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MMA Comments for the Week Beginning January 18, 2010
Written by Raymond Merriman   

Note: There will be no column next week due to my activities at symposium in Zurich, Switzerland. The next column will be for the week starting February 1. This week’s column will be issued before markets close on Friday, for here in Europe, it is six hours later and I have a presentation to make in Amsterdam Saturday, followed by a meeting with our subscribers.

Review and Preview

 Equity markets continued their rallies to new yearly highs last week as Saturn turned retrograde on January 13, while Mercury turned direct and a solar eclipse formed on Friday, January 15. It might be enough to produce a high of some significance from which markets will now reverse. Otherwise we have to start thinking in terms of a “bubble” forming in stocks. With Jupiter and Uranus moving towards their first of three conjunctions in Aries on June 8, we do expect a climate of excessive speculation and asset bubbles to form. But from a purely cycles point of view, an 8-20% decline first would be a better fit.

 In Asia and the Pacific Rim, only the Japanese Nikkei made a new yearly high last week. It occurred on Friday as the Nikkei soared to 10,982, well above its previous yearly high of 10,767 last August 31. The All Ordinaries of Australia, Hang Seng of Hong Kong, and the NIFTY index of India all rallied into last Monday, January 11, but not to new yearly highs. In the case of the Hang Seng, prices then fell, closing near its lows of the week on Friday. Something is going on in China that doesn’t look nearly as well as it does in Japan.

 As of Thursday, all European indices made their new yearly highs on Monday, January 11, and then pulled back the next two days. The MICEX index of Moscow also made a new high last week – twice, on Monday and then again Thursday at the same level. In the Americas, the NASDAQ Composite and Bovespa of Brazil also made new yearly highs on Monday and then pulled back. But the Dow Jones Industrial Average made yet a new yearly high by Thursday, and Argentina’s Merval index was close to doing the same. They all fell on Friday.

 Equity markets continued their rallies to new yearly highs last week as Saturn turned retrograde on January 13, while Mercury turned direct and a solar eclipse formed on Friday, January 15. It might be enough to produce a high of some significance from which markets will now reverse. Otherwise we have to start thinking in terms of a “bubble” forming in stocks. With Jupiter and Uranus moving towards their first of three conjunctions in Aries on June 8, we do expect a climate of excessive speculation and asset bubbles to form. But from a purely cycles point of view, an 8-20% decline first would be a better fit.

 In Asia and the Pacific Rim, only the Japanese Nikkei made a new yearly high last week. It occurred on Friday as the Nikkei

 Crude Oil, Gold, and Silver also made their weekly highs on Monday, January 11 – at least as this is being written, which is early Friday morning back in the USA.

Short-Term Geocosmics

 This week will be highlighted early by a changing of signs  involving three planets. The first will be Jupiter, leaving Aquarius for Pisces on Sunday, January 17 and lasting through June 6. This will be followed by first Venus, and then the Sun, moving from Capricorn into Aquarius on Monday and Tuesday. But all of this is preparation for the second passage of Saturn square Pluto, which takes place on January 31. Just before then, on January 27 and 29, Venus and the Sun will be in opposition to the Mars retrograde. This is more akin to a sudden event that may affect the financial world, and possibly even a geopolitical event. With Mars so heavily involved, there could be a major conflict. With Saturn square Pluto, it may be a time when more human lives are in danger. Whether this danger is in terms of terrorist threats or acts of nature, it is a time that requires more than the usual amount of caution.

 With Saturn and Pluto involved, it always has the potential to pertain to matters of debt, and the problems that increasing debt causes. Since three planets are changing signs this week, it will be interesting to note the new approaches to solving the debt crisis that may be introduced over the rest of this month. I am not sure that any of them are credible, however, with Jupiter (exaggeration) in the sign of Pisces (fantasy). My guess is that it will be more tough talk followed by actions that are exactly the opposite of the promises and tough talk. In other words, spending will increase, deficits will increase, and consequently so will risk-taking and speculation. For that matter, so will blaming others increase. It is, however, a time in which budget constraints need to be discussed realistically. But is there the backbone for lawmakers to follow-through on what everyone knows? Or will it take discussion of a populist uprising to force the issue in 2010-2011? We can never discount the idea of revolutionary actions to force economic and behavioral changes in government under Saturn in opposition to Uranus, and both in square to Pluto.

 And finally, the January 15 Solar Eclipse at 25 degrees of Capricorn falls right on President Obama’s natal Saturn in the 12th house. Saturn rules control issues and potential for loss, and the twelfth house rules activities behind the scenes, and institutions. The solar eclipse intensifies whatever it hits as a major theme in the life for the next several months, even a year or more. Saturn in the 12th house is a struggle between principles, ideals, and the ethical way to bridge the two. What happens if he – or someone close to him - wishes to enact something from behind the scenes that is discovered, and then perceived to be unconstitutional? It may be interesting to note early September, when both Venus and Mars will square this eclipse point, just before the mid-term elections. At its best, it would indicate an obsession for honor, honesty, and truthfulness. At worst, it would be the opposite, and suffering the consequences of being exposed in a cover-up.

Longer-Term Thoughts

Let’s discuss Jupiter moving into Pisces. It is a time when the planet of excess and optimism meets the sign of fantasy and dreams. Due to its retrograde motion in the middle of the year, it will move quickly through Pisces (January 17-June 8) and into Aries, but then return for a second round in Pisces September 10, 2010 through January 22, 2011. It will conjunct Uranus three times from June 2010 through January 2011.

When Jupiter transits a sign, it tends to bring favorable recognition to sectors of the stock market ruled by the sign it is in. Pisces rules sectors like entertainment (movies and music), drugs, pharmaceuticals, health care, and crude oil. Some - or most of - these sectors will find their stock values increasing. Others, like Crude Oil, may find their supplies increasing, which could have a negative effect upon their values.

Prior to this weekend, Jupiter has been in Aquarius for the past year. Aquarius rules technology. It was therefore not surprising that the tech-heavy NASDAQ has appreciated over 80% since the lows of last March, whereas the Dow Jones Industrials only a little over 60%. But in 2010, Jupiter will conjunct Uranus, which also rules technology. This implies that technology will still likely outperform the industrials and manufacturing sectors in 2010. In fact, the combination of Jupiter in Pisces, and conjunct Uranus, may favor the biotechnology sector.

But more important will be the psychological climate. It is as if everyone in government and finances is on drugs. If indeed an asset bubble develops, as Jupiter and Uranus suggest it could, then a massive exodus from savings accounts into stocks will take place. Why would anyone stay in savings accounts with a return of .1 - .3%, when stocks are yielding gains of 60-80%? Well, for one reason, savings are more safe (or are they?), and stocks are speculative. But no matter – not with Jupiter in Pisces. This could be the year where everyone thinks he is a successful speculator, just like the house-flippers thought in 2007. But not everyone is good at speculation, especially those who have been historical savers.

For this reason, Jupiter in Pisces may be dreams of glory and unlimited riches, which always happens to people during bubbles and times of excessive speculation. But the reality is another side of Jupiter in Pisces: tears of sadness, as the bubble may be pricked by Saturn and Pluto, which are in hard aspect to the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction. So the year ahead is a roller-coaster ride, with first the thrills of going up the ascent, but then the danger of coming down the hill without any brakes on. If you are going to succeed in 2010, you have to be nimble and realistic. Dreams of riches and happiness won’t get it in the market place. It may work for weddings and romances, which could be off the charts with happiness and dramatic presentations. We will probably see many such incredible social events this year. But after the reception and the honeymoon, you still have to wake up the next day and wonder: “What was I thinking?” It may have been a great party while it lasted, but it could be followed by a nasty hangover if you indulged too much and didn’t exercise any practical caution for protection.

 

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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