Takahide Kiuchi Nomura Securities Co.
In second place for a sixth straight year is Takahide Kiuchi. The Nomura Securities Co. economist has a “deep understanding” of the Japanese economy that he can “explain very easily,” marvels one backer. Kiuchi sees 2012 as a tale of two halves. His outlook for the first six months is positive, based on additional monetary policy easing worldwide, a stronger commitment by the International Monetary Fund to rescue the euro and postearthquake rebuilding in Japan. In the third and fourth quarters, however, he predicts that “slowing rebuilding demands and a possible slowing of the U.S. economy could undermine the stability of Japan’s economy and equity market.” — Carolyn Koo