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MMA Comments for the Week Beginning April 13, 2009

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 The pattern was fairly similar with all world stock indices last week. That is, each made a high on the April 3-6 minor reversal date (or one day earlier), and then each pulled back modestly into a low Tuesday-Wednesday. In all cases, this was followed by another rally into the end of the week, which was either Thursday or Friday, depending on whether a country’s stock market was opened or closed on Good Friday, ahead of the Easter holiday. Where these indices differed was on the second high later in the week. Some world equity markets made a new cycle high off the Venus retrograde multi-year lows of March 6-10. Others did not make a new high. This may become a case of intermarket bearish divergence if these indices decline next week. It’s possible, for as discussed over the past several weeks, any market that makes a multi-week high or low around the time Venus turns retrograde could begin a counter-trend move that will last into the time Venus turns direct, +/- 10 trading days. Venus turns direct this week, April 17, so we are clearly in that time band now for a crest of some importance. Stock indices have been virtually straight up since Venus turned retrograde on March 6, with no corrections lasting more than 1-3 days, and in each case, these declines were mild.

 In Europe, the AEX of Netherlands, FTSE of England, and SMI of Switzerland all made new cycle highs between April 2 and April 6. They then fell into Wednesday of last week, before recovering somewhat to a secondary high on Thursday, the last trading day of the week. Germany’s DAX index, on the other hand, followed the same pattern except it ended the week on a strong rally to new highs of 4510 on Thursday, thus creating a case of intermarket bearish divergence with indices in the same region of the world.

 In the Pacific Rim and Asia, the Hang Seng of Hong Kong and the Australian All Ordinaries made new cycle highs last Monday and secondary (but lower) highs of Thursday. But both the Nikkei of Japan and the NIFTY of India made higher cycle highs on Friday, thus creating a case of bearish intermarket divergence in this region too.

 In the Americas, Brazil’s Bovespa and the USA Dow Jones Industrial Average as well as the NASDAQ Composite all made new highs on Thursday, the last trading day of the week. Argentina’s Merval index, however, made its high on April 3. It might have rallied to new highs later in the week, except its markets were closed Thursday and Friday.

 In other markets, Crude Oil fell to 47.47 on Wednesday, forming a double bottom to the 47.26 low of the prior week. By Thursday it was all the way back up to 52.45, poised to challenge its highs of 54.66 and 53.90 made on March 26 and April 3. Gold fell all the way down to 865 on Monday, April 6, its lowest level since reaching slightly over 1000 on February 20. Silver, on the other hand, fell to 1202 April 6, which was above its low of 1189 back on March 18. So here too we have a possible case of intermarket divergence, but in this case, it is bullish divergence off the lows instead of bearish divergence off the highs, as in the case of stocks. Now we watch this week to see whether the Venus direct reversal has already started, or if these counter-trends moves will continue for a few days longer.

Short-Term Geocosmics

This could be quite an interesting week. Two important geocosmic conditions end this week. First, the “translation” of Mars to the Saturn-Uranus opposition, which began April 4, will end April 15. The market has risen to a new highs (or secondary highs) already during this period, so the implication is that it could suddenly reverse. With Mars and Uranus involved in a conjunction, any decline now may be very sharp. However, it need not last long. It is interesting to note that this translation has coincided with a fatal earthquake in Italy, devastating fires in Oklahoma, and tornadoes in the Midwest. As stated in last week’s column, “In terms of nature, it (Mars translation) can coincide with fires, explosives, as well as tornadoes, earthquakes, or volcano eruptions.”

The second important financial astrology event is that Venus ends its retrograde motion when it turns direct on April 17. According to our studies reported in “The Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing, Volume 3: Geocosmic Correlations to Trading Cycles,” Venus direct is one of the most powerful and consistent astrological correlates to primary or greater cycles within an orb of ten trading days. The most powerful correlates are referred to as Level 1 signatures. The Mars-Uranus conjunction of April 15 is a Level 1 signature too, and so is the Venus-Mars conjunction of April 21, the next week. That is three Level 1 signatures within only six calendar days! Furthermore, in the three following days (April 22-24), both Mars and Venus will leave Pisces and enter Aries, the end and beginning of the zodiac. All of these signatures suggest a much higher than usual probability of a very important change in investor sentiment - and hence a trend reversal - in several financial markets.

What could it be about? Well, as mentioned last week, “Venus will square Pluto for the next month as it reverses it motion from retrograde back to direct. It will be exact two times (April 3 and May 3), but its influence will be prominent during this entire period. At the same time, Pluto is reversing its direction from direct to retrograde (April 4). These are the two planets that rule money and debt, which are two sides of the same coin, so to speak. In addition to debt, Pluto also rules power. It can be forceful or coercive. It can try to initiate activities that are designed to stay under the radar, involving transference of money and/or power. It can say one thing, but do something completely contrary for reasons that are not fully disclosed.” In other words, the mindset of investors may be influenced greatly by the decisions or revelations of central bankers and government leaders in the next few days regarding their plans to cope with the ongoing economic crisis. It is possible (but not inevitable) their decisions create yet another new crisis of confidence in the investment community.

Longer-Term Thoughts

Whether equity markets make a complete about-face again and resume their bear market as Venus turns direct, or they undergo only a short-loved corrective decline and continue in this new bull market trend, may depend on the correspondence of the forthcoming Jupiter-Neptune conjunction. This 14-year planetary cycle will be at its peak May 27-July 10. This conjunction will last longer than usual because both Jupiter and Neptune will be turning retrograde and they conjunct one another at 26-27 degrees of Aquarius. In terms of collective psychology, Jupiter rules hope, optimism, and exaggeration. Neptune corresponds to the dynamic of idealism, wishful thinking, and romance. It can also pertain to confusion, illusion, and disillusion. It is not know to be realistic. To the contrary, it is known to be idealistic. When they are together, Jupiter and Neptune can be an extremely wonderful, romantic, and enjoyable period. This is the signature of Camelot and fairy tales come true. It is glamour and idealism, hero-worship, and faith that things are better or will soon get better. In terms of financial markets, it is the classical symbolism of Alan Greenspan’s “irrational exuberance” syndrome. But if things start to unravel, it can also be a time of great disillusionment, leading to panic and hysteria.

In terms of world stock indices, this is either a time when equity prices rise much further and faster than anyone expected, due to a tremendous sense of faith and hope about the future. You see much of this dynamic in the press these days, with many pundits claiming this is indeed a new bull market and the world economy has now seen its worst days. Things are getting better. The recession will end by September, according to one of the latest survey of economists. But Jupiter and Neptune can also coincide with a time when stock markets reverse and fall much further than anyone expected, due to the tremendous disappointment and disillusionment (and even sense of betrayal) caused by world leaders going against their promises, and events going against their forecasts. By itself, this combination can be very inflationary, a time in which economic matters quickly and unexpectedly explode out of the control. We shall soon see if all these bold new policies will work out or blow up in our faces. For the moment, all we have is faith and hope that our leaders are making the right decisions. The reality of those decisions should be known by the end of this year, and maybe even before the end of summer.

 

Announcements


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, 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), 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, go to http://www.mmacycles.com/services, or call our offices at 1-248-626-3034. 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.”

CD’s DVD’s, MP3’s, and “On-Line Streaming Video” 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 is right before the astrological midpoint of the Cardinal Climax, which takes place late July through early August. 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. You won’t want to miss this presentation. Order now, because most of the trading opportunities presented are in effect from July 21 through October 8, 2010!!!

Any remaining copies of the Forecast 2010 book will be available for $30.00 (plus postage), now as long as supplies last. This year’s book was an incredible publication, as almost everything forecasted in it has come out as described. All the themes outlined, and almost all the financial markets are unfolding as indicated with one exception: there has (as of yet) been no sign of excessive speculation in stocks or precious metals. Instead, frightened investors are flocking to U.S. Treasuries. Everything else, however, has been spot on, and there is still time for this to happen in stocks and precious metals into mid-2011. We now offer a complimentary copy of this year’s book to any new or renewing subscriber of a one-year subscription to the MMA Cycles Report, our new MMA European Cycles report, or any subscription to a MMA daily or weekly report, as long as books are still available. See special offer on the opening page of www.mmacycles.com.

The monthly MMA Cycles Report and its companions – the MMA Japan Cycles Report and MMA European Cycles Report – came out this week, Monday and Tuesday, via posting on our web site, and attachment via direct emails, for subscribers. W also sent an update to subscribers on Wednesday. If you subscribe to these reports and did not get them, let us know 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. New yearly (or renewing) subscribers to these reports will receive a free copy of the Forecast 2010 book while supplies last (see below). For subscription information, please go to SERVICES at www.mmacycles.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 volatility 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 to exactly when to enter and exit any market.

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 may 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 will host a special gathering for MMA Subscribers on Sunday, October 3, the day of Brazil’s elections!!!

January 5, 2011: Forecast 2011! Speech and live webcast from Birmingham, MI. Details to be announced soon.

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.

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, go to http://www.heavenandearthworkshops.com/financial.html.

The MMA Catalogue of products and services for 2010 is available for download in PDF at http://www.mmacycles.com/option,com_docman/task,doc_download/gid,161/Itemid,63/. The ordering page is the last page of the catalogue. This is especially useful for those outside of the USA, since we do not send these by snail mail unless requested.

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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