The Year of the Ox should be prosperous for long-term investors, but speculators will have to beware the cow-pats, according to feng shui experts at Credit Lyonnais.
The brokerage, in its annual astrological forecast for Hong Kong stocks, said the ox should live up to its reputation with the Hang Seng Index steadily rising over the year.
Volatility will increase as the year goes on, particularly in the third quarter, but peace will return in the fourth quarter and good fortune will prevail.
The forecast was the sixth consecutive feng shui index released by Credit Lyonnais, some of which had impressive results. Predictions for the Year of the Rat went astray - but brokerage co-ordinator Martin French said the rat is a deceitful animal.
The forecast was put together with the help of some of the most notable feng shui specialists in Hong Kong, combined with the views of Credit Lyonnais' own consultant.
Feng shui measures the balance or imbalance of the five base elements in Chinese tradition: metal, water, fire, wood and earth. The confluence of fire and water this year suggests there will be considerable volatility.
