Next week’s major markets high and lows based on Susan Gidel’s astrological forecasts.

Late Wednesday, July 31 marks a line in the sand between old and new for two reasons. First, the New Moon, exact at 11:12 pm, is always considered prime time to begin anew. In the sign of Leo, it says to make big, bold plans. Minutes later, at 11:58 pm (EDT), Mercury turns direct in motion, ending its three-week retrograde drag.

Mercury rules communications, trading and stock indexes, so there should be a fresh lightness beginning on Thursday, Aug. 1. Indeed, based on planetary transits, both the S&P 500 and crude oil could be setting lows.

On Monday, the Sun is at a 90-degree angle to Uranus, so don’t be surprised if leaders of any sort take unusual action or make unusual statements. On Friday, money planet Venus is square Uranus, which can spell unexpected money—either up or down! 

Wednesday, July 31

  • Low in S&P 500: The New Moon in Leo marks a potential low in U.S. stocks because the Sun, Moon and Venus are all aligned with the position of Uranus in the launch-day horoscope of the S&P 500. Conjunctions to Uranus are one of the featured connections at market lows. In addition, transiting Mars is trine the S&P 500’s natal Moon, another signature at market lows. Look for support at the planetary price conversion level of 2944, then 2911-2914.

Thursday, August 1

  • Low in Crude Oil: Planetary positions today could be a toss-up between a high or low. But, I favor a low because the transiting Sun and Venus are in a 120-degree trine to the first-trade Sun’s position, which is slightly more prevalent at lows. Mars trines to Mercury and Mars appear at highs, but the connection is wide, so the effect weaker. Planetary price conversion support in the nearby September contract is at $56.80 per barrel, then a big drop to $50.80. Resistance remains at $57.20, then $60.90.

Last Week’s Scorecard (through Thursday’s close)

Bullseye!

  • High in Crude Oil on July 22-24: The Moon/Mars connection on Wednesday, July 24 was indeed, the most important day of the three. As I wrote last week: “My pick for strongest setup is Wednesday, July 24 because the transiting Moon will be aligned with the first-trade Mars, emphasizing an emotionally inspired action-packed day.” Indeed, September crude oil traded in an outside day on big volume of 745,248, with a high of $57.64 per barrel and close of $55.88, thus showing resistance at the planetary price conversion of $57.20.  

Pretty Darn Good

  • High in Gold on Tuesday, July 23: August gold did not set a high, but it was the second widest trading range of the week, spanning $1,431-$1,414 per oz. Prices are definitely showing planetary price resistance of $1,423 to be a battleground, with August closes within $5 of that mark daily from July 17-24. However, August futures closed at $1,411 on July 15; the next lower planetary price support is $1401.

Off the Mark

  • Low in 10-yr. T-note on Monday, July 22: Meh. Neither high nor low, just part of a sideways trade.

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.