TOKYO (Feb. 23)—Bridgestone Corp. executives view 2005 as "challenging" because of rising raw materials prices that threaten to offset gains from a general economic recovery and "vigorous" demand for tires around the world.
Bridgestone forecasts fiscal 2005 sales to rise 3 percent on strong sales gains in the Americas and Europe and stable sales in Japan.
Company executives see net income rising 22 percent this year but forecast operating income to fall 14 percent, reversing gains the company booked in 2004.