By  Jane Lasky

Walking under a ladder or breaking a mirror might make some Americans nervous, but most people I know won't be too bothered if either incident happens.

Likewise, when it comes to certain dates (such as Friday the 13th) or encountering certain animals (black cats, for example), some of my buddies might speak up when this happens but nobody I know will let either event stop them. Not so when it comes to certain superstitions in other parts of the world.

For instance, numbers often take on very serious significance. Here's a case in point:

I lived in Hong Kong in 1992 at a time when the Hong Kong stock market was reaching record highs. One day, a rumor started around town that Deng Xiaoping had died. Coincidentally (or not), the Chinese leader happened to be on his "southern tour" to promote foreign direct investment.

As soon as news of Deng Xiaoping's alleged death reached major investors, stock trading waned. Some say this was because certain money people were waiting for a sign that the rumor was true.

Sure enough, around noon they had what they thought was their definitive answer: The Hang Seng Index stuck at 4,444.14.

This was significant because, for the Chinese, the number four is associated with death and the number one is associated with eternity. So, with just this particular number to guide them, many Hong Kongers believed Deng Xiaoping had, indeed, passed away.

Right after that, the market dove more than 20 percent. I don't know if this unfortunate movement emanated from the above superstition. I do know that Deng Xiaoping lived until 1997, five years after this incident happened.

Indeed, many people believe that superstitions are tantamount to truth. To them, certain numbers can mean specific things, depending on the country in which they are encountered.

*  In Hong Kong, nine is a lucky number because in Cantonese the word "nine" sounds like "eternity." Likewise, eight is also lucky because the word meaning "prosperity" in Cantonese sounds like the word "eight."

*  In Thailand, the number three is good luck, so gifts tend to be given in groups of threes. In China, gifts are often offered in groups of twos.

*  In Japan and Korea, the number four is considered such bad luck that many hotels do not have a fourth floor or a 14th floor.

*  Finally, the Chinese zodiac, which cycles every 12 years, is also a number system that can be very influential. Many believe that the year when you are born can tell plenty about your personality, your brains, your physique and even how much happiness and success you will enjoy.

To this end, in China and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, those who take this to heart will look for a mate who has a compatible sign. Although your business associate need not meet such specific criteria, to stay on the safe side I suggest that you stay away from the standard line "what's your sign?" when you visit this part of the world for work.