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ShareStocks staged a modest retreat last week as more investors decided to take profits. After falling for four straight sessions, markets finally rallied on Friday.
The negative outlook was largely in keeping with expectations given the persistence of the nasty Mars aspect to Mercury.Friday's rebound was a little surprising given the Moon's difficult position opposite Saturn, although I had allowed for possible moves in either direction given the unpredictability of the Full Moon.
This week the market will have to contend with Mercury's new retrograde condition as the planet of trading and commerce begins its backward cycle on Monday morning.Generally, the retrograde Mercury cycle is a negative influence on stocks, even if, like many astrological influences, they do not operate like clockwork.
Rather, this cycle lasting from September 7 to 29 introduces new elements of uncertainty into the planetary mix that pervades its period. Retrograde Mercury cycles often indicate a time when investors are inclined to re-think or re-assess their positions. This process of introspection and review often coincides with declines or weak sideways markets.
As an added stressful factor, Saturn enters Virgo this week and this may provide more fuel for the bears. And yet for all that, this week holds significant promise for gains later on since Mercury will likely be lifted by the diminishing influence of Mars. Monday will see the Moon in Pisces in good aspect with Venus so that will likely see gains, especially at the open.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Moon transits Aries so we may see selling predominate on at least one of those days, particularly since Saturn moves into Virgo in that time. The end of the week features a potentially bullish alignment involving Sun, Venus and Jupiter. With Venus in close aspect to Jupiter by Friday, bulls are likely to rule the roost by week's end and may well erase any losses that occur earlier in the week.
The market is entering a fairly precarious planetary situation in September. Even if we see some gains this week, the weakened state of Mercury for the next three weeks suggests that any gains we may see in the coming days will not last. Saturn, the planet of caution and pessimism, will also assume a larger role in September through its potentially explosive aspect with Uranus on 17 September, the planet of sudden and violent change. This Saturn-Uranus aspect is another possible sign of major trend reversals.
As expected, crude oil declined below $70 last week as closed below $68. I was largely correct in predicting a significant early week pullback on the Mercury-Mars aspect. This week should see crude become stronger -- perhaps back over $70 -- as Venus aspects Jupiter by Friday.
Gold rose sharply to close at $994. While I did foresee gold's late week strength, I underestimated the size of this upmove. This rally may be attributed to Saturn's departure from Leo, the constellation closely associated with gold. As Saturn enters Virgo midweek, we could see some profit taking as a cautious mood may prevail.
However, the late week Venus-Jupiter aspect is likely to push gold higher once more. $1000 is very much in the cards here, although it appears more and more to be an unsustainable speculative rally.
Crystal gazing
Monday will see the Moon in Pisces in good aspect with Venus so that will likely see gains, especially at the open
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Moon transits Aries so we may see selling predominate on at least one of those days
The end of the week features a potentially bullish alignment involving Sun, Venus and Jupiter
The writer is a neo-Vedic astrologer specialising inpredictive astrology. He runs the
website www.modernvedicastrology.com
