Firecrackers and dancing dragons will welcome the Chinese New Year of the Red Fire Monkey in early February. The Monkey is one of 12 Chinese horoscope years that can predict wild success or portend catastrophic failure, depending on one’s level of superstition or gullibility.

One certain prediction this Monkey year: China is swinging toward interesting times.

Opaque markets, volatile stocks and moderating growth are just a few of the economic factors that will challenge China’s leadership and, consequently, global financial systems in 2016.

Suddenly, when China sneezes, the rest of the world may get the sniffles. Maybe even pneumonia.