Menu Content

Merriman Market Analyst

Home arrow Weekly Preview arrow MMA Comments for the Week Beginning April 26, 2010
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
MMA Comments for the Week Beginning April 26, 2010
Written by Raymond Merriman   

Review and Preview


    It is starting out as a typical Mercury retrograde week. In the United States, stock indices closed at a new yearly high. But only in the United States.  In Asia and the Pacific Rim, the yearly highs remained in effect anywhere from April 5 through April 15, and last week’s close found stock indices near their lowest levels since those highs. In Europe, stock markets rallied nicely into Friday, but are still below their yearly highs of April 12-16. So which indices should we consider the leader right now? Those in the United States, which technically look very bullish? Or those in Asia and the Far East, which look technically bearish?


This is the nature of Mercury the Trickster: you cannot rely on bullish or buy signals, and you cannot rely upon the bearish or sell signals either. Rather than a “normal” market climate in which a “buy signals” means to “buy,” or a “sell signal” means to “sell," a Mercury retrograde climate means you have to be on the alert for a slew of false and misleading signals. This also pertains to economic data and political announcements both of which may have more than usual amount of contradictions and mixed signals. However, Mercury retrograde is good for study and research, and very short-term trading.


In other markets, precious metals were down hard late the previous week and early last week, on the heels of the securities fraud charges by the SEC (Securities Exchange Commission) against Goldman Sachs. In typical Mercury retrograde fashion, however, that story seemed to lose steam as the week wore on. But nevertheless, stocks and commodities were down early in the week, yet Gold and Silver, as well as Crude Oil, rallied smartly into the end of last week.


Short-Term Geocosmics


    The Venus and Jupiter rulership phenomenon ends this week. That is, Venus has been in its ruling sign of Taurus, while Jupiter has been in its ruling sign of Pisces, since March 31. Venus exits Taurus this weekend, April 25. Previously this column discussed that as a geocosmic reason why the stock market may not exhibit much of a decline during this period. It didn’t, at least not in the United States, whose stock market is a Taurus entity (created May 17, 1792 in New York City).


    But that all changes this week. In fact, the week begins with the fourth of the five passages of the Saturn-Uranus opposition. In the field of Mundane and Financial Astrology, Saturn and Uranus conjunctions and oppositions are amongst the most powerful of all geocosmic signatures. The time between their first and last passage, give or take a couple of months, has always correlated with a 4-year or greater cycle in U.S. stocks, and usually an 18-year or greater cycle type. It has already happened this time, for on March 6, 2009, the U.S. stock market probably made its 18-year cycle trough (and probably even its 72-year cycle low). You may remember that the first passage of this aspect occurred on November 4, 2008, which was Election Day in the USA. And if you want to discuss the importance of that date as a reversal in world politics, you have a great case. If you want to discuss Saturn and Uranus as a market reversal of great importance, you really have to consider what happens between the first and last aspect, and as mentioned, you have a great case here too.


    We oftentimes show the correlation between these planetary cycles and cycles in nature. Since Saturn rules the Earth – the ground – and Uranus rules great disruption, it is entirely consistent with the nature of these two planets to coincide with a period of powerful earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcano eruptions. Interestingly enough, Uranus also rules airplane companies. We can make the claim that this forthcoming passage of the Saturn-Uranus opposition directly correlates with the huge volcano eruption in Iceland, and the subsequent cancellation of many airline routes due to the cloud of volcanic ash that swept over Europe last week. With the full moon in Scorpio coming up this Wednesday, and given that Scorpio and its ruler Pluto are also involved and pertain to volcano eruptions, the danger is not yet over. The orb of time tends to be 12 calendar days either side of the Saturn-Uranus date.


    There is something else to watch for. Mercury is retrograde April 19-May 11. The middle of that period can also coincide with a market reversal, +/- 2 trading days. That equates to Thursday, April 30. The rule is that any market that did not reverse around the time of the retrograde date will usually have a sudden turn around the middle of the retrograde period. It is very rare that a market makes it all the way through Mercury retrograde without a reversal of some importance.


Longer-Term Thoughts


    “Endless money forms the sinews of war.”

-    Cicero, Philippics


    Financial Regulatory Reform. Can you think of a more appropriate title to describe Pluto in Capricorn, being squared by both Saturn and Uranus, and soon to be squared by Jupiter as well when it enters Aries in early June? It becomes even more pronounced when you consider that this set up forms a grand square to the Sun-Pluto opposition in the Federal Reserve Board chart (December 23, 1913, 6:02 PM, Washington, DC, according to the New York Times). When you think about “Financial Regulatory Reform” in the USA, you have to think about the Federal Reserve Board, the central bank of the country. You also have to think about the chart of the United States, since it contains the signatures pertaining to the government (Sun and Saturn).


    In a previous column, I mentioned that this would be the next great fight between the two parties in this country, immediately following the Health Care Reform torture. And just as the Health Care Reform bill took a twisted turn when Mars went retrograde, which nearly killed it, so too this new battle on Financial Regulatory Reform is taking a twisted turn as it commences under Mercury retrograde. It started with last week’s charges of securities fraud against Goldman Sachs, right as Mercury was turning retrograde, and right on the precipice of the debate to begin the Senate. The media last week was filled with claims that the SEC surprise announcement against Goldman Sachs was politically timed to influence the public court of opinion.


    But Mercury is, after all, retrograde, and there are apt to be many contradictory stories about what happened and why it happened. And in the end, we will never know the full truth because Mercury retrograde can be a master of double talk, misinformation, and denial. Yet one thing that strikes me is the difference between what the administration says is the primary objection to this bill (by Republicans, conservatives, Tea Party adherents, or the like) and what I think is the real objection to it. The idea being floated about is that opponents believe the bill doesn’t really end the possibility of a company or bank being “too big to fail.” This is only the surface of the concern, and not the underlying primary issue at all.


    To understand the primary objective (I think), let me quote from two articles in the Wall Street Journal in the past week, and I think you will get to the source of the public concern. The first article stated, “Instead, they (Republicans) want failing companies put through a bankruptcy process; as is, the bill would force most firms into bankruptcy court but provide the option of a government takeover in an emergency.” The second article stated, “At the outset, the White House laid out detailed specifications for legislation that would give the government the authority to seize and break up major financial institutions…”


    The issue is about the future role of government, not just in this major banking regulatory reform, but in many aspects of life. It is all about Pluto in Capricorn, which combines the principles of power (and reform) with government (Capricorn). For many Americans, these bills grant greater and greater powers of the government over the lives of individuals and businesses. And according to the results of last week’s Pew Research Center survey, also reported in the Wall Street Journal, “…the general public now wants government reformed and a growing number want its power curtailed. With the exception of greater regulation of Wall Street, there is less of an appetite for government solutions to the nation’s problems – including the greater government control over the economy – than there was when Barack Obama first took office.”


    There is a message in all of this for those who study Mundane Astrology. It isn’t to do with Democrats or Republicans, Liberals or Conservatives, or Tea Party enthusiasts, as many would like to frame it. Yes, it has to do with corruption in business, banking and Wall Street. But it has as much - if not more - to do with the growing powers of the government concurrent with the exploding national and world debt, and the public’s fear of these trends, at a time when economic insecurity runs very high and people just don’t know who to trust. One thing they don’t trust is those who are attempting to increase their powers at this time when power is distrusted. It has to do with Pluto in Capricorn (208-2023), Saturn square Pluto (2009-2010), and Saturn in its waning phase to Pluto (2001-2020). Just ask Greece.

   

 

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, 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.” Order now with the Forecast 2011 Book and receive a special 10% rate reduction through October.

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 1-3, 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. 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 MMA 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. 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, you may contact him through www.brunnerinvest.ch.

OK. You’ve asked about classes in Financial Astrology, and I am giving two in great South American cities in 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 – 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).

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.