Sun-Uranus conjunction gives real hope to bulls

Stocks took another beating last week as a new RBI rate hike conspired with Japan’s nuclear crisis to send investors to the exits.

This bearish outcome was largely in keeping with the expectations as Mars and Mercury both made aspects with pessimistic Saturn. My forecast for declines in the early week  was somewhat off the mark in light of Monday’s gain, although that was soon erased by Tuesday’s sell-off.

I had been uncertain about the mid-week period and this was perhaps reflected in the choppy sideways action we saw on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday’s decline was in keeping with the bearishness of the Mercury-Saturn opposition.

The disaster in Japan is perhaps another manifestation of the difficult planetary alignments in the sky. As I have noted in previous columns, we are currently in a stressful period as Jupiter prepares to oppose Saturn on March 29.

Jupiter’s optimism and expansive nature is confronted by Saturn’s tendency towards restraint and loss.

Since Saturn is the more distant planet than Jupiter, its velocity is slower and that usually gives it the power to prevail in these celestial meetings. On a psychological level, the result is often negative sentiment which can depress stocks, while in the real world this aspect can correlate with hardship and unwanted events. Of course, there are other astrological factors behind the recent spate of major global events. Perhaps the most obvious of these are the recent eclipses in December and January.

The energy contained in these eclipses has been released by the some difficult transits in the past several weeks. Unfortunately, there may well be some remaining negative eclipse energy that has yet to manifest. The Mars-Saturn opposition of April 18 is perhaps the next date to watch in that respect.

This week holds out some real hope for bulls as Monday will feature a Sun-Uranus conjunction. The risk-seeking quality of Uranus often fits well with the vitality of the Sun and this usually translates into aggressive buying. The enthusiasm may moderate into mid-week, however, as Venus comes under the potentially disruptive influence of Ketu.  The enjoyment of purchasing and enrichment of Venus does not blend well with Ketu’s preference for renunciation and spiritual growth. The aspect is closest on Thursday and Friday so that perhaps makes those days more susceptible to profit-taking.

After another wild week, crude oil closed modestly lower near $100. This week unfolded largely as expected as the early week bullishness from the Mercury-Jupiter conjunction gave way to mid-week consolidation. 

Crude is likely to rise in the early week on the Sun-Uranus conjunction but it may be somewhat prone selling thereafter. The late-week period looks more uncertain and frankly harder to call.

Despite a mid-week decline, gold was mostly unchanged last week. While bullion could not claim its safe haven status due to Japan crisis, it was the beneficiary of the dollar’s weakness at the end of the week.

As expected, gold did rise on Monday’s Mars-Saturn aspect. Gold is likely to rise on Monday’s Sun-Uranus conjunction but it is unclear if sentiment will remain positive into mid-week. Thursday’s Venus-Ketu aspect could make gold somewhat more vulnerable to sell-offs around that time. Friday’s Moon-Rahu conjunction, however, increases the probability of gains.

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