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Comments for the Week beginning May 7, 2007
Weekly Preview - MMA Comments for the Week
Written by Raymond Merriman   

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The magnet of the forthcoming Jupiter-Uranus square of May 10-11 continues. After making a slight corrective decline into early last week, as Mars “translated” the Jupiter-Uranus square, prices quickly resumed their uptrend, with many indices posting new all-time (or multi-year) highs by the end of the week.

In Europe, the Netherlands AEX and London FTSE marched to their highest levels since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. The German DAX raced to its highest level since April 2000, and now very close to its all-time high of 8136 posted just one month prior to that, in March 2000. But the Swiss stock index failed to make a new high last week, falling a little short of the 9515 all-time high of April 26.

In the Pacific Rim, the Australian All Ordinaries continued its amazing ascent to yet another new all-time high, hitting 6296 on Friday. The Hang Seng of Hong Kong also rallied smartly, reaching 20,883 last week, just slightly under tits all-time high of 20,971 posted on January 24, 2007. But in Japan, the Nikkei was far from spectacular, closing around 17,395, considerably down from its yearly high of 18,300 recorded back on February 26, and not even close to its all-time high of over 39,000 back in late 1989.

In the Americas, the Dow Jones again soared to a new all-time high on Friday, reaching 13,284. The NASDAQ Composite rallied to 2577, its highest level since February 2001. In South America, Brazil’s Bovespa finally crossed the 50,000 threshold for the first tome, hitting 50,318 on Friday. But in Argentina, the Merval Index actually fell most of the week. So in every region we witnessed many indices with impressive advances to new multi-year highs, but we also saw at least one index in each region that was far from their recent highs, for a continuation of the intermarket bearish divergence, still a warning that all may not be as wonderful as the headlines blare. Not everybody everywhere is realizing the benefits of stock market gains.

In precious metals, both Gold, and Silver fell to the lowest levels in about a month as of Wednesday. But then they suddenly reversed and commenced strong rallies into the end of the week, especially in Gold. Crude Oil did the opposite, a sit fell it 61.56 on Friday, down over 5.00/barrel form the 66.79 highs of one week ago, April 27. But don’t expect to see that decline reflected in prices at the gas pump, as the summer driving season ramps up. In other markets, Corn appears to have completed its recent corrective decline, as prices are once again challenge the $4.00/bushel mark in the July contract. As stated before, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Crude Oil and Corn both make new all-time highs in the next year, as Saturn approaches its opposition Uranus. The problem is not going to be deflation, but inflation, if the FED continues to flood the market with more and more money, as they appear to be doing ever since they decided to no longer report the M3 money supply figures. Gold at $4000.00 and the DJIA at 50,000 sound like far-out and crazy projections today. But in terms of real dollars (inflation adjusted), such levels may still be far below the all-time purchasing value of these commodities and securities, if this pace continues.  But I think we are due for an interruption in this pace very shortly.

Short-Term Geocosmics

This is the week we have been waiting for. On May 10 (USA) and 11 (Europe and Asia) the second passage of the Jupiter-Uranus square, due to the retrograde of Jupiter, takes place. As stated last week, “The first passage was January 22, which coincided with the 4-year cycle trough in Crude Oil and the yearly high in Dollar-Yen, and a primary cycle trough in Treasuries, all within one week.” And once again we see Crude Oil falling rather sharply, and the Dollar-Yen rising rather sharply, as we enter this week.

Jupiter pertains to the principle of euphoria, exaggeration, optimism, and also panic and hysteria. Do you think there is some of that collective psychology evident in today’s investors and market commentators? How many market commentators did you hear this week that talked about the pressure on portfolio managers and investors being ‘forced into buying stocks” this week because they feared (panic) being left out of this market run? Uranus rules the principle of sudden reversals, as well as breakouts beyond support and resistance levels. A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I thought we could a few days of triple digits gains or losses as we entered this April 19-0May 13 time frame , dominated by this Jupiter-Uranus square. So far we have only seen the gains as we approach this powerful signature. Once it ends, could we see triple digit down days? Yes, it is possible, and maybe even record or near record down days, for that is the nature of Jupiter (exaggeration) and Uranus (reversals without warning).

But it not just Jupiter and Uranus one has to be concerned about this week. In addition, the Sun will now start its translation to the forthcoming Saturn-Neptune opposition. It will form a T-square to “the other” significant geocosmic signature of this year, when it first forms the waning square to Saturn on Wednesday, May 9, and then the waxing square to Neptune on next Saturday, May 12. This Jupiter-Uranus “freight train” of a rally could spill over into this translation period before a sobering reality sets in the following week. Such a rude awakening may be further set off with Mars forming a waxing square to Pluto the day after (May 13). This later is a signature of threats again to human lives, especially through acts of terrorism. However, as we seem to have become immune to the shock of such violent acts over the past couple of years, and have witnessed equity rallies continue in spite of such horrific news, it is possible that the momentum of this rally could spill over even into Neptune turning retrograde (May 24), or the Sun in opposition to Jupiter (June 5). Picking tops that actually turn the market for more than 2-5 days has proved to be quite a challenge over the past several months. But it was that way in late 1986 through much of 1987 too, under another Jupiter-Uranus signature (see below).

Long-Term Thoughts

We had a few letters during the past two weeks asking about the status of the 4-year cycle, with some wondering why I haven’t referred to this cycle lately. First of all, let me assure you that I do still refer to this cycle. Each of our subscription reports (“MMA Cycles Report ” and the “SOS Stock Market Cycles Report ”) dedicates a good portion of the discussion to the current phasing of this cycle, and what it is suggesting in the near-term. After all, it is the most important of the long-term cycles coming due.

The 4-year cycle has an orb of one year. That is, in every case since 1893, it has occurred in either the third, fourth, or fifth year. The only time that failed was in the 1932-1938 case. It took six years in that instance – the only instance of the last 28 completed cases to take that long. Thus, since the autumn of 2005, I have kept readers alert to the high probability that this cycle is due, somewhere between 2005 and 2007, given that this 4-year cycle last unfolded on October 10, 2002. The fact that it hasn’t occurred yet does not mean the cycle has failed (or, as some would perhaps like to believe, that I have failed). We are still in the fifth year, with several months yet to go, before we can say that this cycle failed in this instance. I know that readers may get impatient, waiting for a cycle to unfold that is due over a 3-year period. But impatience doesn’t negate its existence, just because it didn’t occur in the beginning or middle of its expected time band. The time band is still in effect, regardless of one’s impatience or eagerness to dismiss something before its time is up.

It is also important to note that the United States was one of the very few countries whose equity markets experienced the 4-year cycle as early as October 10, 2002. Most of the other world markets had their 4-year cycle trough unfold in March or April 2003, coincident with the U.S.-led “regime change” in Iraq. At that time, the DJIA went down sharply and tested its low of October 2002, but it held in a chart pattern known as a “double bottom.” But the point is this: in the United States, this is the 5th year of the 4-year cycle (with a range of 3-5 years). But in almost every other country in the world, it is still only the 4th year. If it occurs before the end of this year, it will be right in the middle of the expected time band for all these other countries.

And finally, to get historical perspective of other 4-year cycles in the U.S. that took 5 years to complete, simply look back to the last instance. That was 20 years ago, from the low of August 1982 through the low of October 1987. Yes, it took 5 years to unfold. And if you can remember back that far, the crest took exactly 5 years to culminate, with the all-time high (at that point) occurring in August 1987 at 2744 in the DJIA. Less than two months later the DJIA lost 40% of its value as prices dropped to test the 1600 level, following the “Black Monday” collapse of 22% (over 500 points) on October 19. The pattern of rising prices and the public sentiment of extreme bullishness were very much like what we see today. So was the fact that that high - like the high of May 2006 – occurred under a Jupiter-Uranus aspect passage. What we are observing today is not that much different than what we went through 20 year ago. This is not a “whole new ballgame,” as many of today’s bulls (and Wall Street execs) would like everyone to believe. Am I a bear trying to “talk this market down?” Not at all. Nor am I a Wall Street “suit” trying to convince you that this is an entirely new ballgame we are in. I am an analyst sharing with you my understanding of how these cycles – present today - have worked in the past

The time band for the 4-year cycle is still in effect. The year is not over, nor is the passages of this phase of the 14-year Jupiter-Uranus signature.

 

Announcements

The monthly MMA Cycles Report and its companions – the MMA Japan Cycles Report and MMA European Cycles Report – will come out this week, Monday and Tuesday, via posting on our web site, and attachment via direct emails, for subscribers. This report covers our longer-term analysis of the U.S. stock market, precious metals, crude oil, currencies, Treasury Notes, grain markets, and now GLD and SLV – the ETF’s of Gold and Silver. The MMA Japan Cycles report covers the Nikkei, JGB Bonds, and the Dollar-Yen. The MMA European Cycles Report covers the German DAX, Swiss SMI, and Netherlands AEX, each in English only, and will be available on Wednesday. Go to http://www.mmacycles.com/catalogue/subscription-services/mma-cycles-report/, for further information and subscription.

The DVD of the Denver Workshop on Financial Market Timing is now available!!! This financial markets workshop offers a completely unique and original perspective, integrating 1) Market Timing studies, 2) Price Objective calculations, 3) Technical Analysis, 4) Pattern Recognition studies, and 5) Trend Analysis. The primary focus of this workshop is on Market Timing Studies, particularly Cycles Analysis and Geocosmic Studies, as leading indicators that identify when to anticipate a reversal in all financial markets. Gold and the U.S. stock market are studied in great detail, especially regarding their current status. There is a wealth of timely and valuable information in this DVD, especially pertaining the forthcoming Venus retrograde period (May 15-June 27), the forthcoming Uranus-Pluto square of June 24, 2012, lasting through March 2015, and the important Jupiter correlation to stock market cycles coming up August-November 2012 and March-May 2013. The cost for this 4-hour DVD workshop is $180.00 plus postage. To order, please go to http://www.mmacycles.com/catalogue/multimedia/dvd-of-boulder-workshop-on-financial-market-timing!!!/. Or call Amber at 1-248-626-3034. If you are a trader or investor who appreciates the value of market timing – especially in the next few months – this is a presentation you will not want to miss!

 

June 23: A special 5-hour workshop on “The Gold Market: Forecasting the Future Price of Gold and Silver.” 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Hotel Park Plaza Victoria. Amsterdam, Damrak 1-5, Amsterdam 1012 LG, Netherlands. Sponsored by Schogt Market Timing. This is a special workshop on precious metals you will not want to miss!!! Cost is €345 ex VAT. Subscribers of any MMA reports (trials excluded) receive a 15% discount. For further information, please go to http://www.markettiming.nl/en/producten/workshop-gold-silver, or call 31 (02) 294 415 917, or by fax at 31 (02) 294-415-918 to register 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, right near the summer solstice! This will be special, and a great opportunity to meet some very impressive market timers who will be present. Register now as seating is limited!

Raymond Merriman’s “On-Line Market Timing Academy” (OLMTA) will offer a pre-training course on “Beginning Principles of Geocosmic Studies for Financial Market Timing,” September 15-16, in Troy, Michigan, at the Management Education Center of Michigan State University. This 10-12 hour course may be attended live, in person, or via webcast televised to your computer. A DVD will be available afterwards as well. This workshop will basically train non-astrologers in the use of reading an ephemeris, the table of planetary positions for any given day. This is essential to anyone who wishes to understand how to find a geocosmic critical reversal date for financial markets. This course (or audit of it) is a pre-requisite for anyone entering the OLMTA market training course, as developed and instructed by Raymond Merriman. The OLMTA two-year training course will begin in March 2013, and will involve 8 weekends of study – 4 weekends each in 2013 and 2014. For more information and registration, please go to www.mmacycles.com (front page, near bottom). We will make announcements as this training program unfolds. The cost for the September 15-16 pre-training workshop is $395.00 ($300 for MMA subscribers). This cost will be deducted from the fee of the two-year training course to those who apply and are accepted into OLMTA by late October 2012.

 

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

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.

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:

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.” 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Hotel Park Plaza Victoria. Amsterdam, Damrak 1-5, Amsterdam 1012 LG, Netherlands. Sponsored by Schogt Market Timing. This is a special workshop on precious metals you will not want to miss!!! Cost is € 345 ex VAT. Subscribers of any MMA reports (trials excluded) receive a 15% discount. For further information, please go to http://www.markettiming.nl/en/producten/workshop-gold-silver 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, right near the summer solstice! This will be special. You may also register by calling 31 (02) 294 415 917, or by fax at 31 (02) 294-415-918. Register now as seating is limited!

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 15-16, 2012: Troy, Michigan. OLMTA – the On-Line Market Timing Academy – will conduct it pre-curriculum introductory workshop on “Basic Principles of Geocosmic Studies for Financial Market Timing.” This will be an introductory course on how to read an ephemeris and how to calculate a critical reversal date. It is open to anyone, but understanding this material is mandatory for anyone entering the MMA mentor-apprenticeship program that will officially start in March 2013. This introductory workshop will be available as a live webinar too. The cost is $300 to subscribers of any MMA subscription report, or $395 to others. For further information, please contact mmacustomerservice@gmail.com or ordersmmma@msn.com.Or go to www.mmacycles.com, and scroll down to the bottom of the first 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).

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