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Comments for the Week Beginning November 23, 2009
Written by Raymond Merriman   

Review and Preview

 We will only be reviewing U.S. stock markets and commodities this week and next, due to time deadlines in completing the annual Forecast Book for printing on December 1.

 The Saturn-Pluto square of November 15 appears to have coincided with at least a short-term crest in the U.S. stock markets, as the NASDAQ Composite and S&P indices made yearly highs on Monday, November 16, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average did the same one day later. This fits with the signatures in effect at the start of the week as describe in our last column, stating, “Monday, November 16, is an important new moon, because it occurs in Scorpio, will square the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction, and takes place within hours of the Saturn-Pluto waning square.” After those yearly highs were achieved, each then declined into the end of the week. Gold and Silver made new cycle highs early Wednesday, and then sold off too until later in the day on Friday. In the case of Gold, last Wednesday was a new all-time high as prices briefly poked above 1150. Crude Oil also sold off after posting a weekly high slightly above 80.00 on Wednesday.

 Whether these markets continue down or find support shortly before rallying to new highs depends whether support for the U.S. Dollar continues this week or not. If the dollar starts back down again and there is no sense of panic, then there is no reason for these markets to make anything other than a normal corrective decline before resuming their upward ascent. In fact, even if a panic were to begin, that too could result is very sharply higher values in all dollar-backed assets, until such a time that prices were so high that no buyers will step in. I don’t see that happening before spring-summer of next year.

Short-Term Geocosmics

 This is a “Venus-laden” week. And that is good for Americans because Thursday is also the Thanksgiving holiday, when families typically come together and give thanks for whatever they feel grateful for. It is a good week to be “Venus-laden,” which highlights relationships of value.

It could be important for financial markets too, since Venus also rules securities and assets. From Monday through Thursday, Venus will “translate” the forthcoming Jupiter-Neptune conjunction in a square aspect. On Wednesday, Venus will also form a trine aspect to Uranus. Thus these signatures imply the possibility of market reversals this week, assuming they find a level of support above 10,000 in the DJIA.

The more important reversal signatures coming up will be Uranus turning directions, from retrograde to direct motion, on December 1, and then Mars turning retrograde, followed by the third and final conjunction of Jupiter and Neptune on December 20 and 21 respectively.


Longer-Term Thoughts

 One the major news stories last week was President Obama’s first official visit to China which, from most reports, was a lesson in humility and maybe reality. According to Friday’s Wall Street Journal, it “signaled a turning point in relations between a weakened U.S. power and a China that senses its time has come.” But from our point of view, the insightful development – and comments – came from Liu Mingkang, chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, just prior to Obama’s arrival. According to Wednesday’s Wall Street Journal article titled CHINA’S BLUNT TALK FOR OBAMA, Mingkang said a weak U.S. dollar and low U.S. interest rates had led to “massive speculation” that was inflating asset bubbles around the world. The situation is “seriously impacting global asset prices and encouraging speculation in stock and property markets.”

 Massive speculation. Inflating asset bubbles. Hmmmm, that sounds a lot like…. Jupiter and Uranus coming into conjunction, as both move from water sign Pisces to fire sign Aries, May-September 2010. As they move into Aries, they form a T-square to the Federal Reserve Board’s natal Sun-Pluto opposition (FRB created December 23, 1913, 6:02 PM, Washing to D.C., according to New York Times article on December 24, 1913). Jupiter rules the principle of exaggeration, optimism, and over-estimation. When in conjunction to one another, it can represent a time of brilliant and innovative new ideas. In hard aspect to other planets, it can coincide with poor judgment resulting in loss. Uranus is also a planet of speculation, but due to pre-mature timing, its presence in hard aspects can oftentimes result in unexpected consequences. And both will be in opposition to Saturn, which is just entering Libra, forming a grand square to the FRB Sun-Pluto opposition. Jupiter (planet of excess) will even reach a square to Pluto (planet of debt and taxes – they are coming). If the Fed’s accommodative zero-interest rate policy isn’t altered before that time, the consequences of excess speculation and increasing debt may indeed create bubbles in all dollar-based assets (except property sales, where supply still exceeds demand). Precious metals and stocks, for instance could soar to levels not imagined today. The Fed may have no choices after that, lest they are prepared to let the dollar go into a free fall.

 But ask yourself: who benefits from a free-falling dollar?  What are the politics and history behind engineering a depreciating U.S. Dollar? Maybe that is what the government and Federal Reserve Board wants. Maybe that is the roadmap being followed to resolve this economic crisis. It is a risky plan. But that’s what Jupiter and Uranus do when together – they are prone to take large risks. Hopefully they understand the consequences if it doesn’t work out the way they think it should, for surely with Uranus involved, things don’t go as planned.

 On a related subject, the other major story was the 43-26 vote by the House Financial Services Committee to audit the Federal Reserve. Welcome to Saturn in waning square to Pluto, now through August. It could get ugly. Just ask Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, who finds his natal Mars (war, aggression, and assertion) at 1 degree of Libra right in the thick of this aspect (Saturn is there too, square Pluto from the first degree of Capricorn). He was called upon to resign his post by House Democrat Peter DeFazio. Furthermore, House Republican Kevin Brady attacked Geithner’s credibility, stating, “The public has lost all confidence in your ability to do the job.” According to Friday’s Wall Street Journal, Geithner shot back, “What I can’t take responsibility is for the legacy of crisis you’ve bequeathed this country.” Here it comes. And you read here first in 2007 that this would happen in 2008-2010. The Fed is under attack, and it could be most critical between May-September 2010. You want a reason why the stock market and banking system could crash again? There it is.

 

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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