Gold pig boom in China

Golden pigs are set to be selling like hot cakes as the Chinese welcome in the Year of the Pig which begins on February 18th.

It is an extra special celebration this year because according to the Chinese zodiac a golden pig year falls just once in every 60 years so accordingly any jewellery which features a golden pig is proving popular.

China is generally a nation which loves gold and buys it in droves as proved by its continued consumption of the precious metal despite high gold prices in 2006.

However, jewellers in Hong Kong have been stocking up not just general gold but golden pig trinkets which range in price and will be sold for the entire duration of the year.

Li Fuying, a manager of a jewellery store, said: "Display ornaments will sell well before and after the Lunar New Year.

"As for the other kinds of golden pig accessories, especially those for children, they will sell well for the rest of this year."

The new year is also expected to usher in somewhat of a baby boom in China because superstition says that couples will enjoy great luck if they have a child born in the year of the golden pig.