Dear Fellow Star-Gazer,

Happy Equinox!

This one is extra-special in that it coincides with the Full Moon and is part of a powerful sky picture where it seems that some of the outer planets are either opposite or at right angles to one another. All this suggests high energy and feelings of urgency and excitement.

You can think of this particular Full Moon as part of a chain reaction whose roots go back to late March 2009 - the point at which markets were recovering from the extreme falls of the middle of that month. This Full Moon then might also be about recovery and returning to high levels.

But what happens post this Full Moon? Though it could be argued that a positive mood will continue through to Sept 29th, levels reached that day may not be broken for some time.

Early September brought the expected hike in food commodity prices and, by 10th gold too was on the move. Gold has been climbing steadily and has now reached 1280. It is quite possible that this upward push will continue into the middle of January with few dips in between. A 20% further rise is entirely possible.

This, of course, has to be balanced against a falling dollar. Though some feel that a sovereign debt crisis has been averted, I don't share that view and won't consider us to be out of those currency woods until we are safely through December. There are many reasons for thinking that the first half of that month will be acutely difficult both for equities and for currencies: euro and US dollar especially.

The mining companies have made significant contribution to index volatility in recent times. (Hardly surprising as Pluto travels through Capricorn). With both Venus and Mars moving through Scorpio in the next few weeks, we should expect this theme to continue. It's possible that a planned merger will not go ahead as planned and that this will impact prices in the days following the next New Moon on October 8th. From that date and through to October 27th could be an exceptionally tender trading period.

As always there are contradictory forces at work. Taken only from the geocentric perspective, negativity seems to take hold from the first day of October and the escalates. The heliocentric viewpoint is slightly different: possibly indicating that whilst some areas don't do well at all, that there will be high level growth elsewhere - most likely amongst armament and provision of infra-structure companies.

The recent alignment of Jupiter and Uranus back in Pisces (geocentrically) has brought a host of new generation technology devices and systems to the market. It may be that these don't bring hoped-for financial reward for some months - and even then more through sales in the East rather than Western markets.

There is another interesting hemisphere twist to look out for in the coming quarter:

We now have the most interesting situation where all the planets (not including the Moon) are in South declination. This lop-sidedness in the sky might well express on Earth in a similar way: the economic conditions of the southern hemisphere may be highlighted. News-watchers might like to make copious notes around October 7th and 8th and to be alert for possible trading opportunities in regions which don't usually make the headlines.

I will be exploring all these ideas and more at the seminar in London next Friday (October 1st). There are two places left for this event - please email if you are interested. The full details are available on the new website www.financialuniverse.co.uk

Lastly, I am delighted to report that we are 'webinar ready'!! All the technical issues are resolved and it is only a question now of agreeing a schedule. There is about 6 hours worth of material for the seminar. The plan is to offer this in 6 - 8 webinars. We will email the schedule to you as soon as it is agreed. At this stage all suggestions about timing are welcome.

Again, wishing you a Happy Equinox,

Yours from the stars

Christeen