The real meltdown, especially in Asia but probably worldwide, is likely to hit over the period October 20 to
December 30, and the markets won't fully recover until the beginning of
March 1999. In general the worst time period for all of this is October 20
to November 12.
Another currently emerging theme, as indicated by President
Clinton calling on the G7 to display coordinated leadership on interest rates, is the necessity for bi-partisan action to uphold
the integrity of political and economic institutions. Perhaps if people
begin to operate on this higher level all this can be avoided?
Unpredictable Magnetic Storms
The recent "corrections" to the
markets in early September were unpredictable, having more to do with the
magnetic storm at that time. Magnetic storms always result in sudden market
corrections. These usually tie-in with the 'Sun spot cycle' which peaks
every 11.2 years. However, this recent magnetic storm was not tied to solar
flare activity, but to a different galactic source.
Next year is a peak year
in Solar activity. So there'll be more turmoil next year quite apart from
the recessionary trend.
Saturn and the Asian Collapse
The beginning of the meltdown in Asia occurred when Saturn was motionless,
before moving backwards in the sign of Aries (July/August 97). Saturn is
badly placed in Aries and was in that sign from April 96. Saturn moving
through Aries marked a period when excess, extravagance, speculation and
recklessness in economic matters would be tested. The reality of the
situation was revealed, and found wanting, when Saturn went retrograde.
However, the most dramatic effects on the Asian region occurred when Saturn
was leaving Aries (May/June 98). The last few degrees of a sign are seen as
malefic (unfortunate), because the energies of the sign are fading out. Saturn itself
also symbolises testing and tribulation; when it comes to the final
degrees of a sign, Saturn has its due in relation to the energies of that
sign.
Saturn is now better placed having moved into Taurus, where it promises a more conservative
approach to global financial matters. We have already seen some indications
of this effect: the perceived need to consolidate and stabilise what we
already have. This has been a respite period (June 8 - August 16), when
Asian economies that have not been completely undermined have been given
the chance to introduce effective reforms which really address their
problems (e.g., Japan in relation to its banking system).
But basically Saturn has been slowing to a stop in the early degrees of
Taurus since June. From a visual point of view, Saturn is motionless in the
sky at 2-3 degrees of Taurus from eary July to late September. This is why,
as some pundits have correctly said, people have been ignoring the negative
indications in world markets just hoping that they'd go away (but 80% of
the world's economies are in recession!).
However, technically speaking, the (astrological) fact is that Saturn began
to move backwards from August 16 and it is moving back to occupy the late
degrees of Aries, from October 25 through to the beginning of March 1999.
Hence the emerging fear and evidence of global melt-down (e.g, Russia,
Brazil). Just before this aspect comes into force, Saturn begins a stressful aspect to
Neptune (another malefic), indicating that the period while this is in
force, October 20 - November 12, will be the really critical time.
Major Correction of the US Market
To get a really accurate reading of what will occur in any particular
market, we must have an accurately timed chart for the opening
(birth) of the stock market in that country.
In the US, we have already seen investors shifting from stocks to bonds
in their droves, driving down their value. Mutual funds are losing ground,
bigtime. There is a general call for adopting international
standards on banking system soundness and corporate governance. Rubin and
Clinton are urging the IMF and World Bank to reform their bailout
procedures... But I think it's a case of closing the barn door after the
horse has bolted. This looks like a white-knuckled downward slide to
depression.
While the current astrological indicators are not as exact as those accompanying the US market
melt-downs of '29 and '87, they are very, very similar. Perhaps it means
the crisis hits because of foreign effects. Could it be that the Brazilian
bailout will come too late to forestall the carry over effect to the US
market? Whatever the impetus, it is likely to occur quite suddenly.
Critical Time for the World Economy
The rest of October is a critical time for the world economy and for the US
stock market. So much so that President Clinton's personal woes will pale
into insignificance by comparison. If there is not a major correction of
the US market by mid to late October (the really critical period is Oct
15-20) then we can count ourselves extremely fortunate. In any event, as
indicated by the general trends outlined above, the Great Bull Market is
fading fast.
Power-shift to Europe
Astrologically speaking, the period from now (Oct '98) to the turn of the
century could see a shift in economic power away from the US toward Europe.
Unless current proposals for strengthening the world monetary system
somehow mitigate against this, it is likely that the Euro will replace the
Greenback as the world's benchmark currency by the turn of the century.
ASTROZINE