NISA investment trends show strong demand for US and global equity funds

Recent data from PayPay Securities regarding NISA Tsumitate investment quotas shows a strong preference for US and global equities. The ‘eMAXIS Slim US Equity (S&P 500)’ fund ranked first in both purchase amount and number of accumulation cases for August 2026. Other top-performing funds included ‘eMAXIS Slim All Country’ and various Japanese equity funds like ‘Index Open Nikkei 225’.

Market fluctuations, particularly the strengthening of the yen, have impacted individual investment valuations. Between June and September 2026, the yen moved from the 159 range against the dollar to the 155 range, partly due to currency intervention by the Ministry of Finance. Because ‘All Country’ funds invest in foreign-currency-denominated assets, yen appreciation can lower the yen-converted value of these holdings even if local stock prices remain stable.

Financial experts note that short-term fluctuations, such as a 0.6% decrease over three months, are common in global equity investing. Long-term data suggests that while short-term volatility is expected, consistent monthly contributions through methods like dollar-cost averaging can help smooth out purchase prices over time.