Jasmine Yeo

Aditi Bathia and Jasmine YeoFri, Mar 06, 2026 • 12:20 PM GMT+08 •  • 6 min read Asean stands at a fascinating crossroads. Consumers are cautiously moving beyond macroeconomic gloom and focusing instead on how they live, spend and plan. Photo: Bloomberg Follow us on Facebook and join our Telegram channel for the latest updates.

On 29 January, we will exit the Year of the Dragon and enter the Year of the Snake. In the Chinese zodiac, people born in the Year of the Dragon are said to be powerful and optimistic. In contrast, those of a serpentine year are wise masters of reinvention, able to shed their skin amidst change. Past years of the snake have indeed been transformative: 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001 all saw war, economic pain, or political and financial instability.

It’s been an astonishing two years for US equities, but the same can’t be said for global asset markets. 2025 could be a year to explore out of favour markets, according to Ruffer’s Jasmine Yeo.