Looking past the April 20 conjunction

(12 April 2026)  Stocks ended the week sharply higher on hopes that the two-week ceasefire and  reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could lead to a permanent end to the Iranian conflict.  Amid the optimism and de-escalation, oil prices fell back below $100 a barrel signaling a fundamental shift in market sentiment. As noted in my Thursday post, much of this rebound since the March 30 low closely coincides with the Mercury-Jupiter alignment.  This 240-degree trine aspect was exact on April 3.  Based on our backtest, we found that market outcomes were likely to be positive from 6-8 days before (March 26) the alignment and continuing until 6-8 days after (April 11) We are now entering the less-positive period as that...

Stocks rebound on Iran ceasefire ahead of quadruple conjunction

(9 April 2026) Stocks stayed in rally mode on Thursday with a strong follow-through after Wednesday's ceasefire surge.  The scale of recent gains since...

More market volatility likely with fifth Mercury-Mars conjunction

(5 April 2026)  Stocks rebounded last week on hopes that a ceasefire in Iran would lead to an eventual re-opening of the Strait of...

Will stocks bounce on the Mercury-Jupiter trine?

(29 March 2026) Another week, another failed rebound.  Stocks fell for the fifth straight week as hopes evaporated for a quick resolution to the...

Triple conjunction fallout: will the Mercury station start a reversal?

(22 March 2026)  Stocks fell for the fourth straight week last week as the conflict in the Middle East showed no signs of abating. ...

Waiting for a rebound: Mercury retrograde ends March 20

(15 March 2026) Stocks fell for a third straight week last week as rising oil prices from the war with Iran reignited inflation fears. ...

Combining alignment effects: assessing bullish and bearish influences

(8 March 2026) Stocks fell across the board last week as investors reacted to the US-Israel attack on Iran.  Oil prices spiked as Iran...

Markets sink on Iran war, Mercury Rx conjunctions

(4 March 2026)  US stocks are down are so far this week as investors weigh the geopolitical fallout of the US-Israeli attack on Iran. ...

Stocks fall after Mercury turns retrograde; Iran attack unsettles markets

(1 March 2026)  US stocks finished modestly lower last week on higher-than-expected wholesale inflation data and renewed worries over the negative economic impact of...

Stocks vulnerable before Saturn-Pluto alignment

(25 February 2026)  So far this week US stocks have been choppy with a slight bearish bias as most indexes have moved lower. This...

Feb 28: Mercury retrograde conjunct Venus

(22 February 2026)  US stocks ended the week higher as markets rallied after Friday's Supreme Court decision struck down Trump's tariff policy. Even with...

This week’s hidden Jupiter-Saturn aspect

(18 February 2026)  Synopsis: Thursday's "hidden" Jupiter-Saturn alignment introduces some downside risk to the market over the next week or two. Evidence from previous...

After its ingress, Saturn conjoins Neptune

(15 February 2026) Stocks generally moved lower last week on growing fears that AI disruption could undermine profitability in several economic sectors.  While technology...

Volatile markets ahead of Saturn ingress

(8 February 2026)  After a very volatile week, US stocks rebounded strongly on Friday although the indexes ended mixed.  The tech-heavy NASDAQ was still...

Stocks dip ahead of the Saturn ingress into Aries

(1 February 2026)  Stocks were mostly lower last week amid market turbulence following the sudden crash of gold and silver prices.  While the blue...

The FOMC meeting and the Mars-Pluto conjunction

(25 January 2026) US stocks ended the week slightly lower as Greenland-related tariff fears briefly shook market confidence.  President Trump calmed the early week...

Bulls run the January gauntlet of Saturn’s sextiles

(18 January 2026) Stocks ended the week slightly lower as investors pondered the future of the Fed's independence after Trump's latest comments about Fed...

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