Individual investors have long been searching for a "crystal ball" that can give them an edge in the markets by helping them select the right stock at the right time.
Asahi Glass Co. claims to have developed such a system -- the RAIT, or return analytic indication tool, which the glassmaker claims scientifically forecasts the movement of stock prices.
Asahi Glass said it developed the system by utilizing its knowhow in glass-melting technology. At first glance, stock-price prediction might seem far removed from the business of making glass. But there is common ground in crunching numbers, and in that area, glassmakers are no slouches.