It was also a good week for Gold and Silver

REVIEW AND PREVIEW

“Free speech is the only effectual guardian of every other right,” James Madison, USA fourth president, as quoted by Daniel Henninger, “The Free-Speech Wars,” Wall Street Journal, October 12, 2017.

When the dollar was linked to gold during the 1950’s and ’60-‘s – the central tenet of a rules-based international monetary system – middle class income gains were dramatic. The 2015 Economic Report of the President refers to that era of stable exchange rates as an “Age of Shared Growth,” with rising labor productivity and falling income inequality… Given that central banks today are the world’s biggest currency manipulators, it’s imperative that the next (Fed) chairman prioritize the integrity of the dollar. Otherwise, it’s just birds of a feather. – Judy Shelton (economist), “Woodpeckers for Sound Money,” Wall Street Journal, October 12, 2017.

It is now clear that the third and final passage of the Jupiter/Uranus opposition on September 27, +/- 12 trading days, corresponded to an upside breakout in many world equity markets, and not a reversal (as was the case in other financial and commodity markets). Thus, many stock market indices soared to new multi-year or all-time highs last week, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average, NASDAQ, and S&P indices in the USA.

It may have been Friday the 13th, but stock markets were not spooked. To the contrary, they were “goosed” on reports that the economies of the world are strengthening and the future global economic outlook is better than originally forecasted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). , In Asia and the Pacific Rim, the Indian Nifty Index rallied to a new all-time high on Friday at 10,191. Japan’s Nikkei index exploded to 21,211, its highest mark in over 20 years. The Hang Seng of Hong Kong rose to 28,625-28,626 on October 6 and 11, its highest level since January 2008. China’s Shanghai Index got as high as 3410 last week, its highest mark since January 2016. Australia’s ASX index rallied to 5894, for a new 5-month high. It is interesting to note that within 1-2 days of the Jupiter/Uranus opposition on September 27, the stock markets of Australia, China, and Japan were all making trading cycle lows. So, there was a reversal then, and it was followed by upside breakouts.

In Europe, Friday the 13th witnessed a new all-time high in the German DAX index. The Netherlands AEX soared to its highest level since November 2007. The Zurich SMI Index rallied to its highest price since August 15. Only the London FTSE failed to make a significant new high, falling slightly short of its all-time high of 7599 recoded on June 2. Moscow’s MICEX index was up, but only to a new 7-month high.

All U.S. stock indices that we follow made new all–time highs on Friday, while the Argentina Merval index did the same on Wednesday, October 11, but Brazil’s Bovespa all-time high of the prior week (October 5) was not taken out. All in all, it has been a good period for world stock indices since the Jupiter/Uranus opposition, with many in an upward breakout mode. There is nothing in the study of Financial Astrology to suggest it is over quite yet, and these soaring markets are a characteristic of the aftermath of Jupiter in a hard aspect with Uranus. However, the influence of that set up will start shifting shortly (see below).

It was also a good week for Gold and Silver. Gold rose above $1300/oz, and Silver is now testing $17.50/oz. Last week, Silver was touching 16.35 and Gold was near $1260. Crude Oil also did well last week. After posting a high of 53.86 on September 28, its highest price since Venus turned direct in mid-April (one day after the Jupiter/Uranus opposition), crude oil fell back to 49.10 a week ago. However, as of Friday the 13th, it was back up to 51.72. In commodities, as well as equities, the week of Friday the 13th proved to be very bullish. Only the U.S. Dollar took a hit, which is likely to become an increasingly greater concern as we approach 2020 when the Saturn/Pluto conjunction arrives.

SHORTER-TERM GEOCOSMIC AND LONGER-TERM THOUGHTS

Last week witnessed Mars in a square aspect to Saturn (October 8), and the Sun in a square aspect to Pluto (October 9). This did not result in trend reversals in financial markets, but it did correspond to the deadly and damaging fires in the rich wine regions of California. Mars pertains to fires, and Pluto to losses of life and properties of value.

This tragic loss can also be associated with the second passage (of five) involving the 171-year Uranus/Neptune semi-square cycle that took place of October 6. Past columns have associated this aspect with hurricanes (Uranus) and floods (Neptune), but Uranus is in Aries, so it can also pertain to fires (Mars and its ruling sign of Aries both relate to fires and hot temperatures). Uranus also rules computers and technology, and in its negative manifestation, Neptune has correspondence with theft. You can put the two themes together and see why cyber espionage, hacking, and theft are such a pervasive problem today. In the field of finances, Neptune also corresponds to bubbles. We are seeing evidence of that too in world stock indices, but that can continue for a while because this aspect will be present into 2019. It also corresponds to hoaxes, con games, and psychotic breaks from one’s past history.

Two other important geocosmic signatures are worth noting. First. Jupiter ingressed into Scorpio last week, October 10. It will remain in Scorpio for 13 months. Scorpio rules OPM – Other People’s Monies, as in banks, investment banks, lending institutions, mortgage companies, brokerage houses, etc. With Uranus soon to enter Taurus, for seven years, on May 15, we anticipate that banks will start off in a bubble, which could last 2-5 years. But then, before Uranus leaves Taurus (storage of value, like banks), the bubble bursts. We will address this issue in greater detail in the Forecast 2018 Book.

The second long-term geocosmic signature to note is that the third and final Saturn/Uranus waning trine will take place in less than one month, on November 11. This is only the fifth time this aspect has occurred since the USA stock market has been in existence. In each case, an all-time high has occurred during the central time band. In this case, that would be December 2016 through November 2017. So far, the market hasn’t reversed much at all during the past 20 months. Will it do so by the end of November and keep the Saturn/Uranus trine record intact? These are the kinds of thoughts that keep me up at night. It is like everything appears so good right now and there is so much liquidity and opportunity to grow economically and financially, that you wonder what could take it down? That thought also keeps me up at night.

I think I will invest in some melatonin.

ABOUT OUR MOVE

Last week I mentioned how moving is a bitch, but the excitement of change and new beginnings makes it all worthwhile. It takes a lot of mind control to keep that attitude positive, especially when you now have to deal with phone and internet issues associated with moving across the country. Actually, the internet is working fine – maybe the only communications function that is working well. Telephones are a whole different matter. I must be having a hard, transiting aspect, to my Mercury/Uranus opposition (actually I did – Mars was T-square). I didn’t hit anybody, however, and so far, no one has hit me.

If you have tried to call or fax MMA offices in the past three weeks, you may have encountered difficulties getting connected to anyone. I tried to call my office several times in the past three weeks and encountered problems, such as: “Please leave a message at the tone and someone will get back to you,” only to find you can’t leave a message. Or, on our end, we don’t even hear the phone ring and don’t know that someone tried to call in, until we go online and see that 15-20 calls were made that day, and were classified as “missed calls.” It makes you want to hit someone, but it feels like someone has hit you.

So, MMA is experiencing issues with moving its phone and fax lines from Michigan to Arizona. We are told it might be in proper working order next week or the week after. Good thing I know the power of prayer, or I would hit someone – before they hit me (I am pro-active). In any event, you can always use our web site to order, or you can email us at [email protected] (for now). For the next 1-2 weeks, you can try calling our temporary numbers at 480-626-2447, 480-626-2433, or 480-626-2426. You can also try our basic numbers at 800-662-3349 or 248-626-3034. Calls to there are supposed to be forwarded to our cell phones while we go through this ordeal. Let’s see… there is a new moon coming up on Thursday, October 19, conjunct Uranus. Maybe everything will be fine after that. Hopefully, that won’t coincide with an earthquake, or some new and unforeseen computer problem. I am going to visualize that aspect as an indicator of an enlightenment. I am going to visualize it as an enlightenment for the phone company. Wish me well. I will also wish every one of you well, and a good trading week ahead.