TOKYO, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Japan remains the world's largest holder of overseas net assets, with net balance of its external assets totaling 349.11 trillion yen (3.14 trillion U.S. dollars) at the end of 2016, the Japanese government said on Friday.
The figure, rising for the first time in two years, reflects Japanese companies' increased investment overseas as well as purchase of foreign bonds, said a report by Japan's Finance ministry.
According to the report, Japan's overseas assets reached a record high of 997.77 trillion yen at the end of 2016, up by 5.0 percent from a year earlier and rising for the eight straight year.
Among them, foreign direct investment reached 159.19 trillion yen, up by 7.34 trillion yen from a year earlier, while portfolio investment reached 452.92 trillion yen, up by 29.60 trillion yen year on year.
Meanwhile, external liabilities also rose to a record high of 648.66 trillion yen, up by 6.2 percent year on year and rising for the seventh straight year, as foreign investors increased their holdings of Japanese assets and Japanese equities rose in value, said the report.
The latest figure makes Japan the world's largest holder nation of overseas net assets for the 26th straight year, with the assets computed in yen, according to the Finance Ministry.
The figure was also the second-highest on record, as Japan's net external assets hit a record high of 363.41 trillion yen at the end of 2014, but plunged the following year on the stronger yen. (1 U.S. dollar equals to 111.23 Japanese Yen)
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