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MMA Weekly Comments for the Week Beginning April 20, 2009

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 This could get eerie. The Dow Jones Industrial Average made a 12-year low on March 6, the day Venus went retrograde. Those lows have held throughout this Venus retrograde period. On Friday, April 17, Venus turned direct. On that same day, the DJIA posted its highest level since March 6. As stated several times since February, “…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.”

 It is eerie because the move so far has been exactly to the date that Venus turned retrograde (low) and then returned to direct (high). Will it be so synchronistic that it will now reverse and resume the bear market? Will Financial Astrology be that exact in this instance? As eerie as that would be from a cosmic point of view, what is more eerie from a technical point of view is that this rally is now exhibiting a very bearish rising “wedge” pattern. That is, a line connecting the lows of the move is at a much steeper angle than the line connecting the highs of this move. Such a pattern has preceded the previous devastating declines in the stock market over the past year. Thanks to Duke O’Neil (MMA subscriber) for making that observation.

 It doesn’t end there. All the rallies of the post-crash September crisis have been similar in price and length too. The rally from the 7880 low of October 10 to the 9650 high on Election Day, November 4 (also the first of the five Saturn-Uranus oppositions), was about 1770 points and lasted four weeks. The rally from the 7449 low of November 21 to the high of 9088 on January 6 covered about 1640 points and lasted 7 weeks. This current rally has now lasted 6 weeks and has gained 1720 points. As you can see, all rallies so far since the crash of September 2008 have lasted 4-7 weeks, and the DJIA has gained between 1640-1770 points. Coincidence? Only if it reverses here. And according to the correspondence of the Venus retrograde period and the presence of the bearish wedge formation chart pattern, it is possible.

 In other markets, Gold and Silver fell sharply again on Thursday and Friday. In the case of Gold, it tested but held its low of April 6. But Silver took out its low of April 6. If they too reversal here as Venus turns direct, it would be a case of intermarket bullish divergence where one market makes a new multi-week low and a related market does not. When that happens on a critical reversal date, it is usually followed by a very strong counter-trend move.

Short-Term Geocosmics

Venus now ends its retrograde motion as it turned direct on April 17. Since Venus rules assets and things of value (like stocks), there is cause to be concerned that the trend the preceded Venus turning retrograde may now return. That would be the bear market. But in many historical cases, a reversal from a high as Venus turns direct doesn’t necessarily result in a decline that takes out the low of the retrograde period. With Jupiter fast approaching its conjunction to Neptune in late May through mid-July, there is a geocosmic basis for thinking that any decline right now may hold above those lows of March 6-10, and then be followed by another rally to higher highs. Jupiter and Neptune are normally very optimistic and hopeful about the future.

There are two ingresses occurring this week of great importance. First, Mars will enter Aries on Wednesday, April 22. Two days later, Venus does the same in its new direct motion. Aries is a cardinal sign. In fact, it is the most cardinal sign because it begins the zodiac cycle. It is also midway between the Sun and Pluto in the Federal Reserve Board chart (December 23, 1913). That is, the Sun is at 1 degree of the cardinal sign of Capricorn, and Pluto is at 0 degrees of the cardinal sign of Cancer. With Venus direct now, and with both Venus and Mars in conjunction to one another, and forming a T-square to the FRB Sun-Pluto opposition, we can anticipate changes in policy from the central banks and the Federal Treasury department. This usually affects all interest-rate sensitive markets, like Treasuries and currencies, and indirectly, equities and previous metals. With Venus also in a month-long square to Pluto (April 3-May 2), we can start to speculate on the next private company (financial institution or auto company) taken over by the U.S. government, and financed by the Federal Reserve Bank.

Longer-Term Thoughts

 Let’s consider the current economy in light of Saturn in Virgo, a planet-sign combination that is in effect September 2007 through October 2009. Saturn represents the principle of contraction, reduction, limitation, and even loss. When Saturn is present, matters take on a serious tone according to the sign it is in, or the planet(s) it aspects. Virgo is the sign related to work and service, particularly the work force. Saturn in Virgo, then, has the potential to correlate with loss of jobs, an increase in unemployment. This has certainly been the case so far, with most signs suggesting this will continue. But for how long? This is important, because the economy really can’t grow too fast or too much if more and more people are not finding jobs and getting paid enough money to generate a boost to the economy.

 The jobs situation may be at its worst as Saturn sits at the middle degrees of Virgo. In fact, it is there now. Saturn will go stationary direct at 14 degrees and 54 minutes of Virgo on May 16. So the first possibility is that the unemployment situation reaches a peak in May. Since unemployment and payroll numbers are only announced the first week (Friday) of every month, we won’t see the data related to this “post Saturn direct” period until the first week of July.

 There is reason to be optimistic here. Just as Saturn represents contraction and the probability of loss of jobs while in Virgo, Jupiter represents the possibility of expansion, growth, and optimism about the future. Much like Jupiter, Neptune pertains to hope and faith that things will get better. Jupiter and Neptune will be together in the skies (conjunction) from May 27 through July 10, 2009. Let’s say that this suggests that the jobs situation is improving then. At the end of this period (early July), the news starts hitting the media, and there is a new wave of optimism that things are getting better. Maybe by September, the economy really is showing signs of improvement, and the economists are right – the recession is ending around then.

 Now I would like to end this part of the column right here, on a happy and positive note. But you know me better than that. You also know your astrology better than that. And even the very popular President Obama knows better than that. As he stated just this past week, there are still dangers ahead for our national and world economy, and Financial Astrology supports that view.

 Saturn in the middle of Virgo is not the only geocosmic signature that relates to today’s employment situation. We also have to consider aspects that Saturn makes to the planets outside of its orbit. And they don’t look quite so optimistic. For one, we are in the midst of a 20-month transit of Saturn in opposition to Uranus. With Saturn in Virgo, this indicates that the employment situation can change abruptly, and with more than one unexpected crisis and loss of business. We have seen banks fail, insurance companies come close to failure, auto companies taken over and their leadership fired by the government, with more threats on the horizon. Saturn represents rules, laws, government regulations and restrictions. And herein lies the danger. As government assumes more and more control, and implements more and more regulations over private enterprise, the less likely private enterprise will be to take the risk of investing in innovative ideas that could lead to new jobs – except in government itself. Investing is now a risk and it could easily lead to losses. And if it succeeds, the weight of all the new proposed regulations also increases the risk of being penalized if that person or business investment succeeds. At the very least, it can expect to pay more taxes. At the very worst… well, use your imagination and think of Rick Wagner and GM as they were just on the verge of launching their highly publicized Chevy Volt, the first major electric automobile manufactured in the USA. The challenge will be to find that right balance between regulations that prevent abuses on the part of the business, banking and financial community, with policies that reward (and not penalize) innovation leading to the creation of new jobs and economic growth. With Saturn coming to its third of five oppositions to Uranus on September 15, 2009, followed by the first of three Saturn-Pluto squares starting November 15, it would seem that this economic recovery will be seriously challenged again. We are not out of the woods yet, even as Venus turning direct also indicates.

 

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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