Saturn-Uranus oppostion on Tuesday

Transits for Monday, April 26, 2010 9.30 a.m. New York

Stocks drifted higher last week as positive earnings reports gave hope that the economic recovery would continue. In New York, the Dow closed at its highest level for the year at 11,204 while the S&P finished at 1217. In Mumbai, gains were more modest as the Sensex ended Friday below its 2010 highs at 17,694 with the Nifty closing at 5304. Gold futures also rebounded last week closing at $1157. Last week, I had cautioned about Monday's alignment of the Sun, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune and this did in fact correlate with a decline of 1% in Asia and Europe. However, once the fast moving Sun had passed its exact aspect with Saturn early on Monday morning (EDT), the tense bearish influence diminished and US markets ended higher. The entry of Venus into sidereal Taurus (the bull!) on Tuesday also appeared to correspond with a boost in prices as Asian markets generally reversed higher while US markets continued their winning ways into Friday. Interestingly, the approach of Friday's aspect between Venus and Saturn saw prices rally even further. While this was somewhat counterintuitive, it nonetheless offered evidence that Venus was now in a stronger position to engage with the troublesome energy of Saturn.

The highlight this week is the exact opposition aspect between Saturn (4 Virgo) and Uranus (4 Pisces) on Tuesday. Saturn symbolizes control, discipline, caution and fear and its energy often does not blend well with the more libertarian and rebellious urges of Uranus. In some instances, this aspect can underline internal structural conflicts in the world such as what we are now seeing with Goldman Sachs. Regulatory agencies such as the SEC assume a Saturnian role of enforcer that seek to limit the freedom of Goldman Sachs who are represented by Uranus. With Neptune (4 Aquarius) also forming an important leg in this alignment, there will also be some element of deception and illusion. The fraud charges against Goldman Sachs are emblematic of this Neptunian energy and suggests that the role of deception will be an ongoing theme in any future reordering of the financial industry. With Jupiter soon to conjoin Uranus in June, we could see legal and judicial issues to play a larger role in the weeks to come.

As if to punctuate the the importance of the Saturn-Uranus opposition, a powerful Full Moon occurs on Wednesday in Aries. This pattern is made more noteworthy due to the close conjunct of the Sun with retrograde Mercury. This is often a bullish pattern for increasing risk appetite such as stocks and commodities, although it is likely to be short lived. Ahead of the Full Moon, Mercury will form a difficult square aspect with Mars early on Monday morning (IST) that could cast a pallor over the market. At the other end of the spectrum, there is a nominally positive mix of planets late on Friday between the Moon, Mercury, and Venus.

Given the continuing strength of stocks, we should pay close attention to the possibility that the exact Saturn-Uranus opposition this week will form an interim peak in prices.