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Dragon Year opportunities, challenges for businesses: Maybank


A visitor takes pictures in front of a wooden dragon themed sculpture displayed to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year inside the flower dome at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore on February 1, 2024.

Roslan Rahman | Afp | Getty Images

Millions of Chinese around the world are celebrating the Lunar New Year, ringing in the Year of the Dragon which is often seen as auspicious and prosperous in the Chinese Zodiac.

A new year also brings different fortunes, some Chinese believe, with many turning to consult “fengshui” masters to determine what is to come.

Fengshui, which is literally translated as “wind-water” in Mandarin, is an ancient Chinese practice which seeks to maintain a balance between humans and their environment. The five key elements — wood, fire, earth, metal, and water — are believed to be fundamental in bringing about harmony and some are turning to the ancient art to predict the future of economic activity.

In Maybank Investment’s fengshui report for 2024, its head of research Thilan Wickramasinghe, along with fengshui master Ken Koh, take a look at which sectors will outperform and which will face headwinds in the Year of the Dragon.

‘Wood dragon’

2024 is the year of the wood dragon and will be “unique,” according to the report. It will be characterized by all “yang” energies, which are symbolic of masculine, rash, and far-reaching decisions.

The new year also signifies the start of a new 20-year fengshui cycle, in which the fire element will be dominant. This will favor industries that fall under the fire element, such as technology, artificial intelligence, energy, and medicine.

Fire, according to Koh, is a symbol of economic activity, confidence and optimism.

While the global economy is likely to be moderate in the first half of the year, businesses in fire element sectors such as technology, medicine, entertainment and travel will likely do well from the start of the year. Maybank does also point out the insurance sector will be a “star performer” this year.

“However, from June 2024, interest will put the shine back into business sentiments. As a result, the stock market and equities will see a wave of hope and confidence, leading to mergers, acquisitions and initial public offers.”

However, they warn that for industries under the fire element, the first year into a new period of energies “always means changes and painful transitions.” As such, new players are expected to enter, while others will fall out of the fire element businesses during the year.

Earth, metal and fire

Sectors under the earth element will also benefit from the dominant fire element, Maybank said, identifying sector winners as waste management, real estate, data warehousing and urban farming.

“Despite rising interest rates and inflationary costs, the dominant Earth industries have shown resilience and continue to break new grounds,” the Maybank report said.

According to Maybank, with the promise of easing interest rates, lower inflation and good fiscal management in…



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Dragon Year opportunities, challenges for businesses: Maybank