For those not as familiar with the history of this blogspot, let me explain why we include the public weekly comments of Raymond Merriman (and his MMA website is included in the "other sites of interest" listed at the right side of this page). The initiating reason is that these were included at the website of my late, best trading mentor, who referred to them from time to time. As I started to read them, I came to find them intriguing. For one thing, Merriman often predicts major highs or lows for certain asset classes that work out well - sometimes with a bit of slippage in timing, but that hasn't been a worry for me because it's been close enough to work for my swing trading. Also, he incorporates a certain amount of classic support/resistance and cycles analysis into these calls, so it's informed by his financial astrology rather than generated solely by that. Finally, his descriptions of the social mood are very interesting and do a good job of summarizing and tying political and sociological factors with market movements.
Later this weekend, we'll get into our usual round of posting the economic calendar at the related UBTNB3 site, along with review of charts on major markets, technical and sentiment indicators, Elliott Wave analysis especially with Tony Caldaro's Objective Elliott Wave and additional wave counts we can offer, and the Turning Points trend & reversal analysis from Andre Gratian. Along with the weekly cycle charts from ChartsEdge forecasting next week's equities and gold markets movements. So, these comments from Merriman "kick off" our weekend reviews - enjoy!
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Comments for the Week Beginning March 2, 2009
Written by Raymond Merriman
Review and Preview
It was a very good week for Financial Astrology, but it wasn’t a very good week for most equity markets around the world. Several stock indices – like the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the AEX of Amsterdam – fell to their lowest levels in over 10 years. Others – like Germany’s DAX and Switzerland’s SMI indices – fell to their lowest level since 2004. And yet others were down last week, but not below their lows of last October and November (London FTSE, Australia All Ordinaries, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng, India’s NIFTY, Brazil’s Bovespa, Argentina’s Merval, and the USA NASDAQ Composite). If they can all close in the upper third of their range this coming week, it would be a case of intermarket bullish divergence. But that might be wishful thinking, and would certainly be on the order of the geocosmic signatures now in force as discussed last week (i.e. Sun in Pisces, Jupiter approaching its 14-year conjunction to Neptune). This is a season of hopes and fears, dreams and nightmares. It will be a period in which defining reality will represent a greater challenge than usual.
In other markets, precious metals fell sharply last week, with Gold trading as low as 927 on Friday, after closing barely above 1000 the week before. Silver futures made a new multi-month high on Monday at 1463 (May contract). But by Friday, they were down to 1282, nearly 200 points lower. This is certainly consistent with heliocentric Mercury in Sagittarius, which starts out strong, but oftentimes ends up in a collapse. Crude Oil, on the other hand, rose to 45.30 last Thursday, a gain of 35% since the low of 33.55 on February 12, when the Sun was conjunct Neptune.
Short-Term Geocosmics
This week will begin the strongest cluster of geocosmic signatures to unfold yet in this new year. On Friday, March 6, Venus will turn retrograde until April 17. This is a Level One signature as reported in Volume 3 of our Stock Market Timing series (“Geocosmic Correlations to Trading Cycles”). In fact, it is one of the most powerful and consistent correlations to primary or greater cycles that we know of. In 78% of the instances studied, such a cycle has culminated within 12 trading days. Two days later, on March 8, another Level One signature appears. That is when the Sun will be in opposition to Saturn. This will also start the Sun’s translation to the developing Saturn-Uranus-Pluto T-square, which will last through March 23. In the past 15 months, this has had a strong correlation to sharp sell-offs in equity prices around the world.
One geocosmic signature that we will want to pay very close attention to is the full moon of March 10. This is a particularly powerful full moon, for the Sun will be in conjunction to Uranus and the moon in conjunction to Saturn. In other words, it will fall upon the Saturn-Uranus opposition, the most important of the long-term geocosmic signatures in effect November 2008 through July 2010. This is the long-term signature that most correlates with the kind of sudden and serious shock to the system that we have been entangled with over the past six months. In fact, a case can be made that state of crisis officially began six months ago when the opposite full moon occurred on September 15, 2008. That was the week when several banks and financial institutions collapsed. Just recently, Federal Reserve Board Chair Ben Bernanke acknowledged just how close the entire financial system came to a total collapse at that time. Well, here comes the second wave. Let’s pray (a good Jupiter-Neptune activity) we are better prepared this time, for if not, another full moon on the Saturn-Uranus opposition could coincide with another break of support, with the corresponding sense of panic and hysteria. In other words, the possibility of a sharp decline in stock indices is very high this week. Like the terrorist alert system, let’s say stock markets are now on “red alert.”
Longer-Term Thoughts
Attention all Financial Astrologers: do the major economic stories of last week seem like the principles of Jupiter and Neptune in conjunction starting up? Do they not seem like the Sun starting its transit through Pisces, which is the natural home to both Jupiter and Neptune? Are we being realistic or are we in a dream where it seems like that film “Groundhog Day,” in which every day seems to be a repeat of something experienced the day before (or was it that we dreamed it before), but its not quite exactly the same?
If memory serves me correctly (and there can be no guarantee of that under the influences of Pisces and Neptune), it was in 2005, shortly after being re-elected, that President George W. Bush proclaimed he would cut the budget deficit in half within 4 years, by 2009 (the year he is out of office – how convenient was that?). This was in response to the news that the budget deficit had increased to a record level then. Now flash forward to last week. The House of Representatives passed a new $410 billion spending bill, which contained twice as much “pork” (“earmarks” for special interests) as anyone expected. For instance, in this new spending bill, $200,000 is earmarked for “tattoo removal” in Los Angeles, sponsored by California’s representative Howard Berman. What is wrong with this? First of all, this new spending bill follows the passage of the $787 billion “stimulus package” that was approved the prior week. Second, didn’t President Obama just promise that he would not allow any more “earmarks” like this (and $7.7 billion more in this new spending bill)? But here is what is “déjà vu” all over again. Also last week a $643 billion health coverage plan was announced. That means that in the past 10 days, government spending programs have been announced of 787 billion, 410 billion, 643 billion… and within hours of the last announcement, the White House claims that in 4 years (2013, the year Obama’s first term ends) their programs will cut the budget deficit by – guess what - in half! How convenient! How believable once again! And how tragic the possibilities will be for the next generation if they – we - are wrong again.
But that is not the only area where Jupiter and Neptune are picking up bonus miles for flights of fantasy. Three years ago, as he was appointed the new Federal Reserve Board Chair, Ben Bernanke proudly announced to all those leaders who swore him in, that under his leadership, the USA would never again enter into a banking crisis like that of the Great Depression. Yes, I know that was before Hank Paulsen was appointed as the Treasury Secretary and the unstoppable multi-headed debt monster began to take its first incarnation of TARP (and soon there will be TARP 2). But then last week, the same Chairman Bernanke looks straight into the eyes of Congress, and announces that in his mind there is no doubt that inflation is not and will not be a problem (just as three years ago there was no doubt in his mind that the US economy and banking system would ever again experience a crisis like the Great Depression). You will note that in his natal chart (December 13, 1953, Augusta, GA, no time) he has the Sun in Sagittarius, in exact opposition to its ruler Jupiter in Gemini, and both are being squared by the current Saturn-Uranus opposition (making a Grand Square). This could imply a tendency towards over confidence and maybe even exageration or questionable judgment.
We are back in the land of Pisces, the times leading into the Jupiter-Neptune plane of reality, where hopes and dreams of a perfect world can be seen everywhere if you just…. believe. President Obama promised to end this practice of spending taxpayer monies on “pork,” and also to support beneficial programs (like education) that would create new jobs. Here comes his first test on fulfilling that promise. Let’s see if the “line item veto” has a brighter future than tattoo removal artists.
Announcements
We are going to have another webcast, a “Virtual On-line Discussion and Market Update with Raymond Merriman!” But we are changing the date, due to my participation in the OPA conference taking place April 15-19 in Big Sur, California. It will now take place two weeks later, on Saturday, May 2, 2009, just after Venus goes direct and just before the first of the three Jupiter-Neptune conjunction passages. Starting time is 12:00 PM EDT (that’s 5:00 PM, GMT, or 9:00 AM, in Los Angeles). Via the modern technology of Vivation, Inc, this “latest update” discussion on current markets (both long-term and short-term outlooks), can be heard and seen in the comfort of your home or office. All you need is a computer with speakers. You will be able to be part of the live broadcast, with a live audience, and with the latest charts visible on your computer screen that will be the focus of this presentation. You can ask questions directly to the speaker (Merriman) during this presentation. You can see and hear the other questions being asked by those in the audience too. You will be given long in instructions upon receipt of your reservation for this event. This webcast will analyze the stock market, Gold and Silver, currencies, grains, T-Notes, and Crude Oil. It is a webcast you won’t want to miss if you are a trader or investor in any of these markets. The cost for this private discussion is $45.00. If you are interested in being part of this on line event, go to http://www.mmacycles.com/virtual/ to register on-line. Or drop us an email (ordersmma@msn.com) or fax (248-538-5296), or call us at 1-248-626-3034, and we will email instructions and pin number on how to participate.
We have been asked if there are any Spanish-speaking “Market Timing” or Financial Astrology” chat rooms on the internet? If anyone knows, would you kindly let us know so that we can inform our clients who seek such a forum? Thank you!
For those interested in learning or improving your understanding of astrology, please note that a fantastic conference in Astrology is going to take place August 19-24, 2009, at the luxurious Oakbrook Hills Marriot Resort, just outside of Chicago (not far from O’Hare Airport). This will be the ISAR (International Society for Astrological Research) 2009 conference, featuring over 80 professional astrologers form all over the world, including Jeff Jawer, Rick Levine, Michael Lutin, Claude Weiss, Nick Campion, Verena Bachmann, and several Financial Astrologers, including myself. There will be a whole track on Financial Astrology, and I will be giving a one-day workshop on Financial Astrology the day after the main conference. For more information, and registration, please go to www.isar2009.com. For those who golf, note that this resort has one of the most impressive golf courses on the PGA tour. Golf where the pros golf, and learn astrology from some of the best astrologers in the world, all at the same time!
If you are an active short-term trader, you may be interested in our Weekly or even Daily Market reports with short-term trading recommendations. It is the only way I keep in touch with traders on a daily or even weekly basis. These reports give in-depth analysis of the DJIA, S&P and NASDAQ futures, Euro currency (cash and futures), Swiss Franc, Dollar/Yen cash and Yen futures, T-Notes, Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Gold and Silver. The daily reports cover all stock indices listed above, as well as futures in Euro, T-Notes, Soybeans, Gold and Silver. 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. In the words of one of our subscribers: “I recently subscribed to your weekly report and am finding it to be excellent and a very useful companion to the MMA Cycles Report. I can't imagine now managing my investments without them.”
You can now order the Forecast 2009 book in four languages! It is available in Japanese at http://www.toushinippou.co.jp/, in German at www.mma-europe.ch and www.mma-europe.de, and in Spanish via www.mmacycles-spanish.com. In Serbian, you can order a PDF file of the book at www.mma-balkan.com. In English, you can order directly from us, via our web site, or you can order from www.markettiming.nl in Netherlands, www.astrodata.com in Zurich, and Earlthorn Ltd in Hong Kong at www.earlthorn.com or by email at earlthorn2000@yahoo.com. In Melbourne, Australia, you may order the Forecast 2009 book at www.educatedinvestor.com.au, or by email at investorbooks@iprimus.com.
Our new 2009 MMA catalogue is now out! If you are interested in receiving this catalogue, you can download it directly from our website at http://www.mmacycles.com/freedownload/. A list of all our products and services and software programs is included therein.
The German version of “Merriman on Market Cycles: The Basics” is now in print. It is also a revision of the earlier work in English. For more information on this book, please go to our German web site at http://www.mma-europe.ch/.
We have added a valuable new feature to our web site. Now, on the very front page, you can get a daily update on the weighted values of the Solar-Lunar cycles for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Silver market, via the studies conducted in “The Ultimate Book on Sock Market Timing Vol 4: Solar-Lunar Correlations to Trading Cycles,” and “The Sun, Moon and Silver Market: Secrets of a Silver Trader.” These are the studies I use personally for short-term trading of stock index futures, ETFs (like DIA and Silver fund), and Silver futures. Anything over 100 means it has an above-average correlation to reversing from an isolated high or low if it forms that day. The higher the value, the more probable the reversal. To see these daily values, please go to http://www.mmacycles.com/, and just check it out on the top of the page.
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:
Dutch : www.markettiming.nl (Nederlands)
French : www.lecochonsideral.info (Francais)
German : www.astrodata.ch (Deutch)
Japanese : www.astrology.jp
Polish : www.astrobiznes.pl
Please note: This is not the same as our service titled "MMA Weekly Comments and Recommendations on Financial Markets" which is available by subscription only.
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