Gold extends losses on higher than expected US inflation

(15 February 2023)  Gold has extended its decline this week after Tuesday’s CPI print came in higher than expected.  While still lower than the previous month, the stubbornly high 6.4% annual rate of inflation rate has reminded investors that the Fed will likely to have to keep rates ‘higher for longer’.  Higher interest rates are generally anathema to gold since elevated yields tend to be more attractive to investors who receive no such compensation for holding bullion.  Gold finished Wednesday’s session at $1845, well below its February 2 high of $1975.

The pullback in gold is not unexpected once we take into account the relevant planetary alignments.  First, we should note that this week’s Sun-Saturn conjunction at 3 Aquarius is typically bearish as Saturn’s constraining nature tends to block the Sun’s promise of traditional wealth and prosperity.  Since the Sun is one of the key planetary significators for gold, it is not surprising that this affliction by Saturn should coincide with a significant decline in the price of bullion.

If we look at the 1919 horoscope for gold, we can also see another culprit for the current consolidation.  Ketu (South Lunar Node) is exactly transiting over the Ascendant at 12 degrees of sidereal Libra.  In financial astrology, Ketu-Ascendant configurations tend to be bearish since Ketu is associated with anti-materialistic and spiritual qualities which are inimical to the world of mundane economic gains.  And the square alignment of Mercury (11 Capricorn) to the Ascendant-Ketu conjunction likely added to the negative price action for gold this week.

 

Moreover, the gold chart suffers further affliction since transiting Rahu (12 Aries) exactly aspects the Mercury-Saturn conjunction in the natal chart at 11-12 degrees of sidereal Leo.  While Rahu is usually less malefic than Ketu in financial matters, its influence here on Mercury and Saturn is unhelpful since it combines poorly with both of these planets.  By contrast, Rahu-Venus or Rahu-Jupiter aspects can often be bullish.

While the slow-moving Ketu and Rahu afflictions could well depress gold prices for a while longer, it is quite possible we could see gold enjoy a  bounce in coming days as the Sun begins to move out of range of its conjunction with Saturn.  For the record, the exact Sun-Saturn conjunction occurs tomorrow, February 16, at 11.48 a.m. EST.  This conjunction may be seen as a moment of theoretical maximum bearishness for gold in the short term.  Of course, other concurrent influences from the likes of Ketu and Rahu will adhere to their own timetable.

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