Chapter 422: The Nikkei 225
Chapter 422: The Nikkei 225
On September 3rd, the Nanyang Stock Exchange launched the Nikkei 225 index futures. Lu Jiaxin received the news, aware that the Japanese yen would continue to appreciate. Thus, she instructed several managers in Hong Kong City to sell off all her stocks and go long on the Nikkei 225.
Mo Libin, a former trader at a top American securities firm, sold off all of Lu Jiaxin's American stocks as well. Lu Jiaxin then entrusted Mo Libin with the funds to go long on the Nikkei 225 separately. Lu Jiaxin was the type of person who trusted those she employed and had full confidence in Mo Libin.
Even though he had been working with Lu Jiaxin for a while, Mo Libin was still astounded when he learned that she intended to bet two hundred million greenbacks on the Nikkei 225 index futures. It was uncommon for even medium-sized listed companies to have such substantial cash flow, but this very fact served as a testament to Lu Jiaxin's prowess.
There were many formidable and visionary individuals in the world, and two hundred million greenbacks was not an extraordinarily large sum relative to the total value of the Nikkei 225 index futures. However, many of the major players in this market were large conglomerates or private equity funds. If Lu Jiaxin, as an individual, were to purchase such a substantial amount, she might easily attract unwanted attention. Should she be deemed unwelcome by a particular country, it could create obstacles for her future business endeavors in that nation. While she could invest through roundabout methods, it might damage her reputation.
To address this, Mo Libin suggested that Lu Jiaxin utilize offshore companies to distribute her investments in the Nikkei 225. Lu Jiaxin's intention in entrusting him with the funds aligned with this strategy. Although she held no fondness for the island nation, she also wanted to avoid being placed on any blacklists, as she intended to continue profiting from their thriving economy.
When Lu Jiaxin returned to her apartment after school, she found Mo Libin, dressed in a gray suit, lounging on the sofa and chatting casually with Miaona.
Upon seeing Lu Jiaxin, Mo Libin immediately stood up and said, "Boss, you're finally out of school. I've been waiting for over an hour."
He couldn't quite comprehend why Lu Jiaxin still bothered with her studies, given her immense wealth. She could easily donate a couple of hundred million to the school and graduate without ever setting foot on campus. He had asked Nie Zhan about this, but as he received no answer, he dared not press the matter further.
Lu Jiaxin smiled and said, "From Monday to Friday, if something comes up during these five days, come by later. If it's urgent, consult Nie Zhan."
Mo Libin expressed his surprise. "You're authorizing him to make decisions on your behalf? Boss, even though Nie Zhan and I are old classmates, I think what you're doing is dangerous."
Lu Jiaxin understood his concern. Even with her husband, she maintained a certain level of caution and never fully revealed her hand. Smiling, she replied, "Only in emergencies, and I trust Nie Zhan."
Her true ace in the hole was the knowledge stored in her mind. While she lacked clarity on events from the 1970s and 1980s, she had a comprehensive understanding of major occurrences from the year 2000 onwards, which made earning money a relatively effortless endeavor for her. On the other hand, her relationship with Nie Zhan was what she truly cherished.
Caught off guard once again by this display of their sweet relationship, Mo Libin felt it was time for him to find a serious partner and spare himself from constantly being force-fed this dog food.
"Boss," Mo Libin said, "are you going all in with the two hundred million greenbacks, leaving nothing in reserve?"
In his heart, he added that he had also invested the five million greenbacks he had saved up over the years. Although Nie Zhan hadn't explicitly stated it, Mo Libin was certain that Lu Jiaxin's wealth came from the foreign exchange market. Overwhelmed by Lu Jiaxin's incredible luck, Mo Libin couldn't resist following her lead. If they won, their profits could multiply severalfold. And there was no possibility of losing—not when Lu Jiaxin had staked two hundred million greenbacks.
Lu Jiaxin nodded. "You've worked hard these past few days. Take a break for half a month."
"How can I do that? I need to keep an eye on the market," Mo Libin protested.
Lu Jiaxin shook her head. "There's no need to monitor it constantly. It's definitely going to rise. Right now, the businessmen from the island nation are swimming in money and on a global shopping spree."
This statement was no exaggeration. The businessmen from the island nation were indeed on a buying frenzy, having already acquired numerous American enterprises.
Mo Libin asked, "Boss, since you're so optimistic about the island nation's economy, why don't you invest in it directly?"
Shorting the greenback and yen, going long on the Nikkei 225—these were all ways to profit from the island nation's economy through financial means. However, Lu Jiaxin was reluctant to invest in their industries because she couldn't predict when their economy would crash. Investing in industries would also mean a longer process to fully divest if needed.
Lu Jiaxin didn't need to justify herself. "With Green Forest and Xin Xin Property, I have my hands full. I don't want to make things more complicated. As long as Nie Zhan is handling the investments, I can focus on my studies."
Hearing this, Mo Libin couldn't help but feel amused. If it were any other girl, he would have advised her that men were unreliable and that relying on oneself was the safest bet. But the woman before him was a billionaire, richer even than Nie Zhan, so he had no grounds to give such advice.
The next day, Saturday, Lu Jiaxin and Nie Zhan went to play golf. This time, they invited Hu Zhifeng, Fu Yue, and two others to join them. Zong Shimen and Yu Meotong came along, but Shi Xinyu had to go home and couldn't make it.
"Jiaxin," Zong Shimen said, "I heard you bought stocks in Wansheng Real Estate. Is that true?"
Lu Jiaxin smiled and nodded. "I had some spare money, so I acquired some scattered shares. With Zhifan's business acumen, I'll just sit back and wait for the dividends to roll in."
Yu Meotong was envious. "Mr. Nie is truly remarkable. Since he took over, Wansheng Real Estate's market value has doubled."
Much of this was due to Nie Zhan's bold moves in the past two years, using methods like rights issues to raise capital and acquire land. With the real estate market booming, land acquisition was a surefire path to profits.
When Nie Zhan had first embarked on this aggressive land-buying spree, Hu Zhifeng had found it too risky and tried to dissuade him. The real estate market had just emerged from a winter, and many were cautious about making big moves. But Nie Zhan had insisted that he knew what he was doing, and Hu Zhifeng hadn't pressed the issue further.
"Mr. Fu is also very impressive," Lu Jiaxin said with a smile. "Starting his own business without relying on his family, and now his foreign trade company is worth over 400 million yuan. He's truly outstanding among the younger generation."
While Fu Yue might not be able to compare with Nie Zhan, he was still exceptional among the wealthy heirs. However, Lu Jiaxin felt that Yu Meotong always seemed to be measuring Fu Yue against Nie Zhan. But the problem was that Nie Zhan had started from a higher point, and with her own assistance, the two weren't really comparable.
Zong Shimen smiled and changed the subject. "Jiaxin, my husband, Zhifeng, is also investing in the Nikkei 225. Has yours done the same?"
This was just Hu Zhifeng's personal financial investment and not related to the family business, so it was a good opportunity to share insights with the group.
Lu Jiaxin smiled. "Yes, both Zhifan and I have invested, and we're both long. With the island nation's economy doing so well, we're bound to profit from the Nikkei 225 index."
Yu Meotong was immediately intrigued. "Jiaxin, then I'll go ahead and invest too."
Lu Jiaxin had said this precisely to encourage them to invest, giving them a chance to make some extra money. However, concerned that Yu Meotong might get too carried away, she added, "Buying now will definitely lead to profits, but the financial market is unpredictable. Don't chase the highs blindly."
"Jiaxin," Yu Meotong said, "if you feel that something is wrong and decide to sell, could you let me know?"
Zong Shimen felt that this request was rather inappropriate. It was already generous of Lu Jiaxin to share this information, and Yu Meotong was pushing her luck. Smiling, Zong Shimen said, "I just want to make some pocket money. Once I earn a profit, I'll sell. Jiaxin, if I make a profit, I'll treat you to a big meal."
Lu Jiaxin happily agreed.
(End of Chapter)
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