Feng Shui Index points to sharp swings in Year of the Monkey

The Hang Seng Index is expected to have a decent start for the Year of the Monkey, followed by some volatility, a mid-year downward swing and then a recovery, according to the CLSA Feng Shui Index, the popular tongue-in-cheek annual financial forecast for Hong Kong's benchmark index.

Metals and water-related industries will strengthen in the first half of the "Fire Monkey" year — not only silver and gold, but automobile, financials, gaming, transport and machinery sectors are all due to prosper, according to CLSA's index.

However, after a reasonable start, things will turn upside down for oil and gas, utilities, technology, telecoms and Internet as the Monkey runs amok in the final quarter. "For the property sector, we expect clearer skies out at Chek Lap Kok and we give both East and West our banana (great) rating," it says.

It will be a good year for people born in Ox and Snake years, according to the Feng Shui Index. For those born in the Fire Monkey year, the stars favor work, travel and finance. It will be a mongrel year for Fire Dogs, such as Donald Trump, who should watch his cash outflow and beware of the "golden-tongued" Hilary, who was born in the year of the Fire Pig, and is thus a good pal of the Monkey.