Toyota target of hostile takeover among 8 surprise predictions for 2007

A survey conducted by Nikkei Net learned that economists and market watchers are considering these eight possible surprises in 2007.

1. International blue-chip stocks are expected to post the most significant gains this year – The top 5 picks are: Nippon Steel Corp, Toyota Motor Corp., Canon Inc., Shin-Etsu Chemical and Nitto Denko Corp and Elpida Memory – high tech companies.

2. The yen's appreciation to less than 100 to the dollar

Experts think this is a real possibility if the US economy stalls and the BOJ raises interest rates gradually. Add to that a revaluing of the Chinese yuan.

3. The yen could deprecitate to 140 yen to the dollar ….in other words, the economists don't really know…but it could swing either way or not.

4. Crude oil prices will top $100 to the barrel or stay below $50. See number 3.

5. Gold prices climb to $1,000 per troy ounce.

6. President Bush goes to Pyongyang to personally boot out Kim Jong-il.

7. Increased tensions in the Middle East after the US pulls out.

8. Toyota Motor Corp and Sony Corp become targets of hostile takeovers.

There are not many, but nevertheless there are some companies that are big enough to go after Toyota or Sony especially since Japan has lifted a ban on triangular mergers.

What's the biggest surprise you can think might happen this year in Japan?