As the Covid-19 mushroom cloud slowly dissipates, industrious metal rats have slowly but surely crept out of their nests to forage for money. But now as the gears of the economy begin to turn once again, a restless metal bull is straining at the bit to charge through the ruins of the pandemic, leaving a trail of wealth and prosperity in its wake. With the element of water ascendant in 2021, logistics, shipping and trade are seen to come into their own once again.
Thus speaketh the wise “sorcerer’s apprentice” Jamie Chan and far-sighted “wand bearer” Gabriel Ke at the announcement of the popular CLSA Feng Shui Index, which marks its 29th iteration this year.
Beginning in 1992 as a client’s new year’s card, the “tongue-in-cheek” financial fengshui predictions are now a much-beloved part of Hong Kong’s financial calendar, with its popularity spilling over to other regional markets including Singapore and Malaysia. Despite warnings that the predictions should be taken with a pinch of salt, the index will undoubtedly leave the city’s notoriously superstitious investors with much food for thought.
Last time the Ox — second in the Chinese Zodiac cycle — appeared on the scene in 2009, the world was in similarly dire straits in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis. Yet hardworking, honest and humble to a fault, the faithful beast of burden pulled markets out of crisis and back to a semblance of normalcy. “So hopefully, after a disturbing 2020, the Ox can pull us out of slump again in 2021,” says Ke, whose day job is to cover the semiconductor sector at CLSA. His accomplice, Chan, meanwhile, covers China’s internet and telecommunications sectors.
The Hang Seng Index — whose birth sign is an earthen Rooster — is good pals with the metal Ox, who will allow it to ride upon its back during its 2021 uphill charge. The market, says the Feng Shui Index, is therefore likely to rise early on the hope of a more settled year in contrast to the mischievous year of the Rat. Not that the ride will be all smooth sailing however — the Ox is liable to take a nap some time in March until the late spring, when it resolves its differences with the metal Rat and gets back to work once again.
Come the summer months of July and August, the refreshed Ox will plough the fields day and night to clear away the rubble and gloom of the lost year 2020, charging to its peak in August. With the crops ripening in the autumn months of September to October, the Ox is rested once again as the farmers come out with their scythes to reap the fields, taking profit after a feverish summer of market activity. While this will perhaps bring exuberant markets back down to earth, the ever-reliable metal Ox will still deliver, with stocks ending higher in 2021 than the start.
“Our Earth Rooster has the White Tiger star this year, which may lead to issues arising from structural uncertainties,” warn Chan and Ke as they scan the heavens for omens of things to come. Fortunately, however, they foresee that the salary and merit stars will lend a helping hand to ward off any misfortune such hidden dangers may bring. The weak ebb of the Golden Cabinet star, they murmur mysteriously, will also shine a comforting light on stocks associated with data collection and other valuable repositories of information in the coming year.
Cleansed by water
The dust and disease of 2020 will be washed away by the purity of running water, as 2021 marks the final year of the present cycle of the water element before passing on to a renewed earth cycle in 2022. The rising tides will usher in the wealth of nations, with industries associated with water such as logistics, shipping and trade among the top picks of fengshui masters, who expects these sectors to be well established by spring. But tourists will take a little longer to follow suit, arriving once again sometime in November and December.
Fortunately, for readers of The Edge Singapore, this year of water is likely to nourish the metal-based finance and professional services industry, which are seen to perform strongly in February and March. “While there is some restraint on this year’s water flow with the ox attached to the earth, water produces metal and there’s a lot of metal to be made,” observe the Feng Shui masters. Metal is coursing through the charts this year — after weakening from April to July from fire entering the charts, September, December and January 2022 will see better luck.
In the meantime, the summer months from July to April will see a new fire lit under the burning hot tech sector. It will also be the high season for the bright colours of the cosmetics sector as well. The flame will start to peter out by the end of the year, but will burn anew once again in 2022, with oil and telecommunications soaring on a chariot of fire.
Ironically for an earth-based zodiac sign however, the earth-related sectors are seen to do poorly as the element dries up the year’s water to produce the surfeit of metal. Construction is therefore seen to perform badly through the year. While rare earth metals will improve in the second half of 2021, green shoots are not expected for the wood-related energies.
But of course, the secret of fengshui is to find balance in all things, so overloading on one element alone — however attractive it may appear to be — is a sure path to an unbalanced constitution and turbulent fortunes. “Portfolios perform best when the elements are equally weighted, so you can adjust your investments to get the best possible results,” advise Chan and Ke. Fengshui master or not, not putting your eggs in one basket is just plain common sense!
Animal crossing
In this year’s race to the Jade Emperor’s New Year’s banquet, the rooster, snake and monkey are seen to have a smooth and fortuitous trip to the Heavenly Palace. Snakes will receive unexpected windfalls this year from secret benefactors, with goodwill potentially coming from distant lands. Monkeys will feel like they have just drunk a vial of Harry Potter’s Felix Felicis luck potion, with 2021 passing like a pleasant dream come true.
“Unfold the wings, crouch on the bar, flex thighs, wait for the sun, then at the opportune moment set off as high as you can into the sky. Swat the eagles out of your way and rise higher as the wild geese and vultures disappear below you. The hutch is the world, the world is the hutch,” say the enigmatic Chan and Ke of Roosters. But pride comes before a fall, and the crowing Rooster should take care not to fall into the trap of excessive hubris.
The main pack is seen to have a generally smooth-sailing year ahead despite the prevailing global pandemic. The Ox, Rabbit, Dog and Pig zodiac signs are predicted to experience a year of middling fortune; despite having perhaps no particularly amazing occurrences through 2021, they will at least take comfort in not facing any significant calamities, treading slowly and carefully through the year ahead. Rats, warn the Feng Shui Index, should exercise caution on cooperative ventures in financial matters and put in a little effort to see a better year than the last.
This year’s Tai Sui — the star opposite the planet Jupiter — is a little irritated by the Horse and Dragon this year, though his wrath has yet to be unduly aroused. Feng Shui masters suggest that Dragons rely on the Heavenly Helper star in acts of honesty and cooperation. “Moving around is also good and either home or work may play a part here,” they warn cryptically.
“The Tai Sui is still shadowing you this year, but not as closely. If there are small irritations this year, they will be from others. Working from home or having the job change to communication via sign-language could both be beneficial. If continuing as usual, then give more attention to not getting on other people’s nerves,” pronounce the zodiac readings for the Horse sign.
Goats and Tigers will encounter a slightly more perilous route in the coming year. Goats will experience a year of flux with uncertainty as to whether this will turn out for good or evil. “It’ll help if you don’t take what happens to you personally. In the cosmic ebbs and flows, it won’t be long before you’re once again enjoying the patronage of lady luck and her travelling band of all-stars,” consoles the Feng Shui index.
But Tigers may wish to hide in their dens in 2021, with slim pickings awaiting despite the tantalising sight of a plump metal ox meandering along without a care in the world. It would be wise, suggests the Feng Shui, to keep watch for events that could prove troublesome for the unobservant.
Lest one becomes unduly despondent about their impending fate over the new year, it will be good to remember that fortune favours the bold. As the late Filippino billionaire John Gokongwei, founder of JG Summit Holdings once said, “I don’t rely on fengshui. I believe hard work brings us good luck and success”.
At the very least, say “sorcerer’s apprentice” Chan and “wand bearer” Ke, superstitious investors should make sure to consult their alter egos analyst Chan and analyst Ke at CLSA for financial advice before making any rash decisions.
