Weekly column: The impact of personal planet retrogrades on markets

Review

Whoa! That was one rocky, end-of-year holiday sleigh ride for financial markets! But then again, when you have the long-term Jupiter/Saturn waxing square on December 24, followed by the disruptive Venus/Uranus waning square on December 28, it was not likely to follow the typical “Santa Claus” rally script that many analysts expected. In a twist of the usual bullish seasonal pattern, many global stock indices exhibited declines into possible primary cycle lows and double bottoms within just a couple of days of these aspects. At the end of last week, new life seemed to enter as markets rallied smartly. After all, when strong aspects involving Saturn coincide with depressed prices, most markets rally shortly after.

In the Far East and Asia, a possible primary cycle low occurred on December 20 in the Australian ASX as the index dropped to its lowest price since early September, and then began a rocky rally. The Indian Nifty index made a double-bottom low (and possible primary cycle) on December 20 and 31. The Hang Seng of Hong Kong also made double bottoms on December 14 and January 2. China’s Shanghai Composite took a beating on January 3, falling to its lowest level since October 18. Japan’s Nikkei index was closed much of this time, but bucked the downward trend of the season with a rally back above 40,000 on December 27, its highest mark since July 18. But that was under Venus square Uranus when the Nikkei usually reverses within four trading days.

In Europe, it was also erratic. After posting a new all-time high on December 13, the German DAX fell hard into a possible primary cycle low on December 20, just two trading days before Jupiter square Saturn. The Zurich SMI fell even harder on December 20, to its lowest level since May 3. The Netherlands AEX and London FTSE also exhibited new multi-week lows on December 20. Europe didn’t do so well headed into the Christmas Eve Jupiter/Saturn square.

In the Americas, Brazil’s Bovespa index got hammered on January 3, falling to its lowest level in over a year. But in the U.S., there were strong bullish triggers off lows that formed over the holidays. The S&P and DJIA both made possible primary cycle lows on December 20 (again, just two trading days before Jupiter square Saturn). But the NASDAQ diverged, making its possible primary cycle low on January 2. All three markets were sharply up on Friday, January 3. You have to love those intramarket bullish divergence signals when one of the markets in a region bottoms during a 3-star CRD (geocosmic critical reversal date) time band and a period when primary cycle lows are due, but the others hold declines in a double-bottom chart formation.

In other markets, Silver posted a new 3-month low on December 19 with a double bottom on December 31, while during the same period, Gold held well above its primary cycle trough of November 14, for a case of intermarket bullish divergence. We like to see Gold leading the way up in a new primary cycle after this type of signal from a geocosmic critical reversal zone. However, we now need to see Gold continue its rally above 2761 to confirm this is also a new 50-week cycle headed to new all-time highs.

Bitcoin and Ethereum also appear to be exhibiting new life as of Friday, following BTC’s 15% decline from its all-time high of 108,379 on December 12 to a major cycle low of 91,262 on December 30. Now, we will see if it can make a new all-time high, or just a secondary high in the next couple of weeks before falling to its primary cycle low, which is due at the end of this current major cycle phase. Crude Oil is also enjoying a good run, rising to a high of 74.35 on Friday, January 3, its highest level since October 14.

Short-term geocosmic

Our last column of two weeks ago stated, “In terms of market behavior, Jupiter/Saturn waxing squares have a very high correlation to primary cycles (troughs or crests), usually within one week.” Mark that as another hit and a positive sign for stock markets.

However, concerns are remaining on the geocosmic front. We are still in the retrograde chaos period where bullish and bearish technical signals can easily and quickly turn into fake-outs. This whipsaw period began November 25-December 15, first with Mercury turning retrograde. Next, this was followed by Mars going retrograde (December 7-February 23), and Venus doing its turnaround act from March 1 to April 12. And before Venus turns direct, Mercury the Trickster returns for an encore (retrograde cycle) from March 15 through April 7. It’s never easy and clear when personal planets are retrograde, and in this case, all three personal planets will be in retrograde motion, back-to-back, from November 25, 2024, through April 12. 2025. Think of this as two steps forward and then two steps back, over and over again, by one of your dance partners, but not in rhythm with you (or the masses). Hence, there is the potential for many fake-out bullish and/or bearish signals.

Our rules for these retrogrades remain the same: take profits quickly as a short-term trader. Don’t marry your position unless you enjoy chaos. Some people do. Position traders don’t, but aggressive, short-term traders might. It’s like we are all turning into Geminis (with Jupiter in Gemini square Saturn in Pisces still in the orb). It’s a mutable dilemma.

This week may be notable given that 1) Mars just formed an opposition to Pluto on January 3 (terrorism and brutal attacks taking human lives) and 2) Mars retrograding back into Cancer on January 6-April 17. The last passage of Mars in Cancer (September 4-November 4) was quite bullish for Gold. Now we see if it does the same when retrograde. On January 15, Mars in Cancer will be opposed by the Sun in Capricorn, just two days after the Full Moon. This could be a particularly dangerous time (terrorism), but it could also indicate unusually harsh weather conditions (cold) threatening safety to people in northern climates.

So what is one to do during this cosmic storm of retrograde personal planets? First of all, refrain from overtrading. Secondly, if you are familiar with options, consider writing calls on strong rallies against your underlying positions. Third, try not to be oversensitive and/or cynical and critical of others. Low-level emotional reactions will get you nowhere. It will only make you appear small-minded, creating unwanted reactions from others as they run from you rather than towards you. Mars is all about “me.” Mars in Cancer is all about “me being needy” of someone’s time and attention who doesn’t want to give it. If you want something, be independent and go for it. Don’t depend upon the unwilling to do it for you. Don’t drag your feet on required actions. If you do as a trader during this time, you will miss the opportunities presented, at least short-term. And if you are too late, you may be tempted to blame someone else for your missed opportunity. Be conscious not to do that. Be independent and alert, especially with the family and those you love.

And finally, Happy New Year! It should be an interesting and exciting one, especially after mid-April. Until then, learn to find the opportunity in chaos. Its there. It may have just erupted in many financial markets discussed in this week’s column. But the direction may be rocky. Knowing this, you can navigate accordingly.