Japan is back at the center of the global investment conversation. A powerful combination of economic factors is transforming Japan from a long-running valuation story into a structural growth opportunity. Darlene Pasquill, Head of Americas Equity Division, outlines what’s driving Japan’s revival and why global investors are taking notice.

AI is no longer just the tech story of tomorrow — it’s becoming the operating system of business today. From enterprise workflows and digital agents to data centers, photonics, and quantum computing, Mizuho’s 2026 Technology Conference highlighted a market moving from AI experimentation to large-scale deployment. The result is a new phase of AI adoption defined less by possibility and more by integration.

At the start of the year, investors were focused on a familiar set of questions. The timing of rate cuts, a leadership transition at the Federal Reserve, and a shift toward a more forward-looking, growth-oriented framework were expected to define the outlook. But the narrative has since been disrupted. Mizuho Americas' Head of Macro Strategy Dominic Konstam addresses how the Iran conflict has forced a broad reassessment of the growth outlook and led to a meaningful repricing across global rates markets.

With global revenues in elite women’s competitions on track to surpass $3B in 2026, women’s sports are no longer an emerging story; they are a rapidly scaling business. In our latest insights piece, we recap a conversation with LPGA stars and Mizuho brand ambassadors Michelle Wie West, Rose Zhang, and Yana Wilson as they examine what the growth in women’s sports means for investors, brands, and the future of the game. Read to learn more about why nvesting in women’s sports is good business.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a standalone theme layered onto markets – it’s becoming an operating condition that reshapes demand across sectors. But as AI adoption accelerates into 2026, not all exposure will be equal. Read the latest from Mizuho Equity Research on the potential winners of the AI theme in the year ahead.

Biotech has made an extraordinary comeback, closing out 2025 with its best annual returns since the Covid-19 pandemic. Considering biotech was a massive underperformer for much of the year, only to roar back in the last few months, begs the question: is the sector borrowing gains from 2026? Mizuho's Biotech Equity Research team provides an outlook for the year ahead.

We find ourselves at a pivotal moment across the power, energy, and infrastructure landscape, and the resulting transformations present challenges, and opportunities, for industry players. Speakers at Mizuho’s 2025 Power, Energy & Infrastructure Conference explored the complex dynamics impacting the sector, unearthing key themes for investors to watch in 2026.

Major restaurant chains face shifting consumer behavior, not declining demand. Post-pandemic price hikes widened gaps between restaurant and grocery costs, driving value-conscious diners toward affordable options. Nick Setyan, Senior Restaurant Equities Research Analyst, delves into how the shift towards rational consumer behavior is reshaping the restaurant industry through its next phase of growth.

Notwithstanding some cautionary headwinds, liquidity is abundant, valuations are robust, debt and equity markets are performing well and upside exists for fiscal stimulus and “Big Beautiful Bill” benefits. These positives, coupled with a pro-business administration and accommodating regulatory leadership, make for a conducive dealmaking environment. We see a strong pipeline for dealmaking for corporates and the potential for enhanced participation by financial sponsors. We expect market activity to broaden beyond Big Tech, with more mid-market transactions alongside the mega deals. Barring any unforeseen geopolitical grey or black swans, 2026 should offer opportunities for dealmaking, whether initial public offerings (IPOs), mergers & acquisitions (M&A) or leveraged buyouts (LBOs), across sectors.