The year of the wood goat will be friendly to the Hang Seng Index, which is likely to peak in July and then fall slightly in September, according to CLSA’s 21st tongue-in-cheek Fung Shui Index. The brokerage’s index uses a mix of Chinese zodiac signs and terminology to chart the seasonal movements of the Hang Seng Index. It launched the index in 1992 as part of a Lunar New Year card for its clients and it has since become a popular stock tips reference. “Looking at the historical record, the year of the goat has always been friendly to the Hang Seng Index,” CLSA research associate Marco Yau said. Stocks in financial, technology, retail, telecommunications and internet will be volatile Cherry Ma “The last year of the goat in 2003 saw the Hang Seng Index rise by 50 per cent. The coming year of the goat may not repeat such a brilliant result but it will still be a smooth and stable year with the index likely to end higher at the end of the year than the current level.” The CLSA Fung Shui Index for the year of the horse, which is drawing to a close, proved right most of the time, with the index rising from January, peaking in August and then rising and falling between October and December. According to the Chinese zodiac, goats are harmonious creatures but this year is a “wood goat”, when troubles will come from the earth, while metal and fire will flourish. “Metal- and fire-related stocks in hotels, jewellery, gold and silver, electronics, oil and gas will do well, while mainland property, renewable energy and commodities also look good,” CLSA research associate Cherry Ma said. “However, stocks in financial, technology, retail, telecommunications and internet will be volatile.” In terms of property, north is where the lucky stars will shine in the year of the goat while the west is unfavourable. This means properties in Kwun Tung, Kam Tin, Braemar Hill, North Point and Causeway Bay will outperform, while Gold Coast, Ap Lei Chau and Mount Davis should be avoided. The Fung Shui Index also looks into the prospects of some famous people. Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who was born in the year of rooster, will have good luck this year, according to the index, but it says she could also face potential legal problems. Hollywood movie star Jennifer Lawrence, who was born in the year of the horse, is expected to have a good year in terms of work. Some say the year of the goat is not a good time to have baby but CLSA said many political, business and cultural leaders such as Premier Li Keqiang, Microsoft’s Bill Gates, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and movie stars Chow Yun-fat and Whoopi Goldberg were born in the year of the goat. “If your relatives say this is not a good year to give birth, to have baby, you need to ask them to think again,” Yau said. Those born in the years of the horse, dog and pig will have good luck this year, according to the index, while those born in the years of the ox and dragon won’t be so lucky.
