Here ya go. Bloomberg freebie: Year of Rat May Portend Losses in Asian Stocks, Astrologers Say By Chen Shiyin Feb. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Chinese astrologer Tony Tan, a former broker at DBS Securities, made money for his clients in 2007 by telling them Asian equity markets would turn in ``peak performances'' in the Year of the Pig. He's predicting losses in the Year of the Rat, which starts this week. ``Just like a rat, investors will have to be nimble,'' said Singapore-based Tan, an astrologer since 1995 and founder of the Harmony Academy of Chinese Metaphysics. ``It's going to be a highly competitive year.'' Chinese astrology, based on a mix of philosophy and astronomy dating back more than 3,000 years, has 12 animals that combine with five elements to define each year, making up a 60-year cycle. This year the Rat, a ``water'' creature, combines with the ``earth'' cycle, another unstable combination according to Tan. Stock markets are already falling. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index dropped 9 percent in January, its worst monthly performance since September 2001, after a 12 percent gain last year. Benchmarks in 11 of the region's 14 largest markets including China, Hong Kong and Singapore reached all-time highs in the Year of the Pig. MSCI's Asian index reached a record on Nov. 1 Tan expects markets to bottom out in April, a ``dangerous'' month for stocks because of clashing elements. Prices may rebound as the Year of the Rat continues, without setting new highs, he said. ``The Year of the Pig was one of optimal strength,'' Tan said. ``We're not going to see a repeat of those gains.'' More than 60 percent of 1,572 South Koreans surveyed recently said they had consulted an astrologer for the Lunar New Year or planned to do so, according to CareerNet Co., an online job- information provider in Seoul. Favorable Elements Some fortunetellers are more bullish than Tan. Malaysia-based Joey Yap, whose feng shui seminar in Kuala Lumpur last month drew a crowd of more than 3,000 participants, said there will be plenty of opportunities to profit this year. ``There's uncertainty, but there's also a lot of activity and growth,'' Yap said. Investors should buy shares of companies in the commodity-related, medical and transportation industries, he said, citing their favorable elements in this lunar year. In the last Earth-Rat Year between Feb. 10, 1948, and Jan. 28, 1949, China was divided by civil war and Japan was still recovering from its defeat in World War II. The MSCI Asia index fell 19 percent in the most recent Year of the Rat, a ``fire'' year, between Feb. 19, 1996, and Feb. 6, 1997. The new lunar year begins Feb. 7 in many Asian countries including China, marking the start of a week-long holiday. Beat Lenherr, who helps oversee about $20 billion as chief global strategist of LGT Capital Management in Singapore, has consulted a fortuneteller -- who makes divinations based on readings of the stars, numbers and energy flows -- for both personal and professional advice for the past eight years. ``Uncertainty will prevail and volatility will continue to be high,'' said Lenherr. To contact the reporter on this story: Chen Shiyin in Singapore at schen37@bloomberg.net .
A Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity, and renewal. This is a good year to begin a new job, get married, launch a product or make a fresh start. Ventures begun now may not yield fast returns, but opportunities will come for people who are well prepared and resourceful. The best way for you to succeed is to be patient, let things develop slowly, and make the most of every opening you can find. In Chinese, the Rat is respected and considered a courageous, enterprising person. (Those born in the year of the rat)
An animal rights group called Monday for China to treat rats with kindness and respect, as millions across the nation begin to celebrate the coming Year of the Rat. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, said it has asked the Chinese government to consider animal welfare laws for rats used in laboratory experiments. The group also recommended a series of guidelines for animals used in science. "Rats sing, they dream, and they express empathy for others,"
They're way behind the curve. I have it on good authority that rats have had free reign at even the finest restaurant kitchens in NYC since time immemorial. Admittedly, they are less likely to be found lounging in the dining rooms but, as with most such initiatives, these adjustments are made in stages.
Plus rats taste just like chicken, so I see no need to eat rats when there's plenty of chicken. Plus chickens don't do no singin', no dreamin', and empathingin'. All they do is cluckin' and crowin' and basically gettin' on me nerves, at least when they're in the house anyway. Rats don't bother me none, 'cept at night when they start chewin' on me toes. Other than that, they're pretty quiet. If there is one animal that needs PETA protection, that would be the rat. Rats have caused only 50% of all extinctions of various species since the 1600s, so they can't be all bad.
What was is last year? Feb 27th? Year of the pig, all the asians took profits, market tanked. Wtf has the Rat got up his sleeve?
"The rat will become aggressive at the tail end of the year and its underlying water element will cool the stock market," said Vincent Koh, a feng shui master at Singapore Feng Shui Centre. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080206/bs_nm/asia_fengshui_dc;_ylt=ArQHqH7o2K2LRpRsXe6X3WK573QA lj http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT0v8ULnl54&feature=related
Most importantly, keep a sharp eye for those stocks in the southeast corner of your portfolio. These will be potential short prospects.