The 12 Birth Signs: Snake Charmer
Wei Leng Tay for Asiaweek.
Hong Kong's Peter So Man-fung is not your average feng shui expert. He sports waist-length hair, drives a Ferrari, hosts a website and frequents nightclubs. His clients include pop diva Faye Wong and actress Michelle Yeoh. Financial forecasting is one of the former hairdresser's fortes. So, 40, is bullish on Hong Kong stocks and foresees a soft landing for the U.S. economy. How will investors fare in the Year of the Snake, an animal Chinese traditionally associate with cunning, wisdom and supernatural power? So gave Asiaweek's Yulanda Chung his tips for the 12 birth signs:
Snake | Horse | Sheep | Monkey | Rooster | Dog | Pig | Rat | Ox | Tiger | Rabbit | Dragon
Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989
Goh Chok Tong, Gong Li, Lee Kun Hee, Imelda Marcos, Wang Dan, Larry Yung
Those born under the snake's own sign will not be able to enjoy the benefits of economic recovery this year. Nor is there a star indicating any chance of a windfall. You may be the victim of some back-stabbing, so do not rely on market rumors passed on by others. Money is safer in a bank than anywhere else. You may suffer some physical injuries. Your love life will undergo change; you may even meet someone new.
Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990
Warren Buffet, Kim Jong Il, Richard Li, Vellupilai Prabhakaran, George Soros
There will be no gains this year without pain. Unless you are a professional stockbroker or investor, stay away from speculation in the markets, as fast money will not come your way. Long-term investments are preferable, especially in mutual funds and blue-chip stocks. Hong Kong's Tracker Fund is also a safe haven. There will be positive developments in the romance department. You should not have any health problems.
Sheep 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991
Bill Gates, Miyazawa Kiichi, Rupert Murdoch, Pervez Musharraf
You are in emotional distress throughout much of the year and cannot think sensibly. It is better that you avoid investing, as the guardian star that governs financial matters will not shine over your sign. Your best bet would be to put your money in deposit accounts. You may get drawn into a love triangle; in any case, a messy romantic affair looms. Pay particular attention to any gastric problems that may arise.
Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992
Corazon Aquino, Larry Ellison, Annette Lu Hsiu-lien, Ishihara Shintaro, Jerry Yang
If a female acquaintance gives you a tip, follow it. You are likely to benefit. Your fortunes this year will be buoyed by the presence of many helpful people and you can afford to do a bit of speculation. Technology, telecom and oil stocks are preferred, but avoid dotcoms at all costs. In personal relationships, you will gain some admirers and lots of new friends. Stick to a moderate diet and your health should be fine.
Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993
Aung San Suu Kyi, Stanley Ho Hung-sun, Suharto
Not a bad year financially, so you can be a bit bold in making stock investments. You may be involved in legal matters, so don't tempt fate by engaging in insider dealing or irregular market activities. But the legal link could also mean signing a contract to buy property. Your love life will be stable. Single persons, however, will have to wait till next year to meet Mr. or Ms. Right. Avoid smoking and drinking.
Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, George W.
You will encounter amicable relationships and are likely to benefit from investment advice given by a member of the opposite sex. But your purse strings are pretty loose. Try to spend your winnings on a car or a house. Do not save too much in the bank, as you will lose it somehow. If you are single, you will likely marry this year; romance is definitely on a high note. Your health should be fine.
Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995
Sonia Gandhi, Robert Kuok, Lee Kuan Yew
You should stay away from investing in stocks directly. But you may rely on a trustee or buy mutual funds to diversify your portfolio. It will be difficult to save money, though. Guard against investing beyond your means. Your career is likely to undergo big changes. Your romantic life is headed into choppy waters, and a break-up or new love is possible. Pay attention to your dental health this year.
Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996
Al Gore, Crown Prince Naruhito, A.B. Vajpayee
Your sign is populated with lucky stars this year. Your investment decisions will very likely hit the jackpot most of the time. Even when you have little knowledge about certain financial instruments, you will somehow find a way to profit from them. So invest freely — you can hardly lose. Nor is that all. Your good fortune extends to your health, as well as your romantic activities. All in all, a stunningly auspicious year.
Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997
Joseph Estrada, Mahathir Mohamad, Thaksin Shinawatra, Tung Chee-hwa
You will be in a dark mood during most of the year. It would be wise to stay away from the usual investments, though buying fixed assets such as real estate may turn out well. Do not expect quick or huge returns, though. Tackle your romantic problems with care. You may experience loneliness and it could cause you to lose your appetite or overeat. Either way, you would do well to pay attention to gastric problems.
Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998
Daim Zainuddin, Jiang Zemin, Alan Greenspan, Matsushita Yasuo, MERRYFIELD
Your peers may fleece you of your money, leaving a hole in your balance sheet. Do not lend money to others, and don't act as a guarantor of your friends' loans. Margin trading is definitely to be avoided. In fact, you should take great care before making any kind of investment. Blue chips and index funds are relatively safe bets. Your personal relationships will be stable. No particular worries in terms of your health.
Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999
L.K. Advani, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Jeff Bezos, Chen Shui-bian, Hun Sen
You will come across some promising investment opportunities this year. You can buy into bonds or equity funds to reap profits. Rabbits who were born in autumn and winter will have better fortune than those born in spring or summer. In general, your personal relationships will remain stable, and there will be some opportunities to break new ground in this area. Your health should be fine.
Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000
Li Hongzhi, Li Ka-shing, Li Peng, Abdurrahman Wahid, Zhu Rongji
Your fortunes should pick up as the year proceeds. Your investments are likely to bring reasonable returns. You may experience incarceration this year, however, so take care to avoid all illegitimate financial activities such as insider trading and any form of market rigging. In the realm of romance, things will spin out of your control and expectations. Pay particular attention to gastric problems.
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