These stocks are blowing past their indexes in 2021 — and nobody's talking about them

Published Thu, Mar 4 202112:49 AM ESTUpdated Thu, Mar 4 20214:25 AM EST

Major markets beyond the U.S. have had a good run so far this year. Stock indexes in Japan, Hong Kong as well as London are still in positive territory for the year despite market turbulence in recent days due to the sudden spike in bond yields . The Nikkei 225 in Japan gained 7.71% so far this year, as of its Wednesday close, while the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong has risen 9.73%. Meanwhile in London, the FTSE 100 has advanced 3.33%, according to data from Refinitiv Eikon. Some of their constituents, however, have seen far greater gains. Japan: Nikkei 225 Here are three of the top-performing stocks in the Nikkei 225 benchmark index — not all of them are familiar names. All three stocks are at least 40% higher since the start of the year. Nikon , camera maker JGC Holdings , engineering firm Ricoh , manufacturer of office equipment Topping the list is one of Japan's oldest camera makers, Nikon. The stock has risen 45.62% since the start of the year, as of its Wednesday's close. That's a major turnaround from 2020, when the Japanese firm plunged more than 50% for the year. Another firm that saw a surge in its stock price this year was JGC Holdings, an engineering business involved in oil and gas services such as petroleum refining industry. The company also deals with construction, power generation and desalination business. Shares rose 43.15% for the year, as of their Wednesday close, as crude prices pick up again and return to pre-pandemic levels amid recovery hopes. Shares of office equipment maker Ricoh have gained 42.84% this year, as of Wednesday's close. Hong Kong: Hang Seng Index CNOOC , Chinese oil firm China Mobile , telecom company Sun Hung Kai Properties Oil company CNOOC and telecom operator China Mobile have been among the most actively traded stocks by mainland investors — identified as major contributors to the stellar start of Hong Kong's markets — in January and February, according to data from Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing. Shares of CNOOC are up more than 27% year-to-date as of their Wednesday close while telco company China Mobile has also jumped 27.26%. Hong Kong developer Sun Hung Kai Properties has gained 20%. The "connect" programs allow mainland investors to trade shares in Hong Kong through the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges. The gains for CNOOC and China Mobile came despite the companies being caught in the crossfire of tensions between the U.S. and China. Just last week, the New York Stock Exchange announced Friday it will commence delisting proceedings against CNOOC following an update to an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump in November. United Kingdom: FTSE 100 Johnson Matthey , metals specialist Antofagasta , mining giant Glencore , Swiss based mining company In London, the top performing stocks among FTSE 100 constituents are spread across a variety of sectors, with precious metals specialist Johnson Matthey leading gains — its shares have risen 36.08% year-to-date as of Wednesday's close. Mining firms have also seen strong gains, Antofagasta jumped 27.91% and Glencore 's shares surged 28.63% since the start of the year. In the same period, sports betting and gaming group Entain was also among the biggest winners and saw a rise of 28.89%.

The Chinese and Hong Kong flags flutter outside the Exchange Square complex in Hong Kong on Feb. 16, 2021.

Zhang Wei | China News Service via Getty Images

Major markets beyond the U.S. have had a good run so far this year.

Stock indexes in Japan, Hong Kong as well as London are still in positive territory for the year despite market turbulence in recent days due to the sudden spike in bond yields.

The Nikkei 225 in Japan gained 7.71% so far this year, as of its Wednesday close, while the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong has risen 9.73%. Meanwhile in London, the FTSE 100 has advanced 3.33%, according to data from Refinitiv Eikon.

Some of their constituents, however, have seen far greater gains.