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MMA Comments for the Week Beginning March 19, 2012
Written by Raymond Merriman
Review and Preview
Stock indices around the world began to pull back last week after making cycle highs between March 14 and March 19. It is interesting that Jupiter was less than 2 degrees past the limit of 7º Taurus where stock markets have averaged their highs historically. It is also interesting to note that these recent highs occurred within 0-4 trading days of the grand trine in earth signs (March 12-14), a geocosmic pattern associated with wealth and success as reported herein over the past few weeks. So was that the long-term crest that this 140-year study of Jupiter averages to U.S. stock prices implied? It is possible, but too early to confirm. The alternate scenario of topping out when Jupiter gets to Gemini (June 2012-June 2013) is still a very real possibility too. Neither can be eliminated from consideration just yet.
Even though our short positions were stopped out the prior week when both the DJIA and S&P futures made new yearly highs, new short positions were established last Monday, March 19, at higher prices (only 12 points from the high of the week in the DJIA) on the intermarket bearish divergence set up. And those shorts were then covered on Friday as prices tested 13,000, so we caught the high and the low of the week in the DJIA for weekly traders. Last week my ego was bruised. This past week it was re-inflated. I don't know if that's good or bad. Probably "good" since you cannot trade successfully if your confidence is shot. But it is also not good if you become overconfident, because then you tend to make poor and costly decisions.
For the week, there were cases of intermarket bearish divergence all over the world. In the USA, the Dow Jones Industrial Average topped out at 13,289 on March 16, the prior week. That was its highest level since January 2008. The S&P nearby futures topped out last Monday, March 19, at 1408, its highest level since June 2008. And the NASDAQ futures topped out on March 21 at 2748, its highest level since November 2000! The all retreated into Friday for the weekly low, following that intermarket bearish divergence signal.
But as exciting as it has been in the USA with all these multi-year highs, the markets of Europe and the Far East all failed to make new yearly highs. In Europe, the London FTSE topped out on March 14 at 5907, its highest level since July 2011. But the Netherlands AEX, Zurich SMI, and German DAX indices topped out two days later on March 16. In each case, neither made new yearly highs. In each case, they declined all week. In Russia, the MICEX topped out at 1639 on March 15, its highest level since August 4, 2011. It too sold off all last week.
The pattern was similar in the Far East. The Japanese Nikkei soared to 10,172 last Monday, March 19, its highest level since July 8, 2011 at 10,207. It is virtually a double top to that previous primary cycle crest. But the pattern was even more bearish in Hong Kong's Hang Seng index, China's Shanghai index, and India's NIFTY index. All rallied for modest highs March 14-19, but in each case, those highs were not new cycle highs, let alone yearly highs. The pattern of lower highs continues in each, which is a characteristic of bear markets, not bull markets as we are experiencing in Europe and more so in the USA and Brazil. Argentina is behaving like the Far East with lower and lower highs, whereas Brazil is performing like the USA.
It's a crazy, mixed up world with lots of conflicting signals. But then again, what do you expect with Mercury retrograde and going into Pisces? Can anything reflect "mixed up world" more than that in the field of Financial Astrology? Only a few more weeks remain before the fogginess clears up. But I am not sure we will want to see what exists once the fog lifts. It's getting closer and closer to Uranus square Pluto, the first quarter cycle phase of this 112-142 year planetary pair cycle that began in1965-1966.
And just when you thought Gold and Silver were ready to tank on the new moon of Thursday, March 22, it too suddenly reversed into Friday's close. Well, that perhaps was to be expected by Financial Astrologers, given that the reversal commenced with a new moon in early Aries, one day after the arrival of spring. It is the season and hence the reason for new beginnings and the start of new trends, despite what the technicals imply. Under Mercury retrograde, one has to be very careful giving too much importance to technical-based buy and sell signals, for they are unusually unreliable during Mercury retrograde. So is everything and everyone else.
Short-Term Geocosmics
Mercury is now in the middle of its retrograde motion, which lasts from March 12 through April 4. The midpoint is often a time when some markets may exhibit a sharp counter-trend reversal if they didn't reverse within a day or two of the retrograde date. We are seeing this in the precious metals, which had been declining since February 28-29. They didn't reverse that trend around March 12. They continued lower into March 22, which is near the middle of the current Mercury retrograde.
The forthcoming week will be interesting for other geocosmic reasons. The Sun will be in conjunction to Uranus in Aries on Saturday, March 24, followed by a waxing square to Pluto on March 29. This is also known as "the Sun translating the forthcoming Uranus-Pluto square." It offers a preview of what to look forward to from late June 2012 through March 2015, when the first of seven exact waxing square aspects take place between Uranus and Pluto.
Longer-Term Thoughts
With Uranus, nothing goes as planned. Surprises abound. The Uranus-Pluto combination, being previewed this week by the transiting Sun, is a dynamic that affects everyone. It is universal and collective in its scope. Many people are likely to be affected at the same time, with similar themes, although strikingly different specifics.
Let us consider a couple of examples from the recent news events. Here are three headlines from Friday's papers: 1) "French Killer's Path to Jihadist Rampage," 2) Sgt. Bales To Face 17 Murder Charges," and 3) "Florida Teen's Death Prompts Rallies." The first story relates to a homegrown terrorist in France who initiated 7 point blank killings in 11 days, the most violent attacks in France in almost two decades. The second relates to an army soldier who also went berserk, went on a rampage and killed 17 Afghan villagers. The third case relates to a neighborhood watch volunteer near Orlando, Florida, who shot a killed an unarmed black teenager. The shooter said he was defending himself. In each case, the killings sparked an outrage – an outrage based on racial, religious, or nationalistic profiling and/or biases of the killer. Are these "hate crimes," or the result of someone just "losing it" and going crazy? Hate crimes fall under the domain of Pluto (especially in Saturn-ruled Capricorn). "Going crazy" relates to Uranus, especially in the war-like sign of Aries. The fact that it provoked large groups of people into action demanding justice (or is it revenge?), is also consistent with Uranus (masses) as well as Pluto in Capricorn (someone must pay for this!). These are not stable times where people, behave normally. Nor are these times in which people are apt to react with compassion and self-control. To the contrary, people act and react with a frenzy that escalates tensions.
Here is another headline from Friday's Wall Street Journal that reflects yet another expression of the forthcoming Uranus-Pluto square: "IRS Ramps Up Audits of Wealthiest." The article starts off by stating, "The Internal Revenue Service expanded its audits of Americans earning more than $500,000 last year with a stark increase for those making more than $1 million." The number of people earning this amount of money who were audited nearly doubled last year from the prior year. But the article concludes, "Despite doing more audits of the wealthy, the IRS hasn't seen a big spike in the income it collects…" In 2011, it collected $31.1 billion in 'enforcement revenues.'" It was up from $29.1 billion in fiscal 2010, hardly comparable to the increase in the number those audited in this class.
I know my liberal friends aren't going to like this, but here is what this story says to me, in line with the forthcoming Uranus-Pluto square (especially with Pluto in Capricorn): Big Brother is not just watching you. Big Brother is punishing those of you who are successful, under the belief that successful people are somehow corrupt and dishonest. The IRS is being used as a weapon of political biases against… people who succeed. Why are successful people being punished and harassed like this? Who made this decision to amp up audits of people making over $500,000 - for what reason other than suspicion or ….what? Is this not comparable to a "hate crime" based on some sort of social profiling? Answer me that!
Yes, I understand the need for compassion and assistance for those who try but are not fortunate in life due to circumstances beyond their control. They do need help. But I cannot understand the need to punish and harass those who are fortunate due to their efforts and abilities applied honestly and with responsibility – even if they are Republicans. The current punitive policy described herein – and consistent with the negative side of Uranus square Pluto – is not a basis for a healthy society, nor is it the right model for a country trying to come to grips with its exploding debt situation. You don't solve a financial crisis by punishing and vilifying your most productive citizens and rewarding those who know how to "game the system" for personal advantage.
Or do you?
Announcements
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We are down to the last 5 DVD's of the "Forecast 2012" webcast of Sunday, February 19, which went extremely well, and covers the "either/or" scenario for U.S. stocks in detail. Perhaps it was our best webcast ever, according to feedback received. The cost for one of the remaining copies of this DVD is $59.95 plus postage. Audio CDs are available also at $45.00, plus postage. To order either, please go to http://www.mmacycles.com/catalogue/multimedia/dvd%27s,-cd%27s-and-archived-broadcast-of-forecast-2012-webcast-now-available!!!/. Or go to our home page at www.mmacycles.com and scroll down to the announcement. For those ordering CD's, a PDF file of the charts will be emailed along with the order. "I just wanted to say that Ray's presentation was EXCELLENT! Great presentation and the WEBINAR was outstanding. Once again…THANK YOU!" Matt M., trader, Boulder, CO.
NEW! Now available Mini-Congress 'Outlook for 2012' on CD!!! Recordings of the congress "Outlook for 2012," held January 21, 2012 in Amsterdam, are now available on CD, with audio and PDFs of PowerPoint slides. All lectures are spoken in English. The following presentations are included on this CD: "2012 End Time of Dawning" by Irma Schogt (20 minutes);"Happy New Year" by Drs. Karen Hamaker-Zondag (20 minutes , regarding ECB and Federal Reserve Board); "2012: The Center of the Storm" by Antonia Langsdorf (20 minutes, regarding Mayan calendar and astrology); "Forecast for 2012" by Raymond Merriman (1 hour). Total length 2 hours, with PowerPoint slides sent online in a PDF document. Cost is $55.00 plus postage. Please go to http://www.mmacycles.com/the-news/about-mma/cd%27s-now-available-on-the-forecast-2012-mini%11congress-in-amsterdam,-january-21,-2012/, or www.mmacycles.com for ordering info.
Copies of the printed version of Forecast 2012 are still available. The E-Book version of the Forecast 2012 Book is also in two different formats, through Apple iTunes, which covers iPhone 4 and 4S, and the iPad, and also Amazon.com Kindle. The cost is $39.99. It does not contain the advertisements or the planetary calendar and ephemeris in the back of the printed copy. 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. "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.
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.
Events:
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. Please let us know if you plan to attend the subscribers' meeting afterwards.
April 27: Scottsdale, AZ. Evening presentation on "Political, Economic and Financial Markets Outlook for 2012." For details, contact programs@azastrologers.org, attention Arlene Houghland.
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 evening on the top floor of the Marriott. If you are interested in attending, please contact us and reserve your space! No cost to subscribers! Otherwise $95.00 to participate.
June 23: Amsterdam. A special 5-hour workshop on "The Gold Market: Forecasting the Future Price of Gold and Silver." 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Victoria Hotel. Sponsored by Schogt Market Timing. This is a special workshop – only on precious metals!!! - you will not want to miss! For further information, please go to http://www.markettiming.nl/en/blog/workshop-gold-and-silver-amsterdam for an exciting event in one of the world's most exciting cities at the most exciting time of the year: the first Uranus-Pluto square will be taking place then! This will be special.
August 2-6, 2012: Midwest Astrology Conference, in Ann Arbor, MI, Holiday Inn. Pre-seminar workshop on Financial Astrology, Thursday, August 2, with Raymond Merriman. More details soon.
September 14-15, 2012: San Diego: Lecture on world economy and national election, and then a workshop on Financial Market Timing. More details shortly.
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.
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