Mars on boil, may push week to risky zone

Stocks climbed higher for the third straight week on encouraging EU bond auctions and positive earnings reports at home. 

Stocks have rebounded here in January just as the aspect has tightened between optimistic Jupiter and speculative Uranus. 

This largely bullish pairing perhaps reflects recent favourable developments such as the IMF’s pledge of another 500 million euros to backstop the EU bailout fund. 

It seems that for now, no news is good news. As long as the Greek debt talks quietly continue and do not collapse, and the world’s central bankers stand at the ready, perhaps the market can stay afloat a little while longer.

Just how much longer is unclear. Since Jupiter is now moving away from bullish Uranus, that will be one less positive influence on the market, going forward. Jupiter is due to make a positive aspect with Pluto in March, but a lot can happen between now and then. 

In the meantime, bearish Saturn would seem to strengthen as it slows down ahead of its retrograde station on February 7. Slower planets are usually more powerful in their effects and Saturn is usually a negative influence on the markets. This is perhaps somewhat more likely here since it will be in aspect with Neptune.

The big event this week is that Mars turns retrograde early on Tuesday. This will increase the amount of Mars energy and could cause some problems along the way.   Mars is considered a bearish planet and its reversal in direction should be seen as a negative factor on the market. Interestingly, the RBI is due to release its latest interest rate policy on that day. 

It seems unlikely that they would cut rates, given this Mars influence as disappointment is somewhat more likely here. Monday’s Mercury-Mars aspect, therefore, adds to downside risk, although potential offsetting factors do not make a decline a certainty by any means. Wednesday is difficult to assess, although the Moon-Venus aspect could encourage buyers. After Thursday’s holiday closing, Friday features a Mercury-Saturn square that may introduce more pessimism into the market.  Overall, there seems to be less evidence for further gains here as downside risk increases on the Mars influence.

Crude oil futures edged lower as warmer weather in the US reduced prospects for energy demand. 

WTI crude finished near $98. This was largely in keeping with expectations as I thought we could gradually see more weakness creeping in, especially after Thursday.  Mars turns retrograde this week, so the downside risk will increase. Nonetheless, some gains are more likely around the Moon-Venus conjunction midweek. The late week could see stress returning as the Moon opposes Mars.

Gold put up another positive show last week as it closed near $1,665. This was broadly in keeping with expectations as I thought the late week Sun aspects would boost prices.  This recent rally in gold may be getting long in the tooth here as the start of the retrograde Mars cycle on Tuesday could shake things up. 

While further gains are possible early in the week, bearishness could gradually return soon after. That said, I note that the Moon-Venus conjunction will likely produce some positive sentiment for gold on either Wednesday or Thursday.

— The writer is a neo-Vedic astrologer specialising in predictive astrology. He runs the website www.modernvedicastrology.com