WILL THE YEAR OF THE GOAT BRING BETTER FORTUNES?

Geomancy master predicts more volatility for this year

In the Chinese zodiac, the goat is deemed a tame animal. But take its meekness for granted and you might find yourself getting kicked in the face. The goat, when provoked, will hit back with all its might, warns feng shui expert Master Ong Thiam Peng of I-Ching Geomancy Centre.

According to Master Ong, the year of the Goat is a year of "outcomes" and "outbreaks". Outcome carries a more positive connotation while outbreak is associated with bad news. A combination of both means volatility in the year ahead.

Containing the goat's freedom will cause it to rebel, says Master Ong. Similarly, the containment of Iraq by the US, has caused the former to deny US accusations. And should the US attack Iraq, it will retaliate and this will affect the rest of the world. Master Ong believes that war is going to happen.

With volatility, there will be opportunities for traders to make money. This year is going to benefit those who keep in touch with the market on a regular basis, as "W" or "doube dip" patterns will dominate market movements, Master Ong predicts.

Quick moves into and out of the market will probably characterise the trading pattern this year. It may not be a great year for general investors - those who buy for the longer term - but if they have the tenacity and power to hold on to their investments, they should be able to ride out the storm.

Should war break out, markets will rebound for a short time before dipping again based on the "W" trading pattern. Master Ong believes that it will be a short war, but based on the Goat's retaliatory behaviour, he expects more small-scale terrorist attacks against the US as anti-US sentiment increases.

For a bigger market like the US, there could be two "Ws" this year. But for a smaller and more exposed country like Singapore, the volatility will be higher and more rapid, says Master Ong.

On a brighter note, China's ascent will be good for Singapore. But, he cautions, there will also be a fair dose of "outbreaks" throughout the year, with political leadership changes looming in Malaysia.

Generally, he thinks that the Goat will bring more positive news compared to last year's Horse. But this does not mean that there will be immediate financial rewards as uncertainties still loom. For the nimble, there is a fairly good chance of making money. For those who are not, it is better to be safe than sorry.