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MMA Comments for the Week Beginning April 19, 2010
Written by Raymond Merriman   

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    With Venus and Jupiter rolling through their ruling signs, equities continued to rally with hardly a correction since the primary and 50-week cycle lows of February 5. That was the case until Friday’s bombshell hit, when the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) leveled a securities fraud charge against Goldman Sachs, alleging that the investment bank knowingly misled investors over the sale of risky sub-prime mortgage derivatives, known as CDOs (Collateralized Debt Obligations). The allegation implied that Goldman Sachs hired a hedge fund manager to put together these CDO’s, consisting of securities it knew would fail, And then the very hedge fund who designed the derivatives shorted it - those very securities that it sold to the public via Goldman - raking in over a $2B in profits with corresponding losses to the retail investors they solicited to buy them. Is it true? Well, with Mercury about to go retrograde, we may never know the full story. But it was enough to drive the U.S. stock market to its sharpest one-day loss in several weeks. And it is the type of development that can end a bull market and begin another recession. Maybe not at once, but sometime in the future we will look back and point to this incident as the start of something that ended badly, either for the SEC (government) or Goldman Sachs (banking), or the entire financial world.


    The timing of this SEC announcement has many shaking their heads in wonderment. It is right on the verge of the very important proceedings regarding the Senate’s (Christopher Dodd’s) Financial Reform bill, the very proposal we warned about as the next big explosion likely to take place in the U.S. Government following the Health Care reform bill (really, more of a Sickness Care reform bill, because it has very few benefits to do with health). Why announce this right after the markets opened on a Friday? And why on this Friday, the third Friday of the month when volatility is always higher than usual due to options expiration? Maybe someone was trying to make a point. Having the stock market plunge, with the cause being tied to yet another banking scandal in a land where banking and Wall Street have been framed as the “Evil Empire,” is certain to find even more populist support for increasing governmental control and regulations over the entire field of finances. After all, here is where the money is.


It is not that the bankers and Wall Street don’t have some responsibility for the economic crisis of 2008-2009. They do and they should be held accountable. But just as complicit in the recent collapse was the U.S. Government itself, and in particular members of Congress, the very leaders who now propose to overhaul the financial system that they too abused, personally benefited from, and made many missteps in preventing the financial crisis when they could have.


This latest drama has the potential to shift the verdict of public opinion firmly against the Lords of Finance, empowering the Lords of Government to now make the move for their next big takeover – and escape from personal accountability. Will it work? Of course not. Not with Pluto in Capricorn and squared by Saturn. No one escapes - not Goldman Sachs, not the “Fat Cat Bankers” who hoard the taxpayer monies given to them to help out the economy, nor the Congressmen who try to manipulate public opinion in order to shift the public disgust from themselves onto the bankers.


At the time of the November mid-term elections, the Moon’s North Node will conjunct Pluto and Venus will be retrograde in Scorpio. There is likely to be huge sweeping sound across the country as public disgust at the manipulation of its government reaches a climax. After all, that’s what Pluto and Scorpio do. They get rid of the toxic and the waste. Pluto and Scorpio is the real mechanism for reform and overhaul, and it lies in the hands of the people who will simply say, “Enough is enough,” as they register their power in the voting booth… or the streets, if not given credible choices on the ballot.


Once again, not all of the equity markets of the world soared to new yearly highs last week. In Europe, all but the AEX of Netherlands made a new high last week. In Asia and the Pacific Rim, Australia’s All Ordinaries made a new yearly high on Thursday and the Hang Seng made a new primary cycle high last Monday. But the yearly highs in the Japanese Nikkei and India’s NIFTY indices still remains back on April 5 and 7 respectively, a time previously identified as a potential temporary top in stock indices. Both the NASDAQ Composite and Dow Jones Industrial Average made new yearly highs on Thursday, before falling on Friday’s security fraud charges against Goldman Sachs.


In other markets, Crude Oil failed to take out its yearly high made one day after our last critical reversal date of April 5. Gold and Silver made new cycle highs last Monday, and then along with stocks, took a big fall on Friday’s shocking announcement against Goldman Sachs.


Short-Term Geocosmics


    This is likely to begin a two-week period of much misinformation, confusion, and mixed signals. Mercury begins its three-week retrograde trek this Sunday, April 18. This will be followed by Venus square Neptune April 23, and the fourth (of five) passage of the Saturn-Uranus opposition on Monday, April 26.


    Mercury retrograde is never an easy time to trade. What is spoken or intended, and what is heard and understood, are oftentimes not the same thought. It would be wise to repeat what you thought you heard, or said, just to make sure you are understood, especially if talking to your broker. Those who rely upon technical studies for guidance are encouraged to remember that such studies tend to be unreliable at this time. Buy and sell signals are more frequently “fake outs.”


    But the big storm cloud in the room will be the approaching Saturn-Uranus opposition. If Mercury retrograde corresponds to false buy and signals, then Saturn and Uranus imply that support and resistance zones may offer very little support and resistance. Prices may explode right through these. Yet with Mercury retrograde, such explosions could shortly afterwards be followed by the very vicious reversals one originally expected.


Longer-Term Thoughts


    There were some positive and significant geopolitical developments related to long-term planetary cycles that occurred last week. President Obama called together a Nuclear Security Summit of world leaders to discuss how to keep terrorists from obtaining nuclear weapons. A few weeks ago he also hosted a summit that discussed the possibility of a world-wide cyber-terrorist attack. These two issues are very much related to the long-term planetary cycles in force today.


    If you were to ask me what are the two most frightening possibilities that might take place under the Cardinal Climax planets involving a T-square between Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto, these would be my choices. In fact, some of you did ask this question at the various talks I gave on “Forecasts for 2008, 2009, and 2010” over the past three years, and you know these were my two answers. These threats are clearly within the realm of possibility from 2010 through 2015, especially when Uranus comes to square Pluto (2012-2015). In the last year, I suggested that if Obama wants to fulfill his higher calling in life, he needs to start calling for world leaders to join him in a summit to discuss these very issues. He needs to take the leadership on these topics, for in my opinion, his higher calling is to bring world leaders together for the purpose of world peace and the elimination of nuclear and terrorist threats. He can do this by asking world leaders to take a firm stand on these issues, thereby isolating those who threaten world peace with their attempt to garner weapons and put innocent lives in danger. And he did exactly that this week, and the world’s response was very positive. When he moves in the direction of his natural talent and skills, such as bringing world leaders to together to focus on world peace, he is successful and respected. With Saturn mostly in Libra for the next two years, maybe we will see more of Obama the statesman who wants peace, and perhaps less of the polarizing and behind-the-scenes maneuvers to raise taxes and increase government spending in a time of high unemployment, economic fragility, and unsustainable national deficits, which will only thwart the prospect of a full economic recovery.

   

 

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).

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