Markets Push Higher as Fed Signals More Cuts

As the Sun reaches the final degree of Virgo and prepares to enter Libra at the equinox, markets find themselves at a similar tipping point—shifting from analytical recalibration to strategic positioning. The Federal Reserve’s rate cut aligns with Mars hovering at the critical 29th degree of Libra, reflecting a moment of high-stakes decision-making where policy action meets market demand for clarity. Venus’s move into Virgo mirrors investor focus on efficiency and earnings quality, while Mercury in Libra emphasizes negotiation and equilibrium in pricing risk. With Jupiter in Cancer offering expansion through domestic resilience and Saturn retrograde in Pisces applying structural pressure, the market’s bullish tone is not without scrutiny. This week, both the macro landscape and planetary alignments suggest a recalibration phase: one where strategy replaces speculation, and measured optimism battles underlying fragility.

U.S. equities posted their sixth positive week in seven, led by a 2.2% gain in the NASDAQ and a 1.2% rise in the S&P 500. The Dow added 1.1%. Small caps surged midweek, pushing the Russell 2000 to a new post-2021 high, though it slipped Friday. Despite a midweek pullback tied to Federal Reserve policy shifts, markets regained traction on strong macroeconomic data and rate cut optimism. The Fed delivered a quarter-point cut—the first since 2024—and futures pricing implies near certainty of two more cuts by year-end.

Bond yields ticked higher, with the 10-year Treasury yield finishing the week at 4.13%, up from 4.06%. Mortgage rates eased further, marking a fourth straight weekly decline. August retail sales surprised to the upside, pointing to resilience in U.S. consumers even as companies cut back on share buybacks.

Astrological Climate: Shifts, Decisions, and Structural Rebalancing

As of September 22, we are in a moment of significant transition. The Sun sits at the critical 29th degree of Virgo, preparing to ingress into Libra. The 29th degree—known in traditional astrology as an "anaretic" degree—often signals major pivot points, urgency, and last-minute decisions. This mirrors the Federal Reserve’s first rate cut since 2024: a decisive policy inflection that arrives as inflationary signals reemerge and labor data softens.