Star-Gazers See Better Times Ahead for Thailand Economy Despite Some Pitfalls.

Byline: Suphaphan Plengmaneepun

Dec. 6--If you believe in the stars, there's good news: the Thai economy will start picking up in the second half of next year.

For people who are not astrologers, it might be very difficult to understand how the position of the stars can influence people or entire nations.

However, three local leading astrologers agree that Jupiter will move into the path of the Zodiac of Cancer on July 2, bringing an upturn in the economy.

Their view is shared by upbeat economists who read earthly data and predict that the economy could bottom out in the second quarter before recovering in the second half. They base their forecast partly on an anticipated upturn in the US economy in the third quarter.

In contrast, other economists read the figures -- again economic rather than cosmic -- and predict sluggish growth for several years, given the worldwide recession that has brought spending cutbacks by the two largest importing nations, the US and Japan.

Back in space, although Jupiter's orbit would be a boon for the economy, Pinyo Pongcharoen, the president of the International Astrological Association, said that Thailand would have to be cautious as rahu (a monster star that eclipses the sun and the moon), still occupies a prominent "dark" position that could cause uncertainty for the domestic economy.