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MMA Comments for the Week Beginning January 9, 2012
Written by Raymond Merriman
Greetings from Zurich, Switzerland, where the weather is cold but the economy continues hot. You know, in America there is a lot of political discussion about "American Exceptionalism." But we hear very little about the "Swiss Exceptionalism." Yet here is a country that is doing extremely well economically at a time when America and most of Europe is not. Nearly everyone works and has a good income. The national income tax averages about 21%, depending on the region where one lives, while the VAT (sales tax) is less than 10%. At the same time, Switzerland has all the social programs that America is struggling to establish and much of Europe is struggling to afford. Imagine that! Low income taxes, effective social programs that the country can afford, low unemployment, low national debt, high wages, and an exceptional standard of living. Is there perhaps something America and other countries in the depressed Eurozone could learn by studying the Swiss success story?
Review and Preview
The New Year began with a bang in most stock indices around the world. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, for instance, was up nearly 180 points on the Tuesday, the first trading day of the New Year. The high that day was 12,479, well above its 12,284 previous cycle high of October 27, and its highest level since July. However, neither the NASDAQ Composite nor the S&P nearby futures rose above their highs of late October, for a potential case of intermarket bearish divergence.
In fact, that was the story in many regions of the world. The Zurich SMI index soared well above its cycle high of late October, but the German DAX and London FTSE did not. The Netherlands AEX made a new cycle high by two cents. None of the major indices we track in Asia and the Pacific Rim, including the Moscow MICEX, make new highs, nor did the stock indices of Brazil and Argentina. Is this a sign of a market top, known as intermarket bearish divergence? Maybe. But we will need to see all these indices close in the lower third of their range this coming week to confirm. Otherwise the "Asset Inflation Express" has returned with Jupiter in the 0-7 degree sector of Taurus, a zodiacal location which historically coincides with long-term cycle crests in world stock indices.
Gold and Silver continued to rise following our special "buy alert" the prior week to subscribers as both metals made new multi-month lows on December 29. Gold has now risen over $100/ounce since that low and Silver more than $3.00/ounce. We will issue a special analysis on Gold and Silver in this week's MMA Cycles Report, which will come out Tuesday night to subscribers of this monthly report. In it, we will outline the status of the long-term cycles in Gold, and what it portends for the new year.
In other markets, the Euro currency fell to a new 15-month low against the U.S. Dollar, while Crude Oil soared to its highest level since May. This rally is occurring as the U.S. starts a discussion on banning imports of Iranian Oil and Iran discusses closing the Straits of Hormuz. It makes you wonder what is up as the USA heads into the election season of 2012, with an incumbent president seeking re-election in a nasty economic environment. The economy is going to be the major issue in this campaign season, and President Obama is going to have a difficult time defending his record there to American voters. Strangely enough, however, his strength has been in matters of national security, an area that many tend to consider strengths of the Republican Party.
Short-Term Geocosmics
The year started with a bang, and next week may too as it commences with a full moon on Monday, January 9. But more important than the full moon will be the transit of heliocentric Mercury in Sagittarius, which starts on Wednesday, January 11. This is a remarkable signature that historically coincides with very sharp price swings in many financial markets, especially Gold and Silver. Things could get quite wild for a few days, especially given that the transit of Uranus at the same time will also be in an exact square to the Sun-Pluto opposition of the Federal Reserve Board chart (founded December 23, 1913). There are some surprises coming up, In fact, with Uranus moving ever closer to its first of seven square passages to Pluto starting in June 2012, it's going to be a year (and even three-years) of a lot of unbelievable sudden surprises.
The concerns of next week will probably escalate into the following week when the Sun enters a T-square with the Jupiter-Saturn opposition (January 19-22), and then Mars turning retrograde in Virgo (January 24 through April 14). This portends a time of anguish for workers around the world who may go on strike, thus hindering the delivery of vital services and goods throughout the world, such as crude oil through the Straits of Hormuz.
Longer-Term Thoughts
"I warn you, though. Political predictions, economic forecasts, and astrology differ in only one respect. Astrology has a fairly good record of being correct." Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich's comment in his latest Huffington Post blog.
Due to speaking responsibilities this week, I won't be doing a "Longer-Term Thoughts section this week, except to say: Jupiter has now turned direct and will be moving towards 7 degrees of Taurus on March 7, 2012. Sometime before that is completed, we expect the stock markets of the world to complete the crest to their last phase of this current 4-year cycle – and then begin a new bear market over the next 2-4 years. This is all based on the historical correlation of U.S. stock prices to Jupiter transiting through the signs of the zodiac, in a study that goes back to 1872. Stock markets bottom when Jupiter is in the first half of Aquarius, then top out when it gets to 23 Aries-7 Taurus, then declines into the time when Jupiter is in Leo. The low of March 2009 was when Jupiter was in the early degrees of Aquarius. The high since then has been May 2, 2011, when Jupiter touched 23 Aries. It is challenging that high again now as Jupiter is in 0 Taurus. Jupiter leaves this sector on March 7, 2012. If history repeats, then we expect the crest to be completed by then, if it is not already in.
We will discuss this further, and what to look for as this top unfolds, in our monthly MMA Cycles report, which comes out this week.
Announcements
Our new 2012 MMA Catalogue is now out!! You can download this catalogue directly at http://www.mmacycles.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=41&Itemid=63.
This week's monthly MMA Cycles Report will have a special report on Gold and Silver. We will review the recent decline and what it says about the longer-term cycles' outlook. The MMA Cycles Report covers our longer-term analysis of the U.S. stock market, precious metals, crude oil, currencies, Treasury Notes, and grain markets. It will come out Tuesday evening of this week. The MMA Japan Cycles report covers the Nikkei, JGB Bonds, and the Dollar-Yen. The MMA European Cycles Report covers the German DAX, Swiss SMI, and Netherlands AEX, each in English only, and will be available on Wednesday evening or Thursday. For further information and subscription, go to http://www.mmacycles.com/catalogue/subscription-services/mma-cycles-report/. If you are not a subscriber, you can order a 2-month trial basis for only $50.00.
Copies of the printed version of Forecast 2012 are still available. There will be no additional printings, so when they are gone, they are gone. This year's book is 200 pages – our largest ever – and packed full of information about the economy, USA Presidential election, social and economic trends, and of course, financial markets with their all-important three-star critical reversal dates (the one and two-star reversal dates are covered in the MMA Cycles Report, as well as weekly reports). The annual Forecasts Book, written by Raymond A. Merriman since 1976, is one of the most unique, affordable, and accurate glimpses into the coming year. Utilizing the study of cycles and geocosmic factors, this annual Forecasts book outlines forthcoming trends pertaining to political, economic, and financial markets throughout the world. For further information, please go to the front page of our web site at www.mmacycles.com. There you can also place your order for the Forecast 2012. Or call us at 1-248-626-3034.
The E-Book version of the Forecast 2012 Book is now out as well in two different formats. The first is our own version, which contains both the text and the calendar-ephemeris for 2012. The cost for this is $55.00, or $35.00, depending on whether you also ordered the printed version too. The second is through Apple ITunes, which covers I Phone 4 and 5, and the I Pad. It does not contain the advertisements or the planetary calendar and ephemeris in the back. You can now order it if you have an email address registered via one of these 9 countries (USA, UK, Australia, France, Canada, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain). Just go to ITunes, and then "Library," then "Store," then in the field titled "Search," type in "Forecast 2012" or "Raymond Merriman" (without quotation marks). Or, go to http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/raymond-merriman/id408289861?mt=11.
If you wish to hear more about this year's Forecast 2012 Book, please visit our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/RaymondMerriman. There is a new video there highlighting three great market calls from last year's book, plus a preview of this year's book. It should be quite a year coming up!
The printed version of Forecast 2012 has also been translated into several different languages (including English) this year, and many of these publications are now out or will be this coming week.
Dutch: at www.markettiming.nl
Italian: at www.astrofinanza.com, and http://www.astrofinanza.com/mma/shop.html
German: at http://www.mma-europe.ch/
Japanese: at http://merriman.jp
Russian: at http://www.mmafinance.ru/
Spanish: at www.mmacycles-spanish.com.
Each of these will also offer the English version of Forecast 2012, as will our Chinese distributor at http://www.zzdcycles.com. "After reading the annual Forecasts and subscribing to MMA Cycles for the past ten years, I can say that Ray Merriman's forecasts are uncannily accurate and indispensable for the preservation of wealth. Nothing else I've seen compares. It is without a doubt the best perspective on the big picture, not just bits and pieces of the picture."
W.W., Investor and Teacher, Indiana
If you are an active short-term trader, or even if you are an investor who likes to keep up with our current thoughts on financial markets, you may be interested in our Weekly or even Daily Market reports with position trading and aggressive trading recommendations. It is the only way I keep in touch with traders on a daily or even weekly basis, as I no longer offer personal consultations. These reports give in-depth analysis of the DJIA, S&P and NASDAQ futures, Euro currency (cash and futures), Dollar/Yen cash and Yen futures, Euro-Yen cash, T-Notes, Crude Oil, Gold and Silver. The daily reports cover all stock indices listed above, as well as futures in Euro, T-Notes, Soybeans, Gold and Silver. Both reports provide trading strategies and recommendations for position traders as well as for shorter-term aggressive traders. Subscription to the daily report also includes the weekly report. For more information, go to http://www.mmacycles.com/services, or call our offices at 1-248-626-3034. These reports are extremely valuable to those who trade ETF's (Exchange Traded Funds). In the words of one of our subscribers: "I am really pleased with your recommendations through the Daily and Weekly Trade Recommendations. I have used them to trade gold and silver stocks in my IRA. In the last eight years I increased my account from $60,000 to $712,000. Thanks for your excellent publications." -Bryden C., Small Business Owner, Illinois.
"The Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing, Volume 5: Price Objectives and Technical Analysis" is now out! The comments and reviews are starting to come in, and we will post them here over the next few weeks. The Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing series is truly a life's work of grand proportion. Raymond Merriman has built the foundation upon which Financial Astrology can securely rest. Volumes 1-4 were more than a foundation, they were an edifice, and Volume 5: Technical Analysis and Price Objectives, is the pinnacle. Coupled with the timing strategies of the first 4 volumes, these volumes provide a complete trading methodology, brilliantly and logically presented, that any person who makes the time and the effort to understand, may trade profitably."
- Duke O'Neil, President, Capstone Capital Wealth Management, Boulder, Colorado.
The retail price of this new book is $144.00. If you are interested in this unique and integrated methodology for analyzing and forecasting stock indices, you can save big bucks by ordering all five volumes, or choice of any four now at http://www.mmacycles.com/catalogue/books/the-ultimate-book-on-stock-market-timing-volume-5/, or just go to www.mmacycles.com and scroll down to the announcement. If ordering all five volumes, you will save $99.00! For more information on this book, go to YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnplAS5m2AI, describing this new book. It is "the missing link." You may want to check this video out, as it contains some interesting long-term tips.
We also report that recently we sold out of the last copy of Volume 2. It will be rewritten and all the studies therein will be updated next year. In the meantime, we still offer the other 4 volumes. And if you pre-order the updated Volume 2, the cost to do so at this time will be $75.00. Once we get closer to completion, the new price will become $125.00. You may be able to secure a copy of this now out-of-print book on Amazon.com, but I do not know what the price will be there. Usually it is 2-5 times higher than the retail price. There is always a premium on our out-of-print books. They are in great demand – and for a reason!
Events:
January 6-7, 2012: Zurich Switzerland. "Forecast 2012 Symposia" sponsored by AstroData. January 6 lecture on "Uranus Square Pluto: Consequences of the Debt Crisis for Financial Markets." January 7 workshop on "Financial Astrology and Perspectives for 2012: This workshop will discuss the projection of these studies onto today's financial, markets, including precious metals, equity markets, and currency prices – where are we in the long and short-term cycles and where are we headed. For more information, go to www.mma-europe.ch or contact ASTRODATA AG, Tel.41 (0) 43 343 33 66, or email info@mma-europe.ch.
January 21, 2012: Amsterdam, Netherlands. "Forecasts for 2012," 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM, followed by a 60-minute private meeting with MMA Subscribers. Sponsored by Schogt Market Timing. Call 31-(0) 294-415-917 for further more information, www.markettiming.nl. or http://www.markettiming.nl/en/producten/forecast-2012-amsterdam, or www.markettiming.nl.
March 1 and 3, 2012: Hong Kong. "Forecast 2012" on Thursday, March 1, and a full day intensive on "Financial Market Timing" on Saturday, March 3, with emphasis on Gold, Silver, Currencies, and Equity Markets for 2012. Organized by Earlthorn.Com at the Excelsior Hotel, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Contact Teresa Wong at 852-2529 1211 (phone), or by e-mail at earlthorn@hknet.com. A special 90-minute private meeting with MMA Subscribers will follow the workshop on March 3.
March 9-11, 2012: The 12th Annual Balkan International Conference, Belgrade, Serbia. Featuring a pre-seminar workshop on Financial Astrology with Raymond Merriman. For further information on this fantastic gathering, contact www.keplerunited.org.+381-11-267-31-92 or email info@keplerunited.org.
April 19 and 21, Boulder, Colorado. "Forecast 2012" with Raymond Merriman, plus a workshop on "Financial Market Timing," focusing on equities and precious metals. Sponsored by ROMA. For more information and registration, contact dralagifts@msn.com. Once again, a private meeting for MMA subscribers will follow the workshop.
May 24-29, 2012: UAC!!! The world's largest astrological conference. Taking place at the New Orleans Marriott Hotel. Go to www.uacastrology.com. There will be an awesome Financial Track, featuring some of the top Financial Astrologers and researchers in the world. There will be private meeting for MMA on Friday or Sunday evening on the top floor of the Marriott.
Disclaimer and statement of purpose:
The purpose of this column is not to predict the future movement of various financial markets. However, that is the purpose of the MMA (Merriman Market Analyst) subscription services. This column is not a subscription service. It is a free service, except in those cases where a fee may be assessed to cover the cost of translating this column from English into a non-English language.
This weekly report is written with the intent to educate the reader on the relationship between astrological factors and collective human activities as they are happening. In this regard, this report will oftentimes report what happened in various stock and financial markets throughout the world in the past week, and discuss that movement in light of the geocosmic signatures that were in effect. It will then identify the geocosmic factors that will be in effect in the next week, or even month, or even years, and the author's understanding of how these signatures will likely affect human activity in the times to come. The author (Merriman) will do this from a perspective of a cycle's analyst looking at the military, political, economic, and even financial markets of the world.
It is possible that some forecasts will be made based on these factors. However, the primary goal is to both educate and alert the reader as to the psychological climate we are in, from an astrological perspective. The hope is that it will help the reader understand these psychological dynamics that underlie (or coincide with) the news events and hence financial markets of the day.
No guarantee as to the accuracy of this report is being made here. Any decisions in financial markets are solely the responsibility of the reader, and neither the author nor the publishers assume any responsibility at all for those individual decisions. Reader should understand that futures and options trading are considered high risk.
Copyright MMACycles 2007; you may link to this site or page, but you may not distribute these texts in any way (by email or otherwise).
Archives
Previous weeklies (2006) are archived at www.olmta.com
For other language editions of MMA´s weekly comments:
- Chinese : www.zzdcycles.com
- Dutch : www.markettiming.nl (Nederlands)
- German : www.mma-europe.ch (Deutch)
- Japanese : www.merriman.jp
- Polish : www.astrobiznes.pl (Polska)
- Russian : www.urania.ru
- Serbian : www.mma-balkan.com
- Spanish : www.mmacycles-spanish.com (Español)
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