The CME Group picked the right time—astrologically—to launch its suite of Micro E-mini stock index futures, according to Susan Gidel, editor of the Red Letter Trading Days newsletter.

Volatility could perk up Tuesday-Thursday as money planet Venus goes between scarcity and abundance as it relates to other powerful planets. Look for potential lows this week in 10-year Treasury-notes, crude oil and soybeans. Gold could make a high on Thursday. On a bright note, the Micro E-mini stock index contracts launching Sunday night at CME Group have great astrological support.

Popular Micro E-mini Launch

The four new micro E-mini stock index futures contracts at CME Group that begin trading on Sunday, May 5 at 6 p.m. (EDT) for trade date May 6 looks to be an immediate hit based on astrology. The contracts include Micro E-mini S&P 500 (MES), Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 (MNQ), Micro E-mini Russell 2000 (M2K) and Micro E-mini Dow (MYM). Each contract is 1/10 the size of its larger E-mini counterpart.

First, the Micro E-minis are launching less than 24 hours after the New Moon in Taurus. The New Moon is always a great time for new beginnings, and Taurus is the sign ruled by money planet Venus. Taurus also represents that the launch focuses on providing solid, stable contracts. Conventional wisdom holds that the results of New Moon beginnings will be seen two weeks later at the Full Moon, so we should have a good handle on their reception and participation by the end of trading on Friday, May 17, the day before the next Full Moon.

Second, the three planets that are focused on trading, stock indexes and good fortune—Mercury, Venus and Jupiter—are connected at the time of launch in a way that easily supports success. Mercury in Aries signifies aggressive action in trading and stock indexes. Venus in Aries supports going after what you want, particularly as it concerns money. Jupiter in Sagittarius says the contracts will attract massive global participation; that Jupiter is retrograde also is apt given the contracts are a rework of previous contracts.

A third astrological factor of note is that Sunday, May 5 is what I call a “Gann Day,” one of 10 each year that legendary trader W.D. Gann watched for a change in trend. This one marks the midpoint between the spring equinox and summer solstice. In 2018, the S&P 500 made the high for the year (and all-time high) at the fall equinox and made its bottom for the year at the winter solstice. This year, the S&P 500 made an interim top at the spring equinox.

Bipolar Venus

Venus, the planet that rules money, has bipolar tendencies this week that could create wide-swinging ranges, particularly on Thursday, May 9. On Tuesday, Venus is square to Saturn, which could mean money is scarce.

On Thursday, Venus is pulled from two different directions within the span of 30 minutes. At 12:56 pm EDT, Venus is trine Jupiter, a fabulous indicator for an abundance of money (or spending a lot of money). At 1:20 pm EDT, Venus is square Pluto, which indicates lots of debt. Three U.S. economic reports released at 8:30 am EDT could be the day’s fodder—International Trade, Jobless Claims and PPI.

Volatility Boost

Adding to the potential for volatility this week is Wednesday’s alignment between Mercury and Uranus in the sign of Taurus, which can spark brilliant ideas, unexpected news (particularly as it concerns banking and finances) and “aha” moments.

Monday, May 6

  • Low in 10-year Treasury-note: The potential for a low in 10-year T-notes comes three days after the contract’s birthday on May 3. Although the transiting Sun is a tad beyond where it was when the contract launched in 1982, the Moon is aligned with the first-trade Mercury. Both first-trade Sun and Mercury are often activated at a price low. Currently, prices are in a no-mans-land of planetary price conversion support (1.18-08) and resistance (1.25-10-1.26-00).

Tuesday, May 7

  • Low in crude oil: Mars in the first-trade chart for crude oil futures is being bombarded by several aspects that indicate a potential low. These include: (1) an easy trine from Jupiter, which can support prices; (2) a conjunction from Venus, the money planet, which also is supportive; (3) a sextile, creating opportunity, from the Moon and Mars. Look for planetary price conversion support at $60.90-$61.00 per barrel, then $57.20. On the upside, resistance is at $62.30-$62.90, then $68.80.

Thursday, May 9

  • High in Gold:The Sun is making a 90-degree aspect to the position of Mercury in the gold market’s first-trade chart. Mercury is sandwiched between the market’s first-trade Sun and Venus, and is the planet favored for activation at the time of a high. Based on planetary price conversions, look for support at $1269 per oz., then $1221. Resistance comes in at $1291, then $1328-$1330.

Friday, May 10

  • Low in Soybeans—The nod for soybeans to finally find a low this spring occurs as Mercury activates the Venus/Uranus axis in the market’s first-trade horoscope from 1936. In addition, the Sun and Moon are each aligned with other important points on the first-trade chart. Planetary price conversion support exists at $8.38 per bu., then $7.98 and $7.70. Resistance is at $8.73-$8.75, then $8.87 and $9.03-$9.12.

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

Bullseye!

  • High in S&P 500 on Monday, April 29:The S&P 500 set a new record high of 2949.52 and a new record-high close of 2943.03 that day. Note that the close was just under the 2944 planetary price conversion mark. (Tuesday’s new record-high close was at 2945.83.) By Thursday, the market had dropped as low as 2900.
  • Low in Gold on Thursday, May 2: June gold made a double-bottom at $1267.30 per oz., just 60 cents below the low of April 23. Pluto’s planetary price conversion support is at $1269, and June closed on Thursday at $1272.

Pretty Darn Good

  • Low in Euro FX on Monday, April 29: The June contract made its low the previous Friday at $1.11565, but closed above planetary price conversion support of $1.117, at $1.12010. By Wednesday, Euro FX had rallied to $1.13110.

Off The Mark

  • High in Soybeans on Friday, April 26:The week’s high in May soybeans was on Monday, April 22 at $8.96 ¼ per bu. Prices fell to $8.52 ½ by week’s end.
  • High in Soybeans on Monday, April 29: Although Monday’s trade did see the week’s high in July beans at $8.73 ¼ (near the noted support area, now resistance, of $8.73-$8.75), the bearish trend continued. By Thursday’s close, July beans had hit a low of $842 ½.  
  • Low in Crude Oil on Monday, April 29: June crude oil bottomed the previous Friday at $62.28 (just two cents below planetary price conversion support of $62.30-$62.90) on news that the U.S. president had called OPEC and asked it to increase production. Prices rallied to $64.75 on Tuesday, but fell out of bed on Thursday due to rising inventories, trading down to $60.95.

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 “Market Analysis with Astrology” for further information.