When tech writer Alex Salkever issued his five tech predictions for 2010 last year, he boldly proclaimed that India's nascent tech sector would see its first blockbuster startup emerge. That blockbuster turns out to be MakeMyTrip.com, and it's likely to be followed by many more in 2011.
U.S. companies added $26.5 billion to dividend payments in 2010 -- a far cry from 2009's $42.4 billion decline -- and analysts predict an even better year for dividends in 2011, a windfall to investors that could lift equity markets higher.
A year ago, few expected Angry Birds or Groupon to be among 2010's stars, but the underlying trends that powered their success were plain enough. So picking individual companies to rise or fall this year isn't worthwhile. What is? Identifying the trends that will move them all.
It's the season for reviewing the year that's ending and making predictions for the one ahead. On Tuesday, venture capitalist and DailyFinance columnist Peter Cohan was part of a TV panel that was asked: Who was the person of the year? What was the story of the year? And what will happen in 2011? Here are his answers.