Capricorn Ascending—Markets in Discipline

Weekly Market + Macro Outlook (Week Ended January 9, 2026)

Market Recap and Planetary Context

The first full trading week of 2026 opened with renewed optimism across equity markets, as major U.S. indexes posted solid gains amid mounting expectations for a dovish inflation print. The S&P 500 and Dow both recorded fresh all-time highs, gaining 1.6% and 2.3%, respectively. The NASDAQ, while slightly lagging, added 1.9% and sits just 1.2% below its record peak. Small caps, however, stole the spotlight. The Russell 2000 surged 4.6% and is up nearly 14% over the past six weeks, pushing into new record territory.

Astrologically, the Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Mars are all currently transiting Capricorn, amplifying collective focus on structure, discipline, and bottom-line results. Capricorn’s Earth-element influence tends to reward companies that show earnings strength, cost control, and mature capital allocation. In this context, the broad rally in dividend-rich sectors (energy, industrials, and consumer staples) appears tightly aligned with Capricornian values. The acceleration in S&P 500 dividend growth to $13.1B in Q4 underscores that trend. Venus and Mars conjoined in Capricorn (both around 20–21°) suggest a pragmatic yet aggressive push into risk assets where fundamentals support the move.

Meanwhile, Jupiter, now retrograde at 20° Cancer, is in direct opposition to that Capricorn cluster. This highlights tension between market optimism and household economics—especially relevant given the weaker-than-expected December payroll report. Just 50,000 jobs were created, with significant downward revisions for prior months. The job market added only 49,000 per month on average in 2025—down from 168,000 in 2024. This aligns with Jupiter’s retrograde tendency to revise or reframe the broader economic narrative.

Sector Rotation and Style Leadership