. In of the 243 cases, the stock moved higher in the days that followed. This puts the odds of a move higher at .
The Stochastic Oscillator suggests the stock price trend may be in a reversal from a downward trend to an upward trend. of 57 cases where AAXJ's Stochastic Oscillator exited the oversold zone resulted in an increase in price. Tickeron's analysis proposes that the odds of a continued upward trend are .
Following a 3-day Advance, the price is estimated to grow further. Considering data from situations where AAXJ advanced for three days, in of 322 cases, the price rose further within the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are .
The 10-day RSI Indicator for AAXJ moved out of overbought territory on June 03, 2026. This could be a bearish sign for the stock. Traders may want to consider selling the stock or buying put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 32 similar instances where the indicator moved out of overbought territory. In of the 32 cases, the stock moved lower in the following days. This puts the odds of a move lower at .
The Momentum Indicator moved below the 0 level on June 09, 2026. You may want to consider selling the stock, shorting the stock, or exploring put options on AAXJ as a result. In of 81 cases where the Momentum Indicator fell below 0, the stock fell further within the subsequent month. The odds of a continued downward trend are .
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence Histogram (MACD) for AAXJ turned negative on June 05, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to turn lower in the coming weeks. Traders may want to sell the stock or buy put options. Tickeron's A.I.dvisor looked at 49 similar instances when the indicator turned negative. In of the 49 cases the stock turned lower in the days that followed. This puts the odds of success at .
Following a 3-day decline, the stock is projected to fall further. Considering past instances where AAXJ declined for three days, the price rose further in of 62 cases within the following month. The odds of a continued downward trend are .
AAXJ broke above its upper Bollinger Band on June 01, 2026. This could be a sign that the stock is set to drop as the stock moves back below the upper band and toward the middle band. You may want to consider selling the stock or exploring put options.
The average fundamental analysis ratings, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, are as follows
Category PacificAsiaexJapanStk