Financial Astrology - January 4, 2016

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SP500

For the SP500, cycle-wise we are entering either the 19th week or 3rd week of the Primary cycle  ¹ cycle that started on Aug 24th or Dec 14th.  This cycle is aka, the nominal 18 week with a range of 15 to 21 weeks. This is the chart we have been following for many months. See the red line and dates on the chart. It was anticipated we would have a Primary cycle low between Dec 7, 2015 and Jan 15, 2016.

If we are in the 3rd week of a new Primary cycle which started on Dec 14th this was brought up in both a previous blog and last market letter. Dec 14th was the date of the Sun waxing square Jupiter. As mentioned this aspect is often found close to Primary cycle crests or troughs. In this case a trough.

The 3rd week is my preferred path unless the SP500 goes below the low on Dec 14th, 2015 at 1,993.26.

The first week of January 2016 has 4 Astrological events that could mark a turn in the major markets of the world. At the very least markets should be volatile. This is a difficult week to forecast with Jupiter turning retrograde in Virgo in almost exact conjunction to the North Node. Jupiter in Astrology is known as the greater benefic, is in it's detriment in Virgo but the North Node may enhance Jupiter's general positive qualities. Watch the period around Jan 7th closely.

Earlier in the week we have Mercury turning retrograde, often associated with changes in trend and volatility. It is also associated with confusion and mistakes. I'm looking for a move up in the SP500 on Jan 4th or 5th. It may not last long.

There are other transits during the first week in January that point to the direction of the SP500 and Gold, reserved for subscribers.

In addition to the markets the Astrological aspects could also manifest as violent weather, geophysical events (earthquakes / volcanoes) or terrorist events.

Beyond Astrological aspects and events we are getting into a period where a number of longer term market cycles are due to end. An example is the Kitchin cycle but there are others seen in previous posts.

Two of the important aspects unfolding are the Jupiter / Saturn square and the Saturn / Neptune square. These are in addition to the fading but still active Uranus / Pluto square. The latter square will be translated by the Sun this coming week so watch for the themes from the past few years to be highlighted once again.

Simply the placement of planets in signs during the course of a year can have a dramatic effect.

For example, many of the U.S. largest stocks markets losses have occurred while

Saturn is in mutable signs. The mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. Saturn will be in Sagittarius until Dec 20, 2017.

And Neptune continues to transit through Pisces (a mutable sign), the sign it rules. Neptune rules crude and water amongst other things. Flooding in some areas and shortages in others have been mentioned a number of times in previous posts. The price of crude needs no further comment.

Saturn is in Sagittarius which rules the law, religion, philosophy and science. With the square to Neptune is a good signal for a religious message that gets perverted. It's a time period where things seen depressing with a rise in socialism and socialist thought. The hard reality of Saturn is squaring illusion and confusion.

Other longer term cycles that may be close to seeing their lows in the next couple of months are the 6.5 - 7 year cycle and the Kitchin cycle (40 months). I'm looking at the period from mid-December through the 1st quarter of 2016 as a potential time period for these cycles. They are long term cycles and need a broad orb.

The Kitchin cycle on the SP500 chart. This is a monthly chart. cycles may appear closer than when they actually due.

Other long term cycle due, including the 6.5 - 7 year.

Longer term cycles on a monthly chart of the DJIA. These need a wide orb.

The following weekly chart shows the 21 and 34 weekly moving averages and the fact price broke through both averages but moved up through the averages this past week. Also the 21 and 34 week moving averages are still pointing down or flat. There are a number of powerful heliocentric aspects on Jan 29, 2016 +- a couple of weeks. One of these is the heliocentric Saturn / Neptune square.

The question is, do we have a significant low in front of us. At this point I think yes and it could be the 1st quarter of 2016 time frame.

Gold

Gold put in a  Primary cycle   ¹ trough on July 24th.

This puts us entering either the 3rd or 24th week of the nominal 18 week during this coming week. I had Dec 3rd as a Primary cycle low having bought the day before as I was looking for a spike low.

Although I was expecting the normal rise on a Primary cycle low Gold went into a sideways consolidation. I'm still holding that purchase.

I've been looking for Astros with a history in Gold turns and there are two coming up. Subscribers have the dates.

I'm expecting a bigger move in Gold later in the year possibly at the end of the next primary cycle which may also be a 17 month cycle low. The move should be up. Again, subscribers have the potential dates. On the following daily chart we see Gold moved down to the Jupiter price line where it often finds support.

Crude

This coming week of January 4th, 2016 we should be entering the 19th week of a nominal 18 week cycle which started August 24th or the 3rd week of a new Primary cycle which started on December 14th

Many commodities and financials should be affected by the Saturn / Neptune waning square this year. This is a 3 pass with the last 2 occurring mid-Year and then September 2016. This is a 36 year cycle so looking back 36 years we had severe problems with the lack of crude and interest rates went over 20%. Things are never the same, but often close. I expect Crude to rise this year, although it may be later in the year and I expect some inflation later in the year. Are we at the bottom in crude? We should be close.

It is difficult to forecast Crude here with all the geopolitical events, OPEC and our climate change friends. I'll be changing focus to NatGas in the next few weeks. NatGas is very local so we'll look at NatGas prices in North America.

Looking at heliocentric aspects there is  a very interesting date on January 29th, 2016 +- a few.

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