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Weekly Comments for the week beginning July 13, 2009

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They don’t want to go up. But at the same time, equity markets don’t crash either. Yet how good of a sign can it be if stock markets around the world drift downwards – instead upwards – as we complete the second of three passages of the 13-year Jupiter-Neptune conjunction? Jupiter and Neptune are supposed to be euphoric and optimistic at best, but the investment community is anything but euphoric and optimistic. Instead, it continues to act like it is lost, confused, and uncertain, which are the lower states of mind associated with Neptune. Volume is anemic, and the daily trading ranges are small. Let’s see if things change now that this second passage is completed.

 Last week saw a slow evaporation of optimism in most stock indices. In fact, since Uranus turned retrograde on July 1, the value of nearly all stock indices have continued to shrink. Not severely, mind you, but enough to frustrate most traders. In the United States, the Dow Jones Industrial Average continues to find support just above 8000, which is important because that is where the 25-week moving average comes in. As we look at the char as of most indices, we note that the high of the season occurred June 11-12, which is close to the midway point of the first two passes of Jupiter and Neptune (May 27 and July 10. We anticipated that most stock indices, as well as crude oil, could make significant highs in between these two passes in the special webcast we presented on May 2. Since those highs, equity indices have declined almost 10%, in spite of the secondary top that formed on July 1.

 As disappointing as stock indices have been, the commodities markets have been even more disappointing for the bulls. Crude oil declined below $60.00/barrel this week On June 30, less than 2 weeks ago, they were trading as high as 73.38. That’s decline of nearly 20%. Silver prices have fallen from 1626 on June 3 to a low of 1251 on Friday July 10, a loss of 23%. Soybeans, Corn, and Wheat have also declined substantially, while Treasuries have soared to new cycle highs. It is what investors call “a flight to quality.” But under Jupiter and Neptune, you have to wonder about the wisdom of these pundits. I am not so sure I would consider U.S. Treasuries such a “flight to quality” when the entire central banking system of the USA is under questioning, and when that very central bank is probably one of the largest buyers of those Treasuries. It seems that by buying up the U.S. treasuries, the FED may be leveraging its future in the political games that might start unfolding this autumn when Saturn and Pluto come into their square aspect, creating a powerful configuration known as a T-square with the Sun-Pluto opposition in the chart of the Federal Reserve Board (created December 23, 1913).

Short-Term Geocosmics

 This week is void of any major geocosmic signatures. It seems it may be a cosmic break following all the intense planetary activity of the past few weeks leading into the second Jupiter-Neptune passage of Friday, July 10. On Saturday, Mars will enter Gemini for the next six weeks, which may provide some stimulating discussions, but also may pose a risk of turning into confrontational and heated exchanges. Mars in Gemini is a quest for facts and knowledge, but it can also be argumentative. It the following week when geocosmic activity returns that correlates to change sin stock indices. From July 18 through August 1 there are six important geocosmic signatures taking place. Many involve Venus, which will make a translation to both the Saturn-Uranus opposition (July 21-28) and the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction (July 26-28). Since Venus rules assets, it would appear to be an important time for both equity and currency markets.

Longer-Term Thoughts

 I ask questions, and I get answers.  Thanks to several subscribers, especially R. Burris of Albuquerque, NM and M. Furbush of Holderness, NH.

 In prior reports I asked who could possibly audit the Federal Reserve Board. Who would Congress accept? I received a report that the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) in Switzerland had already initiated a proposal to do exactly that. However, I don’t think the U.S. Congress would accept BIS - another rather secretive banking enterprise – as the auditor of U.S. bank transactions. In an article published by Reuters on July 9, referring to the Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2009, sponsored by Republican Ron Paul of Texas, there is movement to give this task to GAO, the Government Accountability Office. But there is a problem. According to the article, “… (the) bill would explicitly repeal a provision of law that prohibits the Government Accountability Office, a government watchdog agency, from auditing monetary policy decisions.” In other words, GAO currently is prohibited from auditing the FRB because the FED makes monetary policy decisions.  


The FED doesn’t want GAO to have the ability to audit it, for as FED Chair Ben Bernanke explained in Congressional testimony given June 25 "My concern about the legislation is that if the GAO is auditing not only the operational aspects of our programs and the details of the programs, but is making judgments about our policy decisions, that would effectively be a takeover of monetary policy by the Congress.” That’s the point. And it is a good one.


So there you have it. The battle lines are being drawn between the independence of the Federal Reserve Board and the groundswell in Congress, who wants to take away that power and independence of the FED. And it is unfolding as Pluto crosses the FRB natal Sun, in opposition to its natal Pluto. At the same time the chart of the Federal Reserve Board is besieged by Pluto, so too are the charts of the United States and its President, Barack Obama. Both find their natal Venus posited in early Cancer, right on the FRB Pluto, and in opposition to the transit of Pluto today in early Capricorn. Pluto represents power struggles, and the threat of termination, especially when forming a hard aspect to one’s natal Sun. In a corporation, the Sun represents its leader (i.e. Ben Bernanke). Venus (as in Obama and the USA chart) represents money and assets. So you see, from the viewpoint of Financial Astrology, the USA - as represented by both the White House and Congress - are on a collision course over “who controls the money.” And in January 2010, Bernanke’s position is up for re-appointment by Barack Obama, who so far suggests that he supports Bernanke. But does he and will he? After all, he is the King (Leo), and in some circles, the man with the most power is the one who controls the most money.

Obama may have the power over the Federal Reserve Board’s future. He has the ultimate power over the people’s’ money through his choice this January. The question he has to determine is: Who will best handle that money? The Federal Reserve? Congress? Or himself, i.e the White House or his cabinet, which includes Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner?

 

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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