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Author Topic:   Chinese New Year: Year of the Boar
DayDreamer
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posted February 19, 2007 07:42 PM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Chinese New Year brings some warnings on war and stock markets

The Chinese Year of the Boar has just started. And with it come dire warnings of epidemics, wars and disasters from the normally coolheaded Chinese fortune tellers. But the Hong Kong Trade Development Council hosted a traditional Chinese New Year dinner at the Shangri-La Hotel in Dubai and there was hardly an air of panic.

Monday, February 19 - 2007 at 09:53

Chinese growth has been stellar for the past four years and last year the Chinese stock market almost doubled.

Links with the Middle East have also been growing, if nothing else the need to secure oil and gas resources to fuel this growth is clear. Chinese demand is also one of the major factors in sustaining oil prices at near record levels

According to Chinese tradition the Boar is one of 12 animals on the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, which follows the lunar calendar, and the advice of its proponents merits the same degree of skepticism as horoscopes in the West.

'The Year of the Boar will not be very peaceful,' says Raymond Lo in his New Year's message. 'Boar years can be turbulent because they are dominated by fire and water, conflicting elements that tend to cause havoc.'

Interest rate hikes
Hong Kong's celebrity fortuneteller Peter So adds, 'Because of the water element in the Year of the Boar, the economy will continue to grow, which also paves the way for another round of interest rate hikes'.

Another Hong Kong astrologer Alion Yeo is saying North Korea will undergo a power struggle that will bring leadership changes around May. Singapore fortuneteller John Lok predicts the situation in Iraq will not settle and that President Bush will have a bad year.

But Christian Deseglise, Global Head of Emerging Markets Business at HSBC Investments, manager of $329 billion of assets worldwide says the outlook for China continues to be favorable, with valuations supported by a strong macroeconomic environment and robust earnings growth.

He remarks, '2006 was an exceptional year for China, with the equity market rising 83% in dollar terms for the year, outperforming its Brazil, Russia, and India counterparts and nearly all other emerging markets.' China has also seen four straight years of double digit GDP growth, and is still on track for growth of around 9% in 2007, says HSBC Investments.

Healthy skepticism
However, you have to wonder if the economists might not be proven wrong by the Chinese fortune tellers, who perhaps take a more skeptical view of the world than some traditional analysts.

The US stock market up cycle is approaching four years of age, and is over due for a correction which would drag global capital markets down with it. And it could be that the Chinese stock market finds out like the Middle East last year that exceptional rises can be followed by exceptional falls.

Moreover, the myriad of geopolitical instabilities around the world that might erupt into unexpected violence and wars are often side-stepped by commentators as 'wild cards', one reason why risk is priced so low at present. So the Year of the Boar might yet turn out to be as tough as predicted by the Chinese astrologers.
http://www.ameinfo.com/111131.html

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DayDreamer
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posted February 19, 2007 07:49 PM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Chinese Astrology and Canadian Politicians...

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is a pig.

True, Harper has been called worse by some of his opponents. But if you're a Liberal supporter, don't get too cocky because star MP Michael Ignatieff is also a pig.

Both high profile politicians were born in the Chinese year of the pig, which starts this year tomorrow.

In fact, politics and pigs seem to have a lot in common.

Former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell, U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, former U.S. presidents Ronald Reagan, Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson are all pigs.

“I'm not sure why politics and pigs seem to mix, but with a possible election year and with Ignatieff and Harper born as pigs, it should make for an interesting political scene," said historian Dora Nip of the Multicultural History Society of Ontario.


The year of the pig heralds a year of contentment, security, optimism and signifies good fortune, kindness, honesty and tolerance, Nip said.

Harper has been courting the Chinese community, making a public apology over a head tax on Chinese at the turn of the century and appearing at the opening of phase two of the Chinese Cultural Centre in Scarborough last year. He's also had a few missteps, including a snub by the Chinese prime minister over human rights issues.

But this is no ordinary pig year; it's believed to be the year of the Golden Pig, which only comes around every 600 years. Babies born this year are thought to be especially lucky.

Pigs are thought to be extremely fortunate animals in China since they tend to eat and sleep all day.

Celebrations in Canada start in earnest Saturday on New Year's Eve. Toronto's 400,000-strong Chinese community is one of the largest in North America. Events will range from the ritzy $500-a-plate Dragon Ball today, attended by a who's who of political leaders and corporate Canada to festive events in any of the city's five Chinatowns.

People born in 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, and 2007 are born under the zodiac sign of the pig. The zodiac is based on the five elements of water, fire, wood, metal, and earth, and the traditional calendar's 12-year rotating cycle of animals: Rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

Each animal has its own characteristics, believed to define both the year and people born in it.

In that case, pigs are quick-tempered and stubborn, which could describe a lot of politicians, including Harper. But they¹re also loyal, trustworthy and kind to their loved ones.

According to the ancient calendar, 2007 will be year 4705. It begins on the first day of the new year in the traditional Chinese calendar, starting tomorrow through Feb. 6, 2008, which is based on both the lunar and solar cycles.

Prime Minister Harper said he¹s going to be celebrating.

“I have reason to celebrate it too because I was born in 1959, also the year of the pig. I'd like to offer my warmest greetings to all Chinese Canadians as you welcome the year of the pig," Harper said. “The Chinese New Year has become an important part of the Canadian cultural landscape, which tells us just how big a role this community plays in modern Canada.

“That role is rooted in a long history, from your ancestors' involvement in the building of the national railway in the 19th century, to full participation in every aspect of community life today," said Harper. “Chinese Canadians have shaped this wonderful country we all call home. Our shared history was marred by the injustice of the head tax. I am proud that last year our new government finally dealt with this issue, so we could all move forward into the future together and leave the past behind."

Harper is known as an earth pig.

“Earth pigs are kindly in nature and like to please employers and go to great lengths to secure his or her aims and ambitions and they have a tendency to eat and drink more than they should," Nip said.

Ignatieff, one of Harper's biggest rivals in government, said he's looking forward to the new year. “As a fire pig, I look forward to what promises to be an exceptional year. I wish all pigs and non-pigs alike a memorably happy year to come," Ignatieff said.

“Fire pigs are energetic, adventurous, and pleasure seekers. They carry themselves in resolute manners and they are generous and quick to support a worthy cause, but they can get carried away by the excitement of the moment and are capable of outstanding acts of heroism. But when they are determined on an objective, it is almost impossible to sway them from it," Nip said.

Oddly enough, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion is born in the year of the sheep and sheep are most compatible and become best friends with pigs. More famous Canadians born in the year of the pig include rock star Bryan Adams, Tom Green, Sandra Oh, Paul Gross, painter Stanley Cosgrove, Olympic gold medallist Jennifer Heil, Toronto Maple Leafs Mats Sundin and Matt Stajan, Ottawa Senators centre Jason Spezza and Formula One racer Jacques Villeneuve.

Other famous pigs include the Dalai Lama, leader of the Chinese KMT Chiang-Kai Shek, Ford founder Henry Ford, Lucille Ball, Humphrey Bogart, Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Alfred Hitchcock, David Letterman and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Spezza said his only wish for the new year “is pretty easy — a Stanley Cup."

“The year of the pig?" Spezza said with a huge chuckle. “That one comes out of left field. But, it¹s nice to be in the company of someone like the prime minister."

Both Sundin and Stajan were unaware that they were members of The Year of the Pig fraternity. So what would they like the new year to bring?

“The most important thing is to make the playoffs," said Sundin. “And to win a championship, that¹s the ultimate goal."

Stajan agreed.

“I want what everyone in Toronto wants to see — a winning team here," he said. “We want to make the playoffs and then make a run at (the Stanley Cup). We¹re going to do everything we can to see that happen."

Leading up to New Year's Eve, rituals include family reunions with large dinners, gifts of money placed in red envelopes, firecrackers to ward off evil spirits, lion dances and a lantern festival.

“Toronto¹s vibrant and thriving Chinese community plays an incredibly important role in making this city the most diverse and cosmopolitan in the world," said Mayor David Miller. “I'm proud and pleased that so many Chinese-Canadians call Toronto home and I want wish everyone the very best for a safe, healthy and prosperous new year!"

With files from Mike Zeisberger, Sun Media

http://torontosun.com/News/TorontoAndGTA/2007/02/16/pf-3638881.html

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Mirandee
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posted February 24, 2007 01:41 AM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If many politicians are pigs then maybe they should call it the year of the boor instead of boar.

Interesting articles, DD

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DayDreamer
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posted February 24, 2007 05:41 PM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Lol, The Year of the Boor does seem more appropriate...Even the year of the Bore would do.

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