From Pragmatic Capitalism:
This has become an annual thing from Saxo Bank. These predictions are
always a little out there, but they’re thought provoking if nothing
else. Via PR Newswire:
1. DAX plunges 33 percent to 5000
China’s economic slowdown continues, putting a halt to Germany’s
industrial expansion. This causes large price declines in industrial
stocks and low consumer confidence. Approval ratings for Angela Merkel
plunge ahead of the German election, and in a weak economy combined with
political uncertainty as Germany moves closer to signing up for further
EU debt mutualisation, the DAX stock market index declines to 5,000,
down 33 percent for the year.
2. Nationalisation of major Japanese electronics companies
Japan’s electronics industry, once the glory of the country, enters a
terminal phase after being outmatched by South Korea. With combined
annual losses of USD 30 billion for Sharp, Panasonic and Sony alone,
creditworthiness deteriorates greatly and the Japanese government
nationalises key industry players, similar to the US government’s
bailout of its automobile industry.
3. Soybeans to rise by 50 percent
Bad weather during 2012, which wreaked havoc on global crop
production and saw a nine-year low in US soybean ending stocks, leaves
the price of new crop soybeans exposed to any new weather disruptions,
either in the US, South America or in China. Increased demand for
biofuel will also play its part in exposing the price to spikes, and
speculators will be ready to re-enter the market, pushing the price
higher by as much as 50 percent. Food security becomes a buzz phrase
...
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