Menu Content

Merriman Market Analyst

Home arrow Weekly Preview arrow Comments for the Week Beginning March 2, 2009
Advertisement
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.
Flowchart on MMA Products and Services
Comments for the Week Beginning March 2, 2009

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 exaggeration 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




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).

Archives

Previous weeklies (2006) are archived at www.olmta.com

For other language editions of MMA´s weekly comments:


Owners of websites:

This Weekly Market Climate is available for co-branding. Call 1-800-662-3349 for details.