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...

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...

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