Markets make high going into quadruple witching and astrologically important Winter Solstice, reports Susan Gidel.
The Jupiter trine Uranus oomph from last weekend pushed the S&P 500 to record highs on Dec.19, just in time to collide with quadruple witching on Dec. 20 and the potential trend-changing winter solstice on Dec. 21.
The transiting Sun connects with both Jupiter and Uranus near Christmas, adding a final booster shot of optimism before heavier energy hits in early January. The Sun is trine Uranus on Christmas Eve, then conjunct Jupiter on Friday, Dec. 27.
The two trading days after Christmas contain potential highs in gold and Euro FX and a potential low in soybeans. Note the holiday trading schedule below for early closes on Christmas Eve and re-opening times on Christmas Day evening or the day following.
Holiday Trading Hours
NYSE Christmas
Close at 1 p.m. on Dec. 24
Closed on Dec. 25
CME Group (Globex) Christmas
- Equities, Bitcoin, Interest rates, FX close at 1:15 pm on Dec. 24; open at 6 p.m. on Dec. 25
- Energies, Metals, Softs close at 1:45 pm on Dec. 24; open at 6 p.m. on Dec. 25
- Grains close at 1:05 pm on Dec. 24; open at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 26
- Livestock close at 1:15 p.m. on Dec. 24; open at 8:30 am on Dec. 26
- Dairy close at 1:00 pm on Dec. 24; open at 6 p.m. on Dec. 25
Thursday, Dec. 26
- High in Gold: The Moon, Sun and Jupiter are all highlighting the gold market’s first-trade Sun in conjunction. Indeed, the Moon is at exactly the same degree as the Sun. Meanwhile transiting Pluto matches the degree of the market’s first-trade Venus. Gold’s first-trade Sun, Mercury and Venus often are activated by conjunction at price highs, and the conjunctions to them get increasingly significant into mid-January. Look for resistance in February gold at $1,508 per oz., then $1,545 and $1,573-$1,580 — all levels found by converting gold’s first-trade horoscope planetary positions into price.
- Low in Soybeans: The Moon, Sun and Jupiter are together in Capricorn and making a 120-degree trine aspect to the position of both Mars and Uranus in the soybean market’s first-trade horoscope. This forms a Grand Trine, which eases the skids for action. Transiting Mars also is in play, making a trine to natal Pluto and conjunction to the market’s natal Ascendant. Trines to Mars are not at the top of the list for potential aspects to signify a market turn, but certainly three planets simultaneously making a Grand Trine connection to the soybean chart is something to keep an eye on. Planetary price conversion levels to watch in March beans for support include $9.38 per bu., $9.12 and $9.03.
Friday, Dec. 27
- High in Euro FX: Transiting Mars opposes its natal position in the Euro FX first-trade horoscope, one of the primary signatures at market highs; Mars also is opposite the first-trade Sun. Meanwhile a collection of five planets in Capricorn are at a 90-degree angle to the market’s first-trade Saturn and Mercury. Look for stiff resistance between 1.1360 and 1.1380, the planetary conversion levels for Mars and the Sun, respectively.
Last Week’s Scorecard (through Thursday’s close)
Pretty Darn Good
- High in Gold on Friday, Dec. 13: February gold peaked at $1,491.60 per oz. on Thursday but closed almost $20 lower. Friday’s trade saw gold rally and close $8.90 higher.
- High in Crude Oil on Monday, Dec. 16: February crude oil closed above $60 per barrel and continued to rally into mid-week, reaching a high of $61.40 on Thursday. It closed at $61.18 that day, just beyond the first planetary price conversion levels of $60.90-$61.00.
The position of planets in the sky as they relate to their positions when a market first began trading can provide clues to potential trend changes. The energy is strongest on the days noted in this post, but it is not unusual for the effect to be seen a day or two either side. See backgrounder “Market Analysis with Astrology” for further information.
Susan Gidel is editor of the Red Letter Trading Days newsletter.
