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Comments For The week Beginning December 17, 2007
Written by Raymond Merriman   

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The powerful rally that began in world equity markets within two trading days of the Uranus stationary direct point of November 24, reached its peak early last week as the 13-year Jupiter-Pluto conjunction unfolded on December 11. This was right into critical reversal zone as described in last week’s column, and in our recent subscription reports. It was also the day that the Federal Reserve Board did what we expected – it lowered the Fed Funds rate by a quarter point and tacked on a cut to the discount rate too. The Dow Jones Industrial Average promptly began a sell-off of nearly 300 points by the end of that day. Other world indices followed. Stock traders clearly were not impressed with only a quarter point cut, and showed their displeasure with Bernanke and company accordingly. In fact, it might be an indication of the street’s disappointment in Mr. Bernanke as of late. In the wording that followed, the FED seemed to indicate that the concern about inflation was moderating. The risks of inflation were now balanced against the risk of an economic slow-down. By Friday, that type of guidance by the FED proved about as useless as a stock tip from your neighborhood bar patrons. The CPI inflation report on Friday morning showed a much higher-than-expected rise of .8% for the month. Once again, the FED seemed to demonstrate that it is not interested in doing anything about preventing inflation, except to talk strong about it. All their actions in the past year have been pro-inflationary, or at least not anti-inflationary. It is clear their primary intent is to try to avoid a recession and continue fueling growth in the economy (and confidence in it), and hope that strong warnings and words alone will fight off inflation. But it appears the Street is getting wise to this game. I don’t think they like Bernanke and team much after this week.

As the stock markets promptly started to give back a big chunk of their gains, many indices now find prices testing their 25-day moving average already. This week thus begins a critical juncture for world indices. Will they complete a corrective decline this week and resume their new up trends started in late November? Or is the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction such a powerful reversal force that these indices will continue falling even harder, and even past their lows of last August and November?

Stocks indices weren’t the only markets to experience a pullback last week. All foreign currencies (vis-à-vis) the U.S. Dollar also declined. Most significant may be the fall in the Euro currency, which as explained in our recent newsletters, was due to make a top and begin a noteworthy decline into its 26-month cycle trough, due shortly. Silver also fell hard. After posting a multi-week high at 1497 on December 12, the March contract fell all the way down to 1389 the next two days, its lowest level in two months.

Short-Term Geocosmics

We just left one powerful geocosmic reversal zone of December 7 through December 11. And now we begin another that lasts much longer: December 18 through January 12. This reversal zone may be compromised a bit due to holiday markets. The volume is apt to be low during the central part of this reversal period, and in fact many days will find markets closed altogether. Still, some of the signatures have strong historical correspondence to primary or greater cycles in stocks and commodities, and deserve to be treated carefully. One of the more important signatures in this cluster happens this Wednesday as Saturn turns retrograde. Saturn stations, along with Venus and Uranus stations, have the highest correlation of all planetary stations to important reversals in U.S. stock indices, as reported in “The Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing Volume 3: Geocosmic Correlations to Trading Cycles” (it makes a great holiday gift for that special trading friend). As demonstrated therein, Saturn retrograde has a 65% correlation to primary cycles within an orb of 11 trading days, and a 70% correlation to 4% or greater reversals within only 4 trading days. That’s the statistics. The astrological observation is that any financial markets that are declining into Saturn stations have a high probability of bottoming and turning right back up again within a couple of trading days. And as one can see, there are a number of financial markets that are declining right now, including precious metals, currencies, treasuries, and stocks. Yet as we know from our studies of astrology, Saturn and squares are not always bearish, nor are trines and Jupiter always bullish. And thus those markets that have been rising may peak out now too, like grains, which have been soaring again as of late. Wheat is again making new all-time highs, Soybeans are making new contract highs, and Corn is back at its ten-year high recorded last June.

The following week will find the Sun and Jupiter conjunct, and both in a rare opposition to Mars during the same week. As indicated before, Jupiter has tendency to expand or exaggerate things whenever it is in force, especially with Mars. So, even with the holidays talking place then, we might see large price swings. These signatures indicate the potential for either euphoria or panic. And since Jupiter and Sun conjunct the Federal Reserve Board’s natal Sun (and opposite its natal Pluto), and since the stock market is clearly showing its displeasure with the FED by declining, we may see yet another surprise rate cut before the holiday season is over. That would make everyone euphoric and in the holiday mood. And wouldn’t Bernanke, the Sagittarian, be the perfect person to be cast in the role of Santa Clause – especially after what happened this week?

Longer-Term Thoughts

The last two weeks have not been good for President George W. Bush. This station of Saturn is taking place right on his natal Mars. Mars is the planet of action, of wanting to something and do it now – especially if it involves combat. His progressed Mars is conjoining his natal Moon and Jupiter in Libra, a signature I reported in last year’s Forecast Book would indicate expanding U.S. military involvement overseas, and not withdrawing forces as the special Baker-Hamilton Commission he appointed suggested. And in the past two weeks comes an intelligence report (NIE) that states that in 2004 Iran stopped its nuclear development program that the White House was so concerned about. And this past week comes another report that the CIA “… destroyed videotaped interrogations (that) could permit defense lawyers to raise the specter of a CIA coverup to cast doubt on evidence,” according to the Wall Street Journal, December 8, 2007.

You may remember that the most significant long-term planetary aspect in effect this past year was the Saturn-Neptune opposition. And you may remember that this aspect has a historical correlation of leaders being questioned (“special investigations”) as to “what they knew and when they knew it,” as the public becomes increasingly suspicious of whether or not it is being told the truth. Think of Watergate in 1971-72, the last time this aspect unfolded. But it wasn’t until 1973-74 that the matter was raised to the public’s awareness and the consequences took effect. Or even the quarter cycles that occurred in 1989 when George Bush Sr. was president and promised not raise taxes, but did just that after being elected. Or Bill Clinton in 1998 (another quarter cycle of Saturn-Neptune) saying right on television that “I never had sex with that woman,” only to find out a few weeks later that wasn’t exactly true (depends on what the meaning of “is” is). What happened in 2006-2007 may not be fully known right now. But chances are it will be coming out within the next two years, and maybe even few months. The thing is, American don’t like to be lied to by their leaders. They don’t like to be duped into entering wars either without verifiable intelligence that supports the threat their leader tells them is present.

Is Iran a threat? Is the leader of a country who claims that Israel needs to be wiped off the earth a potential threat? I tend to think so. But the credibility of those who oppose this leader is severely hampered when their own words – or the words of the highly regarded intelligence agencies - are found to be wanting in accuracy. And when that happens, it is not surprising that one’s desire to do what he wishes is severely curtailed by his opponents. And that is not uncommon when transiting Saturn sits right on one’s natal Mars for a few weeks. The good news for Mr. Bush is that this aspect leaves in about a month. The bad news it will return again in a couple of months. The consequence of what is being learned now is not over.

 

Announcements

We are now accepting orders for the Forecast 2011 book now via phone (1-248-626-3034), fax (1-248-538-5296), email (ordersmma@msn.com), or through our shopping cart online (www.mmacycles.com). We are pleased to announce the price will remain the same as last year. That is $55.00 if ordered after October 31, and $45.00 if ordered before (plus postage). We will also be offering special 10% discount rate for our subscription services to those who also pre-order Forecast 2011. This is a great deal, for in the words of one of our daily subscribers recently, “I don't know whether you want to hear/take any comments at all but I wanted to say that, so far, I am a very happy camper and the only thing which I think that I did wrong with subscribing to your service that I did it TOO LATE! What was I thinking....? :-)" – R. Rood, Lugano, Switzerland, futures trader and technical analyst, former cash grain trader.

For a review of the forecasts from the Forecast 2010 book, please go to www.mmacycles.com, and scroll down to about the third or fourth article on the opening screen. Or go directly to http://www.mmacycles.com/the-news/about-mma/scorecard-for-forecasts-2010/.

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, Soybeans, 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. Subscription to the daily report also includes the weekly report. For more information, call our offices at 1-248-626-3034, or go to http://www.mmacycles.com/services. 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.” Order now with the Forecast 2011 Book and receive a special 10% rate reduction on these services through October.

The monthly MMA Cycles Report and its companions – the MMA Japan Cycles Report and MMA European Cycles Report – went out last week. If you are a subscriber and did not receive it, contact us at once. This report covers our longer-term analysis of the U.S. stock market, precious metals, crude oil, currencies, Treasury Notes, and grain markets. The MMA Japan Cycles report covers the Nikkei, JGB Bonds, and the Dollar-Yen. The new MMA European Cycles Report covers the German DAX, Swiss SMI, and Netherlands AEX, each in English only. These reports are included in the Japanese, German, and Dutch translated MMA Cycles Report respectively. New yearly (or renewing) subscribers to these reports will receive a free copy of the Forecast 2010 book while supplies last (see below). You also qualify for a special discount on a yearly subscription if at the same time you pre-order Forecast 2011. For subscription information, please go to SERVICES at www.mmacycles.com.

CD’s DVD’s, and MP3’s of the July 11 webcast are now available!!! Each of these various ways to see the event can now be ordered via our website at www.mmacycles.com (just click the opening banner), or by calling 1-248-3034 or email operations at ordersmma@msn.com. The cost of each is $45.00, plus postage if necessary. This webcast covered our outlook for stocks, precious metals, interest rates and Treasuries, foreign currencies vis-à-vis the U.S. Dollar, and Grains. We pick this time because it was right before the astrological midpoint of the Cardinal Climax, which is taking place now. It may be the peak of the huge trend reversals expected in many of these markets, aided and abetted by major changes of trend in geopolitical matters. It is interesting to see how the stocks, grains and currencies moved right up into this time band, as outlined in this presentation. You won’t want to miss this. Order now, because most of the trading opportunities presented are in effect mainly from July 21 through October 8, 2010!!!

ForumOnAstrology.com is holding a three-day video conference on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, October 1st, 2nd, and 3, 2010. This pioneering Internet astrological conference features dozens of internationally known speakers.  Very economically priced, all participants have access to all live broadcasts with the ability to replay them from the archives for up to three months. Call (212) 929-4507 or email Inquiries@ForumOnAstrology.com.

I am oftentimes asked for recommendations of a money manager who uses my methods, since I won’t manage other people’s money. That is especially true now with the uncertainty in the market place as of late. The thing is, almost all money managers I know use their own systems. But many subscribe to my services and share my thoughts about the future of the economy, various financial markets, and how to position one’s portfolio along these lines. One money manager who subscribes to our services that I would suggest for those looking to structure a longer-term portfolio, such as a retirement account, is Duke O’Neill of Capstone Capital Wealth Management, Boulder, Colorado. He can be reached at dukeoneil1@gmail.com, or 1-(303) 247-0600. For those looking for a professional trader of commodity and futures contract might consider Ted Lee Fisher at ted.fisher@comcast.net. Ted is a legend in financial futures and has a seat on the CME. Both are very knowledgeable of the tools I use, of the way I am looking at markets, and yet each makes their own decisions as exactly when to enter and exit any market. I would also like to recommend long-term MMA subscriber Erwin Brunner of Zurich, Switzerland. Mr. Brunner is the founder of BrunnerInvest AG. One of his five funds was awarded the “Best in-house fund of funds” in the world recently. Mr. Brunner is a former director of the Swiss Banking Corporation (today it is known as UBS), and a general director of Rothschild Bank in Zurich. As an independent wealth manager for high net worth individuals and institutional clients only, he places his clients into the funds of the best performing fund managers in the world, via his own research and experience. For high net worth readers interested in Mr. Brunner’s funds, please contact him through www.brunnerinvest.ch.

 

OK. You’ve asked about classes in Financial Astrology, and I am giving two of them in great South American cities in late September and early October. Since these constitute “investment education,” many of you will be able to write the expenses of this trip off (travel, some meals, and cost of conferences). Here are some more details of each – and I hope to see many subscribers at each:

September 23-26, 2010: Buenos Aires! Seminar on Financial and Mundane Astrology with Raymond Merriman and others, with special emphasis on Argentina’s Merval Index and precious metals and whatever else is of interest to participants, for each Financial Astrology workshop is different. For more information, contact Claudia Rizzi at astrologycr@gmail.com, or visit our web site at www.mmacycles-spanish.com. If you only speak Spanish, go to www.astrologiamundana2010.blogspot.com. We will host a special gathering of MMA Subscribers at the end of the seminar, depending on interest expressed. 

October 1-2, 2010: Rio de Janeiro! Workshop on Financial Astrology with Raymond Merriman, plus a Mundane Astrology panel with Merriman and others. The workshop will have with special emphasis on Brazil’s Bovespa Index and precious metals, and whatever else is of interest to participants. For more information, contact Renato Chebar at astrologiafinanceira@gmail.com. We may host a special gathering for MMA Subscribers on Sunday, October 3, the day of Brazil’s elections, if enough subscribers request such a meeting.

January 14-16, 2011, Zurich, Switzerland. “Forecasts 2011” symposia featuring top mundane and financial astrologers, plus one day workshop on Financial Market Timing with Ray Merriman, to be followed by a special meeting with MMA Subscribers (at no cost). For more details, go to www.astrodata.ch.

March 10-12, 2011: Mexico City, Mexico. Speech on Forecasts 2011, and workshop on “Evolutionary Astrology: The Journey of the Soul Through States of Consciousness.” For information, please contact acuario888@gmail.com.

April 28 and 30, 2011: Kansas City, Mo. “Forecasts for 2011” and “Financial Astrology Workshop” with Raymond Merriman. Sponsored by AOA. Details soon. This will be the next Financial Astrology workshop in the United States.

September 1-8, 2011: Bali! "Financial Astrology" Intensive workshop with Raymond Merriman, and "Mundane Astrology" with Claude Weiss. For more information on this unique week-long intensive and incredible South Pacific paradise adventure, please go to http://www.heavenandearthworkshops.com/financial.html.

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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