Japanese stock crashette; global markets wobble

(26 May 2013)  After a parabolic rally that started in early 2013, Japanese stocks fell back down to earth with a thud last week.   Weaker than expected industrial production data out of China was the proximate cause of the sell-off that shaved more than 7% off the Nikkei on Thursday.   Anxiety over a possible early exit from QE3 by the Fed did not help matters either as the Nikkei topped out at 16,000 early on Thursday before plunging over 1000 points in a few hours.  Friday's session was also volatile as it declined further to 14,000 before recovering by the close ending the week at 14,642. 

This mini-crash nudged many global markets out of their recent complacency as the Dow finally put in a losing week after four straight weeks of gains closing at 15,303.  In India, the Sensex fell 3% closing at 19,704.  I thought that markets would be generally bullish for the first half of the week as the Taurus influence would predominate.  This was actually largely the case as most markets rose into Wednesday.  As expected, the entry of malefic Mars into Taurus on Thursday was negative so much of the decline was clustered at the end of the week.

I have previously commented on the meteoric rally in the Japanese stock market.  In my weekly post for April 22, I noted that a correction would be upcoming fairly soon, perhaps starting in June once Jupiter left the friendly confines of Taurus and entered the sign of Gemini.  To be sure, last week's major decline was a little ahead of schedule since Jupiter is now in the last two degrees of Taurus. Not enough for an exact hit, but perhaps close enough to be called "interesting". 

From the transit chart for last Thursday, we can see a few telling patterns that may have strongly indicated an imminent decline in the market.  Although not yet in Gemini, Jupiter was nonetheless under the influence of malefic Ketu within just a four degree orb.   Ketu aspects are often associated with disruption of the status quo (the rally, in this case).  The position of the transiting nodes is also worth noting.  Transiting Ketu (22 Aries) is within four degrees of natal Mars and should be seen as broadly coincidental with difficulty and obstacles.  This conjunction will be in effect for several more weeks so it will be interesting to see how that unfolds.  We can also see that the nodal placement at 22 degrees of Aries/Libra does exactly align with natal Mercury at 22 Taurus.  This is not a standard full-strength Vedic (120 degree) aspect but it is an exact degreewise alignment nonetheless and may have played a role  in the sudden move last week.  The fact that transiting Mercury and Venus were both conjunct natal Mercury may have intensified the resonance of this Rahu/Ketu alignment with Mercury. 

More broadly, we can see that the Uranus-Pluto square aspect was central to this chart since Pluto was conjunct the Moon at 17 Sagittarius while Uranus was square this point.  This Uranus-Pluto square is the dominant feature in the sky at the moment.  While it is a slow moving aspect that will last several years due to retrogradation -- it will make its final exact aspect in 2015 -- it was nonetheless exact last week.  And Pluto was just a few arc minutes away from a precise conjunction with the natal Moon in the TSE horoscope.  Pluto is typically a more malefic influence, especially if it is involved with another planet in hard aspect (45/90/180) as is the case here with Uranus.

Tertiary progressions provide another dimension of explanation to last week's decline.  Progressions are a standard technique in Western astrology that are often useful for identifying larger time windows when events are more likely to occur.  The planetary positions in the tertiary progressed chart are usually slower than most transits.  The progressed chart for the mini-crash shows that there was an ominous conjunction of Mars and Pluto -- two very malefic planets.  Pluto barely moves at all when progressed, while Mars moves about one degree every two months of clock time.  This conjunction was quite close last week and will actually tighten over the coming weeks.  This doesn't necessarily mean that Japanese stocks will fall further, but it does increase the probability of more trouble ahead.  

We can also see that Mercury was in a close conjunction with Ketu.  This is another classic negative pairing.  Tertiary progressed Ketu only moves a few minutes a month, while Mercury usually travels about one degree for every month of clock time.   Like the Mars-Pluto conjunction, this one will also get closer in the coming weeks.  Again, it doesn't mean that more downside is certain since progressions work according to more approximate parameters.  But it should give bullish investors some pause since these troublesome planetary influences are probably not going to suddenly disappear.  

The prevailing market opinion is that the correction was to be expected given the huge rally since the beginning of the year.   Most observers do not expect the rally in Japanese stocks to end any time soon.   Some analysts are saying that more "volatility" is possible in the near future.  Volatility is a euphemism for declines, of course, and I would tend to agree with that view in the near term.  In other words, I don't think this correction is done.  It will be interesting to see what happens after Jupiter enters Gemini on the 30th and comes under continued influence by natal Ketu in early June.

This week offers up not one but two conjunctions involving bullish Jupiter.  And both conjunctions involve bullish planets -- Mercury and Venus.  Moreover, all three planets are slated to change signs as they all leave Taurus and enter Gemini during the week.  All in all, these are some pretty positive factors that argues fairly strongly for gains this week.  That said, it is worth noting that these bullish conjunctions can sometimes mark sudden shifts in sentiment as soon as they become exact, as when a balloon bursts.  The entry of Jupiter into Gemini on Thursday also looks particularly favourable for most asset classes.  But one will have to pay close attention to the immediate aftermath of these sign changes and culminated aspects.  The ongoing tight Uranus-Pluto square aspect is an additional source of potential difficulty in the days and weeks to come.  This aspect formed an exact aspect on May 21st, just a day or two before the Bernanke-led global pullback and Japanese mini-crash.

Gold slumps on rising Dollar: the astrology behind last week's decline

Gold came under increased selling pressure last week on renewed strength in the US Dollar and more signs of slowing inflation.   Friday saw gold fall sharply and at one point it was down 4% and trading at $1420 before partially recovering to $1450 by the end of day.   In recent weeks gold has rebounded somewhat from its April plunge low of $1320 but Friday's sell-off may have marked a return to bearish sentiment in precious metals. 

Astrology promises a unique understanding of price fluctuations of financial assets.  While consistent and infallible predictions are not yet possible with any method or technique, there are nonetheless some situations in which correct predictions are more likely.  The trick is to be able to note ahead of time when such high probability predictive scenarios are at hand in order to differentiate them from the random noise of many common, unremarkable and ultimately unknowable planetary alignments.   Friday's gold decline was one such high probability predictive scenario.

In the first instance, it is usually helpful to look at the transit picture at any given time.   Transits are a snapshot of planetary positions and are the baseline from which forecasts can be made.  As I noted last week, there was a somewhat greater chance of volatility in stocks and most asset classes on Friday due to the solar eclipse.  This was perhaps more likely to pertain to gold specifically because gold is traditionally symbolized by the Sun, along with Venus and Jupiter.  Since this was a solar eclipse, the Sun was being eclipsed by the Moon and therefore is was arguably weaker according to traditional astrological notions of planetary weakness. 

 
In addition, we can see that the Sun suffered from a second weakness.  The Sun was in the sign of sidereal Aries at the time, which is said to be ruled by the planet Mars.  But Mars was closely conjunct malefic Ketu (the South Lunar Node) and thus was unable to convey its positive energy to the Sun by normal means.  If Mars had been conjunct a benefic planet like Venus or Jupiter, then that positive energy would have been more available to flow back to the Sun.  This would have been a less damaging situation for the Sun and hence gold might not have declined and indeed it might have even risen. 

But transits offer only one dimension of the multi-dimensional planetary reality.  The other dimension involves relevant natal charts which reflect something of gold's inherent nature.  As I have discussed previously in this space, the horoscope of the moment of the first public set price for gold is a useful chart that can describe and predict price moves.  This first price fix happened in London in September 1919 and continues to be relevant today.  A quick look at this chart shows why gold was more likely to suffer late last week.  At that time, transiting Mars (20 Aries) formed an near-exact square aspect to natal Mars (20 Cancer).  This is one of a fairly short list of high probability aspects that are correlated with losses and declines in financial astrology.  Mars is considered a negative planetary energy and when it forms a hard aspect (45/90/180 degrees) with another planet but especially another malefic (like itself), then a decline becomes more likely.  Of course other factors have to be integrated into the total picture, but since there were no other close or powerful planetary aspects in force at the same time, the Mars-to-Mars aspect appeared to carry the day. 





  But is gold likely to decline further in the wake of this latest weakness?  While the longer term outlook for gold still looks difficult to me, there is a reasonable case to be made for gold rebounding a bit further once the Sun enters sidereal Taurus on May 15.  Instead of transiting through a sign ruled by malefic Mars, the Sun will be in a sign ruled by Venus.  This is usually a more friendly set-up for gold.  As an added plus, Venus is quite strong here since it is also in Taurus now with benefic Jupiter.  All of these planets clustered together in Taurus ought to provide some support for gold and could well help it recover further.  But that is only one layer of the planetary matrix.  According to the gold 1919 chart, Saturn continues to back into the Ascendant.  As a malefic influence, Saturn will tend to depress sentiment on gold for the next couple of months at least.  Just how these two opposing influences reconcile is somewhat uncertain.  I would tend to think that the bullish Taurus effect ought to play out a bit before Saturn has a chance to dampen the enthusiasm.

Stocks generally rose last week as the Jupiter influence on the eclipse and other short term aspects kept the broad optimism about central bank bond buying in place.  As expected, stocks rose into the eclipse and then suffered some volatility right around the eclipse on Thursday or Friday.  This week could see more gains as the Sun's entry into Taurus looks bullish (pun intended).  That said, there are a couple of risk factors here that are worthy of mention, both of which involve Mars.  Monday could see some fallout from the Mars-Ketu conjunction.  I tend to think it won't be significant, however.  More problematic is the late week conjunction of Mars with the eclipse point at 25 Aries.  This has the potential for a sudden and large decline, especially on Friday when the Moon is aligned with Mars.   

Stocks fall after US jobs report; Saturn aspects Uranus

(7 April 2013)  Stocks moved lower last week on more signs that the global economy is slowing.  Friday's US jobs report seemed to aptly reflect this down trend as only 88,000 new jobs were created in March.  While the unemployment rate also fell to 7.6%, it happened for the wrong reasons as more workers gave up looking for work.   Labor force participation fell to a 34-year low.   US stocks lost about 1% while Indian stocks slumped 2%.  Gold and oil also followed the general trend lower.   This bearish outcome was in keeping with expectations as I thought last week's Mars-Rahu and Mars-Venus aspects would likely correlate with some negativity.  Perhaps not surprisingly, we did get some early week gains on Monday's Sun-Jupiter aspect.  But stocks mostly declined after that, as Wednesday's Mars-Rahu aspect coincided closely with across the board declines in most global markets.

While these short term aspects are very important in determining the ups and downs on a daily and weekly basis, the overall trend of the market is often more correlated with the movements of slower moving planets.  It is therefore the movements of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto (as well as Chiron and Sedna) which arguably are more important in understanding market direction.  Of course, I would readily admit that there are huge gaps in our knowledge of financial astrology.  Precious little of it has been properly validated by statistical analysis, although this perhaps has more to do with the lack of data. While we can attempt to see the effects of Saturn-Pluto aspects from studying the market effects of previous aspects, each iteration of the Saturn-Pluto aspect is in some sense unique since Saturn may not have aspected Pluto in this exact spot in the sky .  Also, the simultaneous position of the other planets are more or less unique and therefore there are innumerable secondary influences that simply cannot be accounted for at all times.  This data uniqueness is one reason why financial astrology must still rely heavily on interpretation and therefore must retain a healthy respect for the margin of error.  

As I noted last week, there is a relative dearth of Jupiter aspects in the next month that would seem to increase the probability of a declining market.  In addition, we can see that Saturn will form aspects with several planets.  Saturn turned retrograde in February while in aspect with Pluto and this was one possible correlate for the downturn in emerging markets such as India.   Saturn is now in aspect with Uranus and will continue to move backwards in the sky until it stations in July in a near-exact aspect with Neptune.   While there are always going to be exceptions to the rule, it is useful to think about these Saturn aspects with distant planets as potential negatives for collective sentiment and hence more likely to correlate with market declines. The presence of these Saturn aspects and the relative absence of any major Jupiter aspects offers some evidence against the notion that Ben Bernanke's bubble will keep pushing stocks higher in the near term. 

This week looks like a real mixture of short term aspects.  For this reason, I would be fairly agnostic about calling the market direction.  There is a close conjunction of Venus, Mars and the Sun in the last degrees of sidereal Pisces early in the week.  Given the presence of the Moon amidst this cluster, there is some more reason to expect optimism to prevail.  Wednesday's Moon-Venus conjunction is also quite bullish on paper and even occurs just as Venus enters Aries, typically another favorable indication.  However, we should note that Saturn will form minor aspects to Mercury and Venus around the same time, so we cannot get too comfortable with our expectation of gains.  It could all easily come apart at any time.  The late week period looks somewhat more negative as Mars enters Aries.

Transits for Mumbai Wednesday 10 April 2013

Cyprus bailout calms markets

(31 March 2013)  Stocks moved higher yet again last week as an 11th-hour bailout deal was struck and thereby avoided the worse case scenario from occurring in Cyprus.  Under the terms of the deal, large depositors with savings over $128,000 will lose 60% of their money to a special tax designed to rebuild the crippled Cypriot bank sector.  Using arbitrary and confiscatory taxes on depositors seems like strange way to rebuild confidence in ailing banks.  In any event, US stocks inched higher as the Dow finished the week at 14,578 and the S&P 500 set an all-time record close at 1569.  Indian stocks were also modestly bullish as the Sensex gained 100 points closing at 18,835.   The week unfolded more or less as we expected.  I thought the triple conjunction of the Sun, Venus and Uranus on Thursday and Friday would likely push up prices in the second half of the week and that is what happened.  I also noted the presence of a potentially troublesome Mars-Saturn aspect on Monday which could coincide with declines.  This also proved to be the case on most global markets.

So what next for the markets?  With US stocks making new all-time highs, many observers are wondering if it is a good time to take profits as some kind of pullback or consolidation is more likely.  To be sure, the "double top" pattern is one that is often correlated with significant declines.  This is precisely what happened in Indian markets in November 2010 after the previous 2008 high of 21,000 on the Sensex was matched.   Once the old high was reached, stocks sold off sharply in 2011 and have yet to regain their previous levels.

The current planetary picture would tend to support the notion that stocks are risky at these levels.  After making a series of key aspects in the past three months, Jupiter is finally moving away from its exact angle with Pluto.  This is the last (for a while) in a series of aspects that began with the Jupiter-Uranus aspect in January.   Financial astrology asserts that Jupiter is a bullish influence and that its aspects are often correlated with a rising market.  With Jupiter now apparently weakening as it separates from its Pluto aspect, the risk of some kind of decline would seem to be rising in the weeks ahead.  Jupiter will again form significant aspects with other slow moving planets (i.e. Saturn to Pluto) in June but between now and then, the bullish energy will have to come from some other planetary source.  This is still possible since close aspects between other outer planets (e.g. Pluto and Chiron) can be bullish but they may be less reliably positive for the markets. 

This week may be dominated by the planet Mars.  Mars forms an aspect with Rahu, the north lunar node, on Wednesday and then aspects Mercury and conjoins Venus on Friday and Saturday.  Mars is considered a malefic planet by nature that can sometimes coincide with frustrating and anxious situations.  In financial terms, its aspects tend to correspond with declines although we should note that numerous exceptions abound.  Monday's Sun-Jupiter aspect could be bullish but the unchecked and volatile energy of Mars may be something we have to watch out for the much of the week.

Transits for Mumbai Wednesday, 3 April 2013 9.00 a.m.

Bank crisis in Cyprus puts markets on edge

(24 March 2013)  Stocks showed more signs of weakening last week as the banking crisis in the tiny island nation of Cyprus emerged as the latest threat to the Eurozone.   US stocks slipped early in the week but largely recovered by Friday as the Dow closed unchanged at 14,512.  Indian markets had a tougher time as the RBI announcement of a cautious 25 point rate cut disappointed investors.  The Sensex fell more than 3% closing at 18,735. 

This outcome was in keeping with expectations as we noted the likely bearish influence of the early week Mercury-Mars aspect.   The late week rebound after Wednesday's reassurances from Ben Bernanke for more easy money was also in keeping with expectations as Friday's Mars-Uranus conjunction coincided with enthusiastic buying.  The ongoing slump in Mumbai throughout the week was somewhat more attributable to specific alignments within the BSE horoscope.

The latest EU banking crisis in Cyprus has financial markets on edge all over the world.  If an acceptable bailout package is not found, it could destabilize European banks as depositors may decide to withdraw their money rather than be hit with a tax as happened suddenly in Cyprus.  Even if the current bailout plan is implemented, it is unclear what will happen in the days and weeks to come.  If Cypriots begin to withdraw savings from the banks out of a fear of more deposit taxes or simply out of spite, it could spark another round of uncertainty in financial markets.

The latest crisis in the ongoing EU drama is plausibly reflected by the position of the planets with respect to the Euro horoscope, dated 1 January 1999 at midnight.  For several months, I have been warning about the possibility of significant trouble in Europe in early 2013 due to the simultaneous aspects from transiting Pluto and Saturn to the natal Sun in the Euro chart.  Pluto has been conjunct the Sun for many months now while Saturn is currently forming a close sextile/3rd house aspect to the Sun.  The combined energies of these two malefic planets have again undermined confidence (Sun) in the Euro and have resurrected long-simmering questions about the viability of the Eurozone. 

Based on my reading of the key astrological influences, I think the crisis in the Eurozone will get much worse between now and 2016.   The most intense period of the crisis will probably be in 2015 and 2016 and will probably involve a fundamental recasting of the whole Eurozone.  A break-up is possible with weaker members removed and one cannot rule even out complete dissolution.  More immediately, we can see how the natal Mars in the Euro will be activated by transiting Mars, Venus and Sun in early April.  These are a series of tense-looking transits and is likely to coincide with more difficulties which could again cause some tremors in financial markets. 

This week the planets actually looks somewhat positive.  Thursday's Sun-Venus-Uranus conjunction is quite a bullish trio, and given the close alignment of Mercury, Jupiter and Pluto, there is good reason to expect some upside this week.  The early week is perhaps more of a question mark given the aspect from Mars to Saturn on Monday.

Transits for Thursday 28 March 2013 9.00 a.m. Mumbai, India

 

US stocks climb to new record high: is this a bubble?

(17 March 2013)  As the Dow continues to set new all-time highs, one may well ask if we are in the middle of a financial bubble.  Financial markets continue to look quite robust here as the Fed's QE3 program into virtual perpetuity has seemingly removed all risk from the stock market.  With no quick end in sight to QE3, investors are only too happy to follow on Ben's lead and pile into stocks.  Much of the post-2009 stock market rally is rooted in central bank programs to free up liquidity and encourage investment in risky assets such as stocks.  This has deliberately punished savers and rewarded debtors by pushing down interest rates close to zero.  After all, who wants to buy a government savings bond if the interest rate is only 1 or 2%? 

We hear more critical voices questioning the long term wisdom of the Fed's zero-interest rate policy as fears of a new bubble are growing.   While skeptics abound, it seems now that Ben Bernanke will not permit the stock market to fall as it is too closely tied to the economic well-being of the US economy.    If the Fed continues QE3 and maintains low interest rates into the foreseeable future, then should we all just dump all our money into the stock market and forget about it?   Most people would agree that rule #1 of investing in the stock market is:  don't fight the Fed.  If they are lowering interest rates and keeping them low, then it makes sense to have money in stocks.   But markets are becoming very sensitive to possible changes in Bernanke's commitment to QE3 and ZIRP.   If unemployment should keep falling, then that would hasten the Fed's exit from the market since it has a target rate of 6.5%.   With Bernanke scheduled to make his latest pitch for the bubble economy this Wednesday (March 20), investors will be sensitive to any hint at all that the bond buying program may be winding down. 

But there is another potential warning bell that deserves our attention.   That is the rate at which investors are willing to buy US Treasuries, irrespective of Bernanke's machinations and manipulations.  Although the bond market has been distorted by the Fed's regular purchases, investors are still buying bonds at rates that broadly reflect the current level of risk and reward.  As long as these rates remain low, then Bernanke and his central banker friends are free to do whatever they want to keep the bubble inflated.  But as soon as rates start to rise, he will have a problem.  The massive debt levels in the US and Europe are only manageable as long as rates stay abnormally low.  The 10-year Treasury currently yields just 2% -- still very close to its historic low of 1.45%.   If these yields should start to rise towards 3%, then it may well be panic stations at the Fed, the ECB and indeed most central banks around the world.   It will be a sign that investors are getting nervous about the world's huge amount of debt and the inability of most nations to pay any of it back. 

US stocks rose for the fourth straight week last week as investors focused on more signs of a growing economy against a backdrop of Fed largesse.  The Dow gained about 1% closing at 14,514.   Indian stocks retreated, however, as inflation data came in a little on the high side thus weakening the case somewhat for a significant rate cut from the RBI this week.  The Sensex lost more 1% closing at 19,427.   I had taken a wait-and-see approach last week given the absence of any major short term aspects.  It is worth noting, however, that Monday was generally bullish worldwide on the Moon-Venus conjunction just as one would expect given the fact that both are benefic planets.  Tuesday was also more bearish as the Moon aligned with bearish Mars and Uranus.  I had also suggested that Friday leaned bearish given the opposition angle between the Moon and pessimistic Saturn.  This correlated nicely with the markets as we saw a small decline on Wall St. that day and a somewhat larger pullback in Mumbai.

The current rally in stocks may well continue until the end of March as Jupiter is set to make its exact aspect Pluto on March 29.  This will be the last exact Jupiter aspect for a while.  Without Jupiter in the mix, the market is more likely to experience problems since it is the bullish planet par excellence.  This is not to say that the market will be set to fall on March 30 but it is important to note that this positive influence will soon begin to recede. 

This week looks like a mixed bag as the early week looks dominated by a Mercury-Mars aspect in the early part of the week.  Since Mercury is barely moving after the conclusion of its retrograde cycle, this aspect has that much more punch and ability to inflict damage on sentiment.  This aspect is close to exact on Tuesday, the same day that the RBI makes its interest rate announcement.  By itself, I would say that the presence of this aspect does not make a significant rate cut (e.g. 50 points) more likely.  If anything, the mood may well be more cautious and anxious.   Bernanke is slated to speak on Wednesday after this aspect has begun to separate, so perhaps his remarks will fare somewhat better in terms of market reaction.  Friday's Mars-Uranus conjunction looks quite potent although the rest of the planets seem fairly positive.  I would therefore be reluctant to predict any significant disappointment after Wednesday's Fed meeting.  If anything, the market may well continue its upward march.

Transits for Tuesday 19 March 2013  9.00 a.m. Mumbai

Berlusconi gains influence amidst uncertain Italian election

(3 March 2013)  Financial markets took a hit last week as Monday's Italian election did not produce a clear winner.  Even worse was the fact that anti-austerity parties including the one led by disgraced former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi vowed not to co-operate with the party headed by pro-EU candidate Pier Luigi Bersani.  It may take days or even weeks before a working coalition is formed.  If no coalition can be cobbled together, we can look forward to another election in short order and yet more political uncertainty.  Most global markets fell sharply early in the week as investors contemplated the real possibility that Italy may sink back into its economic morass and thereby drag down the rest of Europe with it.  US markets recovered by week's end, however, as the Dow closed modestly higher at 14,089.   It was a different story in Mumbai, however, as investors gave Thursday's budget a lukewarm response as no new growth policies were announced.  The Sensex lost 2% on the week closing at 18,918. 

The week unfolded largely as expected as I noted how the early week alignment of Mercury, Mars and Rahu (North Lunar Node) looked troublesome and increased the likelihood of some kind of fallout over Italy's election.  This proved to be correct.  The recovery later in the week also roughly corresponded with the bullish Venus-Neptune conjunction.  While this was not the case in India due to local peculiarities of the budget, it is worth noting that stocks were higher on Thursday up to 11 a.m. before the budget was released.

The Berlusconi Effect on the markets is a fascinating one.  Given his track record of scandal and financial incompetence, his new-found political strength may well be toxic for markets.  The closer he gets to power, the more frightened the investment community becomes.  Berlusconi rejects the austerity program implemented by outgoing PM Mario Monti He also wants to do away with various new tax measures that seek to increase government revenue.  This has proven enormously popular as it appeals to the public's desire to avoid economic pain, no matter how short-sighted or irrational it may be.  Berlusconi is a politician, after all, and not a banker.   His job is to get elected and this is usually accomplished by telling people what they want to hear, not what may be in the best interests of the country. 

Given his revival, it is perhaps not surprising that Berlusconi's horoscope shows considerable strength at the moment.   Focusing only on the simplest and more compelling influences, we can see that Jupiter and Uranus are in close aspect to his Sun-Mercury conjunction in the 1st house.  This has boosted his public profile enormously in the past several months.  We can see that Jupiter and Uranus are both moving very slowly here and hence their positive influence is protracted.  Jupiter stationed at 12 Taurus at the end of January in a very tight aspect to his Sun (12 Virgo).  This is a classic combination for success, achievement, and recognition.  Although we are more than one month after that direct station, Jupiter has only moved two degrees and remains very close to this Sun.  Even as it separates from the Sun, it delivers more strength to Berlusconi via its aspect to his natal Mercury at 16 Virgo.  Bunga-bunga, indeed.   The dashas are also favourable to him as Venus-Mercury began in late 2012.  Both planets are natural benefics and both look to be quite well positioned in his natal chart as both are in their respective home signs.  For all these good influences, though, Berlusconi didn't win the election and seems unlikely to become the next Prime Minister according to most commentators. 

I do not have a strong enough sense of his planets to make a clear prediction either way.  I would say, however, that the planets do favour him for much of the month of March.  Just how far he can go with these influences is another question.  It certainly wouldn't surprise me if he was named PM once again.  The Jupiter-Uranus combination is one of the most potent ones a person can have in their chart.  But I would tend to think that he won't make it all the way to PM.  But it may be that the benefit that Berlusconi receives from this aspect is an ability to maneuver behind the scenes to arrange key cabinet members that better reflect his interests.  The puppeteer returns to power behind the scenes.  The short term aspects this week appear to favour him even more.  We can see that the Moon, the 11th lord of gains, will be conjoined by the Sun, Venus and Mercury at various times.  These are all positive influences that load the dice in his favour.  Things are likely to go his way this week and perhaps into next.  Perhaps his party will emerge the winner in the Senate, or the coalition will have significant representation from his party.  One potential trouble spot is Rahu's close aspect with natal Saturn.  Saturn is strong in the 6th house, so this may simply reflect the shadowy or surprising (Rahu) competitors and enemies he has to contend with at the present moment.   It may also weaken his health somewhat since Saturn rules the 6th house (Aquarius).  

So Berlusconi is likely to be a winner in some way from these elections as Jupiter will aspect Mercury in the coming weeks.   However, if we look further down the road, we can see that transiting Saturn will eventually station at 10 Libra in July.  This will be just three degrees away from his Venus and just one degree from Venus' node.  This is a difficult influence that suggest troubles involving women, which is perhaps not surprising given his history of public womanizing.  But Pluto and Uranus will also be forming hard aspects to his Mercury (16 Virgo) around the same time.  This is probably not good either, especially since Mercury rules the 1st house.   His progressed chart is also very afflicted (not shown) so it seems that Berlusconi will suffer a major setback in the summer.  If there happens to be another election at that time, he is almost certainly going to do poorly.   He may also have more health concerns on these transits, given his relatively advanced age.

The planets this week again offer more possibilities for declines, albeit mixed in with some good aspects.   Monday's Venus-Jupiter aspect could coincide with some upside but by Tuesday, Mars will enter sidereal Pisces and thereby join Uranus.  This is not a stable pairing of energies.  Mars-Uranus aspects can produce sudden or shocking events, and for this reason they are associated with market crashes.  The conjunction is quite wide here so I tend to think we aren't in crash territory and likely won't be.  But it is a burden on the early week.  The midweek could go either way as Mercury conjoins Venus on Wednesday and into Thursday.  This is normally a bullish combination but this time they form an alignment with Saturn and Pluto.  Any alignment with Saturn increases the possibility of declines.  It is by no means a sure thing -- few aspects are in financial astrology -- but it opens the door to more declines.  It will be interesting to see if those midweek aspects that look good for Berlusconi end up being negative for the markets thus reaffirming his profile as a contrarian indicator.

Transits for Wednesday 6 March 2013 9.00 a.m. Mumbai