The Ding Hai Effect (丁蟹效應), Adam Cheng Effect, Chiu Kwan Effect (秋官效應), or Qiuguan Effect is a peculiar stock phenomenon that affects the global stock markets in general. The theory goes that whenever the Hong Kong actor Adam Cheng stars in a new TV show, there is a sudden drop in the market. No reason is given for the phenomenon, and this effect has been a hot topic amongst stock brokers for years after the drama series Greed of Man was broadcast in Hong Kong in 1993. The effect is named after Ding Hai, the main character of the show, played by Adam Cheng. Adam Cheng Siu-Chow (Simplified Chinese: 郑少秋, Traditional Chinese: 鄭少秋, Jyutping: Ching6 Siu2 Tsau1, Pinyin: Zheng4 Shao3 Qiu1, Originally named 鄭創世;Cheng Chong-sai) (born February 24, 1947 in Hong Kong) is a popular TVB actor and singer in Hong Kong. ... The Greed of Man (Traditional Chinese: 大時代) was a drama show that was broadcast by TVB in Hong Kong during 1993. ... Adam Cheng Siu-Chow (Simplified Chinese: 郑少秋, Traditional Chinese: 鄭少秋, Jyutping: Ching6 Siu2 Tsau1, Pinyin: Zheng4 Shao3 Qiu1, Originally named 鄭創世;Cheng Chong-sai) (born February 24, 1947 in Hong Kong) is a popular TVB actor and singer in Hong Kong. ...

Initially, the Ding Hai Effect occurred whenever the TVB drama series Greed of Man or its remake, The War of the Century (made by ATV) is broadcast. Later, the effect is even felt whenever a new show that involves Adam Cheng is being aired. The Greed of Man (Traditional Chinese: 大時代) was a drama show that was broadcast by TVB in Hong Kong during 1993. ... ATV logo used in early 1990s Asia Television Limited (ATV) (亞洲電視有限公司) is the first television station in Hong Kong, founded on May 29, 1957. ...

First occurrence

The first reported instance of this effect occurred during 1993, when the drama series Greed of Man made its debut. During the time it was broadcast, the Hong Kong Heng Seng Index dropped by a significant percentage, causing billions of stock losses. Adam Cheng even admitted he was afraid of going to the Financial Districts of Hong Kong after the show airs, for he fears stockbrokers in the area might get physical with him. The Greed of Man (Traditional Chinese: 大時代) was a drama show that was broadcast by TVB in Hong Kong during 1993. ... Hang Seng Index (HSI, 恒生指數) is a capitalization-weighted stock market index in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. ...

Second occurrence

The second reported instance of the effect was felt during the re-run of the series years later on TVB Jade (one of the Chinese channels in Hong Kong) around 1997. During that time, a stock market (and economic) bubble caused by overinflated housing prices burst, causing a huge stock market crisis that spread to other countries around the world and eventually miring Hong Kong in a recession that it struggles to break free to this day.

Third occurrence

The third recorded instance of this effect occurred in 2000, when a modern re-make of Greed of Man, The War of the Century, was broadcast on ATV (One of the two TV corporations in Hong Kong). At that time, the technology stock bubble burst around the world, also causing a big stock market crisis that wiped out many people's investments. The Greed of Man (Traditional Chinese: 大時代) was a drama show that was broadcast by TVB in Hong Kong during 1993. ... ATV logo used in early 1990s Asia Television Limited (ATV) (亞洲電視有限公司) is the first television station in Hong Kong, founded on May 29, 1957. ...

Fourth occurrence

The fourth instance occurred in the summer of 2003, when the show was re-broadcast on TVB-USA (one of TVB's overseas satellite channel). At that time, corporate accounting scandals swept across the US, prompting companies that were affected to lose billions upon billions in their stock values, thus causing a bear market that lasted approximately until the series ended.

Fifth occurrence

The fifth instance occurred during the summer of 2004, when Blade Heart, a new TVB Drama starring Adam Cheng, premiered in Hong Kong. At the time, the stock market around the world became unsteady and a downward trend occurred due to high oil prices and instabilities in the Middle East. A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ...

Sixth occurrence

The most recently recorded instance occurred during the first quarter of 2005, when Princess Shadow, a drama show set during the Qing Dynasty, was aired. During this time, continued instability in the Middle East, in addition to record high oil prices, and local political instability surrounding the resignation of Former Chief Executive Tung Chee-Hwa contributed to a small-scale panic and fluctuation in the stock market. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tung Chee-hwa (Traditional Chinese: 董建華 Simplified Chinese: 董建华 Pinyin: Dǒng Jiànhuá) (born July 7, 1937, or the 29th day of the fifth month in the Chinese calendar) is the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ...

Exception

The only time Ding Hai Effect did not occur was in 2004, when Driving Power did not cause a stock market crash or drop.

Conclusion

The Ding Hai Effect has caused many press attentions of Adam Cheng ever since it began to happen more than 10 years ago. Now, whenever a new show starring Adam Cheng is about to be broadcast, some stockbrokers and investors in Hong Kong become wary, even anticipating a drop in the market.

While some investors have argued that the effect is no more than a series of coincidences, the show's peculiar effect on the stock market is regarded by some as more than coincidences. There are also reports that stockbrokers around the world have studied the effects of this phenomenon.