The Rat Pack Hits Town
CLSA Feng Shui Index 2020 – Year of the Metal Rat

Hong Kong – Friday, 17 January 2020 – CLSA Limited (CLSA), Asia’s leading capital markets and investment group, today launches its 26th CLSA Feng Shui Index (FSI), a tongue-in-cheek outlook of the Hang Seng Index (HSI) in the Year of the Metal Rat. The guide also includes top sector picks, Hong Kong property tips and zodiac predictions for health, wealth, love and career for the coming year.

Diligent, industrious and positive, the Rat occupies the first position in the 12-year cycle of animals in the Chinese horoscope. This year, the ever-resilient Rat will sharpen its teeth and claws to operate at a high level and keep the cats away from the cheese. Harmony between earth and metal in the Rat’s Feng Shui fortune chart bodes well for the HSI; late spring and early summer could be a golden patch. As always, we advise investors to consult CLSA analysts’ fundamental analysis and market insights prior to making any investment decisions.

Our focus, first and foremost, is to forecast the monthly moves of the HSI, our favourite Earth Rooster, by comparing its birth chart with that of the Metal Rat. The year should start well. Early on, newly implemented regulatory measures are expected to improve business conditions. This will trigger a small market buying incentive which will peter out in March, as contradictions in market conditions permeate the wider world. No need to get anyone’s mazes in a twist, gains will be made in all sectors through to the summer. In late summer, the gains are less impressive, and profit taking is to be expected. A few rattles of the cage to wake our Rooster up in the last quarter, and the HSI will finish the year just below the summer high.

In the FSI Index, all industries are divided into one of the five elements. Each year, wood, fire, earth, metal and water dance around each other, some ruling throughout, others bursting out for a month or so. We assess the relative strength of each element at any given time to select our top sector picks. Wood in this year’s chart is yang, not yin, so expect some gains in Healthcare and Consumer stocks, especially in March and late summer. All earth-related industries including Property and Resources, could surge, but might experience some weakness from August to November. Financials and Banks should be on guard in October and November, when metal is weak and fire dominant, but will do well in April-May and September-October. Due to a water drought, fire-related industries (Technology and Utilities) may experience some volatility, with an early summer boost, and better performance in October and November.

Hong Kong property investors should consult the charts before making any buying decisions. The flying stars bring their attributes to bear on the nine areas of Hong Kong they inhabit. The Eight White wealth star sits in the Northwest. Known to aid wealth and achievement, the Six White star hovers in the southeast. Offices located here will greatly benefit. Avoid the North, East and South, where pesky stars are holding court.

Turning to the zodiacs, it will be a year of great fortune for the Rat Pack: the Rat, Dragon, Ox, Monkey and Rooster. The Dog, Goat and Snake will fare pretty well too. The Horse, Pig, Rabbit and Tiger will need to keep their wits about them and pay attention to their health, or may end up in a rat trap.

Visit www.clsa.com for more details on the 26th CLSA Feng Shui Index for the Year of the Metal Rat, featuring a number of celebrities’ zodiac predictions.

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About the CLSA Feng Shui Index

Launched in the Monkey year of 1992, the CLSA FSI evaluates the Bazi (eight character fortune) against the birth
sign of the Hang Seng, which is the Earth Rooster launched in November 1969. Then the mysterious influences of
the wu xing (five energies) and xuan hong (flying stars) are incorporated into the mix. In assessing the sectors, we
concentrate on the relative strength of each of the elements – Earth, Water, Metal, Wood and Fire – as they cycle
through the five phases in the respective monthly charts.

About CLSA Limited

CLSA is Asia’s leading capital markets and investment group, providing global investors with insights, liquidity and capital to drive their investment strategies.

Award-winning research, an extensive Asia footprint, direct links to China and highly experienced finance professionals differentiate our innovative products and services in asset management, corporate finance, equity and debt capital markets, securities and wealth management.

As the international platform of CITIC Securities (SSE: 600030, SEHK: 6030), China’s largest investment bank, CLSA is uniquely positioned to facilitate cross-border capital flows and connect China with the world and the world to China.

Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Hong Kong, CLSA’s global network spans 20 locations across Asia, Australia, Europe and the United States.

For further information, please visit www.clsa.com.