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Comments for the Week Beginning August 11, 2008


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Financial Astrologers can take great satisfaction in the performance of stock markets these past two weeks. Once again, the volatility associated with the Mars-Uranus opposition of August 6 continued this past week. On Tuesday, August 5, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 331 points. On Thursday, August 7, it was down 225 points. And then on Friday it was up another 300+ points. As stated in last week’s column, “So what does all this say about the equity markets this week?... the study of cycles suggest that a decline right now will not take out the lows of July 15-16 in the DJIA before first taking out the highest price that followed the lows of July 15-16.” The low of Monday (11,221) did not take out the lows of July 16, and by the end of the week, the DJIA made a new cycle high as it exceeded the 11,698 high of July 24.

But it was not just in the USA that equity markets performed well. In Europe, all the indices made new monthly highs on Friday after pulling back into trading cycle lows Monday-Tuesday, August 4-5. The stock markets of the Far East also made their weekly lows on Tuesday and then rallied somewhat more modestly as they closed prior to the opening of the western markets that same day. The exception was India, where the NIFTY index soared to its highest level in a month last Wednesday.

Major price moves were also noted in many commodity markets, which plunged last week. Crude Oil, for example, fell to 115.20 on Friday, down over $32.00 from their highs of one month ago. This now qualifies for our minimum price target zone for the 18-month cycle trough, which previously stated would see prices fall at least 30.00-50.00 by October 2008. But it might be even more, related to our prior geocosmic comments. Long-time readers will recall the many discussions of the correlation between crude oil prices and Uranus transiting through Pisces (2003-2010). Uranus in any sign, we stated, would likely correlate to a blow-off “bubble” in the sector of the financial word ruled by the sign it is in, followed by a devastating 50-90% decline before Uranus would leave that sign. Pisces rules Crude Oil. The high usually happens when Uranus is between 10 and 20 degrees of a sign (but not always). The 10-20 degree sector of Uranus in Pisces corresponds to May 2005 through February 2009.

Gold and Silver also fell sharply last week, with Silver now back below $16.00/ounce. This too complies with the 111-week cycle in Silver, as described in our subscription reports over the past couple of months. Currencies versus the U.S. Dollar are also falling hard, related to their 30-month cycle, also covered in these reports. Additionally, grain prices are also falling as Soybeans dropped below $12.00/bu and Corn is nearing the $5.00 mark, levels not seen in several months. All of these sharp declines are due to end between this fall and next spring, after which their long-term trends are likely to resume.

Short-Term Geocosmics

 We now begin yet another time band containing many (20) noteworthy geocosmic signatures from August 13 through September 24. Each of the prior heavily populated geocosmic time bands of this year has produced primary cycle crests or troughs in world equity markets. This one should too. Our major focus during this period will be the first two weeks of September. That is when Jupiter will make its second earth-sign trine to Saturn of this year. The first was on January 21, one day prior to the previous yearly low on of 11,634 in the DJIA on January 22. But within 1-2 days of this important geocosmic signature in early September, both Jupiter and Pluto will change their motion from retrograde to direct. These represent powerful correlates to changes in investor psychology. Perhaps the “good times” that started this week will end around then. More on this in future columns.

 For this week, Venus will conjunct Saturn on August 13, the Sun will be in opposition to Neptune on August 15, Venus will trine Jupiter on August 16, and Mars will square Pluto on August 17. Of these, the Sun-Neptune opposition is the most powerful correlate to market reversals, with a 74% correlation to primary or greater cycles within 13 trading days. It also has a 78% correlation to isolated lows or highs from which the market reverses at least 4% within only 4 trading days. The Venus-Saturn conjunction is important to any financial market making a low that day or the day before. Usually when Venus leaves Saturn, such declines end and these markets start right back up again.

Longer-Term Thoughts

The recent news on the U.S. deficit supports our long-term view associated with the Saturn-Pluto cycle. According to Jeff Jacoby in the August 6 edition of the Boston Globe, “Last week the Bush administration increased its estimated budget deficit… to $482 billion, an all-time high. The deficit could climb even higher, it conceded, since the new projection doesn’t include the full cost of military operations in Iraq or Afghanistan, or the potential drop in tax collections if the economy continues to worsen.” The article goes on to further state that the crushing debt of all deficits adds up to a whopping $9.6 trillion.

In short, the debt is increasing to record levels and so too are the projected budget deficits. And to think that only seven years ago, this country had a budget surplus. Nevertheless, this trend is in accordance with the downside – or waning – phase of the Saturn-Pluto cycle, which is in effect 2001-2020. It is also consistent with the hard aspects of Saturn and Uranus to Pluto (ruler of debt), which will be in force through 2015. During this time frame, there is a historical correlation to the following: increased federal deficits, increased government and individual debt, higher taxes, higher interest rates, higher commodity prices, and stagnant economic and equity market conditions. Can these cyclical patterns be reversed or avoided? Of course. The ultimate outcome of anything is as much dependent on individual or governmental choices as it is upon planetary or cyclical patterns.

The Republicans would have you believe it is the Democrats who would squander away the financial security of this country’s children with their reckless spending behavior. And they might be right when you consider the platform of the two presidential candidates (who will most likely raise taxes? who will most likely spend even more money on projects? who will most likely end the spending on wars in Iraq and elsewhere and thus give a peace dividend? who is most likely to increase taxes on dividend income and thereby deter investors into those companies?). But on the other hand, wasn’t it the Republicans who had control of the House, Senate, and White House after the 2004 elections? Why wasn’t the budget and deficit brought into order then? In fact, the very problems we are experiencing today – the problems that have put this country and other countries on the brink of financial calamity – were largely brought on by the policies that were allowed to prevail during that time within the mortgage banking and financial sectors of the USA economy. It was very interesting on the evening of the Republican landslide victory in November 2004 to hear Newt Gingrich exclaim with great pride that this was the first time in 76 years that Republicans had been elected to control all three branches of the federal government. Simple math will show that 76 years prior to 2004 was 1928. I don’t think the events of 1928-1932 were anything to crow about. The moral of this story? Maybe it is not such a great idea to have all three branches of the Federal government run by the same party. Maybe when that happens, bad things follow in terms of good governance and fiscal responsibility. Maybe it is better to utilize the forefathers’ wisdom of a checks and balances government.

 

Announcements




The “Forecast 2012” webcast will take place on Sunday, February 19, starting at 1:00 PM EST (that’s 6:00 PM GMT or 10:00 AM PST). Via the modern technology of our webinar host, you can log onto this presentation on current markets (both long-term and short-term outlooks) and the political-psychological climate for 2012, in the comfort of your home or office. All you need is a computer with speakers. You can hear the speech and see the live presentation and slide show, complete with the charts as they are being discussed, on your computer screen. The cost for this special event is $45.00. If you are interested in being part of this unique live webcast, just register at the MMA Website (www.mmacycles.com) and scroll down the opening screen for the announcement. Or drop us an email (ordersmma@msn.com) or fax (248-538-5296), or call us at 1-248-626-3034. Instructions to log into this event will be sent upon making reservations. Reserve early (before February 17), for space will be limited.

Many of you have asked about DVD’s or CD’s on the “Forecast 2012 Mini-Congress on January 21 in Amsterdam that I participated in. On the program were also three other excellent speakers on the subject: Irma Schogt of Schogt Market Timing in Amsterdam, plus world renowned astrologer Katen Hammaker-Zondag (specialist in the future of the Euro zone and Euro currency) and Antonia Langsdorf, of Cologne, Germany, who wrote “The Eye of the Storm,” a best-selling rendition about the year 2012 from the point of view of Mayan schools and astrologers. These recording will soon be available through Irma Schogt. We will announce when they will be available, probably within the week. You check in with us next week, or contact Irma directly at www.markettiming.nl.

 

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, 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 (now $850,000).  Thanks for your excellent publications.” - Bryden C., Small Business Owner, Illinois.


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). For further information, please go to the front page of our web site at www.mmacycles.com, 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 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. 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:

February 19, 2012: “Forecast 2012 Worldwide Webcast!!!” This is our annual speech to viewers the world over. It will be the latest update on Raymond Merriman’s annual Forecast Book. Utilizing the study of cycles and geocosmic factors, this speech will focus on the current state of the economy, political situation in Washington, DC, and in particular, the financial markets, including: the U.S. stock market, interest rates, the U.S. Dollar, Gold, and Silver. This will be a telecast of the live presentation taking place at the Michigan Education Conference Center in Troy, Michigan on Square Lake Road. The webcast and speech will start at 1:00 PM, EST and last two hours. Cost to participate in the webcast, or to attend in person in Troy, is $45.00. Go to http://www.mmacycles.com/catalogue/multimedia/forecast-2012-live-webcast-february-19,-2012!!!/ for more information.

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. You must reserve your space for this meeting with MMA.

March 9-11, 2012: The 12th Annual Balkan International Conference, Belgrade, Serbia. Featuring a pre-seminar workshop 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.

June 23: Amsterdam. A special 5-hour workshop on “The Gold Market: Forecasting the Price of Gold” Details to be announced shortly, but mark your calendars 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!

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.
details soon.

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).

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