Menu Content

Merriman Market Analyst

Home arrow Weekly Preview arrow Weekly Comments for the Week Beginning June 23
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
Weekly Comments for the Week Beginning June 23
Written by Raymond Merriman   

Review and Preview

 Stock markets around the world continued their sell off last week, as we now enter the central time band of this huge geocosmic cluster zone containing 15 important geocosmic signatures from June 12 through July 14.

 In Europe, all the indices we follow posted their lowest price since May 19 at the end of last week. The AEX of Netherlands fell to 434.79 from a May 19 high of 496.12, a drop of over 12% in just one month. The German DAX fell from 7231.82 to 6547.40 during the same time, a loss of nearly 10%. The London FTSE topped out at 6377 on May 19, and by the end of last week had fallen to 5597, a loss slightly more than 12%. And the Swiss SMI stock Index fell from 7785.17 to 7012.19, a drop of 10% during the same interval of time.

 In the Pacific Rim, things were a little different. For instance, the Hang Seng and Nikkei fell, but did not take out their lows of the prior week. India’s NIFTY index, on the other hand, fell to its lowest level since August 2007. In fact, since May 2, it is down over 18%. But there is good news in this pattern, because now it is beginning to meet the criterion for a 4-year cycle trough. In Australia, the All Ordinaries tested 5400 on Friday, which is now down a little over 10% from its high of May 19.

 In short, all the indices were weak last week. But the opposite was witnessed in precious metals and grain prices. Precious metals staged a strong comeback last week from their bearish performance the week before. Gold rose $50.00/ounce from its lows of June 12, and Silver rallied $1.25/ounce over the same one-week period. Corn prices continued to soar to new all-time highs, passing the 750 mark for awhile last week. Crude Oil was relatively tame, trading in a narrow range between 131 and 137.


Short-Term Geocosmics

 Mercury has now ended its retrograde motion as of June 19. But financial markets may continue to be erratic for a few more days, especially given that Uranus will turn retrograde on June 26. This is a powerful Level One signature, with one of the highest correlations to major reversals in U.S. stocks markets of all the signatures we examine. But the nature of Uranus – like Mercury Rx – is oftentimes unpredictable. It tends to coincide with sudden and unexpected events, and wild swings in financial markets within 4 trading days. It can relate to earthquakes, tornadoes, and high winds. This particular Uranus station is even more important than usual, because it occurs so close to the exact midpoint of this geocosmic cluster zone mentioned above. And, as mentioned last week, “…three (Level One signatures) take place June 20 (Sun-Pluto opposition), June 21 (Mars-Neptune opposition) and June 26 (Uranus stationary direct). The last one is extremely powerful, with a 77% correlation to primary or greater cycles within 11 trading days. All this activity suggests that one of the best trading opportunities of the year could be readying any day now.”

Longer-Term Thoughts

 The Uranus station of June 26 is also significant because it is one of the parts of the extremely important Saturn-Uranus opposition that starts later this year. In fact, as mentioned before, the first of five passages of this 45-year opposition takes place right on the USA Election Day, 2008. By itself, this aspect signifies a fundamental change in direction over many areas of human activity, especially politically, but also including economics and investment opportunities (and risks). It lasts through much of 2010.

 If we apply this theme to the USA election, this aspect alone would seem to suggest that Barack Obama would win, for he indeed represents a very fundamental change in direction in the politics of the USA. He would probably be the first real true liberal USA president since the time of the last passage of this signature, which took place in 1965-66. All the cards are in his favor, because the U.S. populace seems exhausted and tired of the policies in force over the past 8 years. Everyone wants a change, and very few people believe the country is headed in the right direction. This election belongs to the Democrats – it is theirs to lose.

 Which brings up the other side of Uranus. It rules upsets or surprises, as well as a major change of direction in leadership. Keep in mind also that the Saturn-Pluto cycle is in its waning phase (2001-2020), and this column has oftentimes referred to that period as one that will likely see increased federal deficits (they are at a record high again), rising taxes, rising interest rates, and sluggish economy and stock markets. The turning point may well be when Saturn reaches its half-way point in this waning phase, which occurs March –December 2009 when it squares Pluto.

 Many people are complaining that Obama has gotten a free ride by the press. They haven’t really challenged him on issues very deeply. He is an inspiring and charismatic speaker (Uranus), and he promises swift and dramatic changes quickly if elected (all Uranus themes again). And he has an ambitious agenda for transforming America, by major “investments into its future.” This is really jargon for increased taxes, and according to my understanding, the people who will experience the greatest increase in taxes under his leadership will be the wealthiest, and the middle class may get tax breaks. That all sounds good – except that study after study demonstrates that more taxes (Saturn and Pluto) do not result in better economic conditions down the road. It seems to me that if the press wanted to challenge him a little more carefully, they might ask what he intends to do with all the money he will save by pulling out of Iraq. It is understood that the cost of this war is astronomical, and Obama believes that money would be better spent on programs at home. With so much money being saved, would it really be necessary to raise taxes on anyone, and risk the economic results that so many studies show as a consequence of raising taxes? After all, what is the real purpose of a tax on individual income, other than to take away the hard earned money of the people and put into the hands of a government to use as they see fit, to fund their pet projects? I think these are the kind of questions Americans will be asking themselves in the next year as Saturn comes to square Pluto. And when Uranus follows that with seven passages of a square to Pluto in 2012-2015, it would not be surprising to see a tax revolt erupting.

 You see the stage being set, with Saturn and Pluto in its waning phase now (increasing taxes, deficits). You see the candidate that the powers behind the scenes (Saturn-Pluto again) seem to be setting up to take over leadership of this country – at a time when the economy is starting to fall just before he assumes that position. You see the candidate promising vast changes and great hopes, but who also is probably about to embark upon an economic policy that may be doomed to fail, especially given the American tendency to be very impatient and want change yesterday, not ten years from now. In short, you see the set up - and the candidate being set up, and the country being set up. This isn’t the dawn of the Age of Aquarius. Not yet. It is the dawn of the “Cardinal Climax” (2008-2015), when Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto are all moving into Cardinal signs, with Pluto in Capricorn at the midpoint of it all. It makes you wonder what the world will look like in seven years, because it sure isn’t going to be the world we see today. Of course, such a dramatic change as I am forecasting, also means there will be exceptional investment opportunities. Remember: follow the movements of the youth under the Saturn-Uranus opposition. And watch for the opportunities in alternative energy fields (Uranus). Look for good products and a management that is committed to staying the course, and not just interested in creating a shell that “sounds good” to sell to someone else. 

 

Announcements

Announcements

Forecast for 2009 is on schedule to be released December 15. You can pre-order now and thus make sure you don’t miss out on it. Last year, all copies (three printings!) were sold out by the end of January, and there was no additional printing after that. The price remains $45.00, the same as last year. For more information on this book, go to our website at www.mmacycles.com, and click on the opening banner.

You can now order Forecast for 2009 in four languages! It is available in Japanese at http://www.toushinippou.co.jp/, in German at www.mma-europe.ch and www.mma-europe.de, and in Spanish via www.mmacycles-spanish.com. In English, you can order directly from us, via our web site, or you can order from www.markettiming.nl in Netherlands, www.astrodata.com in Zurich, and Earlthorn Ltd in Hong Kong at www.earlthorn.com or by email at earlthorn2000@yahoo.com. In Melbourne, Australia, you may order the Forecast 2009 book at www.educatedinvestor.com.au, or by email at investorbooks@iprimus.com

For those who wish to be part of a “Live Broadcast” on “Forecast for 2009,” this presentation will take place on Saturday, December 13 in a special webcast we are hosting. You can hear the presentation in the comfort of your own home or office. All you need is computer with speakers and screen. Sign up will be limited to 100 people. Please visit www.mmacycles.com for registration details, or call 1-248-626-3034 to sign up. Log in instructions will be provided after registration. If you can’t make it for the live broadcast, you can see a repeat of it anytime during that week via our special log-in instructions.

The “SOS Global Market Cycles Report” came out last week. If you are a subscriber and did not receive this report, please let us know at once by email to ordersmma@msn.com. This SOS monthly report addresses the long- and intermediate-term cycles that affect all world markets, but specifically through the history of the U.S. stock market, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average. It is the “big picture” ahead, like where we are now in terms of the 18- and 4-year cycles. It also discusses the shorter cycles (primary and its phases) of the German DAX, Netherlands AEX, the Australian All Ordinaries, Hang Seng of Hong Kong, the NASDAQ Composite Index, and the XAU Gold and Silver Mining index. The German edition also covers the Swiss Market Index (SMI). For information, go to http://www.mmacycles.com/catalogue/services/the-sos-stock-market-cycles/.

On December 20, 2008, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, the first public appearance of “Forecast For 2009” will take place. For more information, please contact Irma Schogt at info@marketttiming.nl, or go to their website at www.marketttiming.nl. We will have a special reception afterwards for all MMA subscribers. The second public presentation of Forecast For 2009 will take place in Lansing, Michigan on January 4, 2009. Please see our web site for further information on this event.

 Our next Forecast 2009 presentation and Financial Market Timing Workshop will take place January 16 and 17, 2009, in Zurich, Switzerland. There is also a possibility we will have a special Sunday question and answer gathering for all MMA subscribers who are present. We will keep you posted on this development via our websites at www.mmacycles.com and www.mma-europe.ch.  On January 22, 2009, Forecast for 2009 will be presented in Belgrade, Serbia. Plans are being made for a Saturday workshop to follow on “Techniques of Financial Market Timing.” For information on the Zurich gathering, please contact AstroData at 044-700-1012. For more information on the Belgrade event, please contact info@kepler.edu.yu or vesna-m@hotmail.com. Plans are also being considered for a Forecast 2009 speech and workshop on Financial Market Timing in Buenos Aires, Argentina in March 2009. We will keep you posted with this via our web site in USA, and also our new website in Spanish at www.mma-spanish.com. That web site may not be functional for another week or two, but it is coming. We are now developing a presence in the second most-spoken language on the planet.

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, Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, 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.”

The German version of “Merriman on Market Cycles: The Basics” is now in print. It is also a revision of the earlier work in English. For more information on this book, please go to our German web site at www.mma-europe.ch.

We have added a valuable new feature to our web site. Now, on the very front page, you can get a daily update on the weighted values of the Solar-Lunar cycles for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Silver market, via the studies conducted in “The Ultimate Book on Sock Market Timing Vol 4: Solar-Lunar Correlations to Trading Cycles,” and “The Sun, Moon and Silver Market: Secrets of a Silver Trader.” These are the studies I use personally for short-term trading of stock index futures, ETFs (like DIA and Silver fund), and Silver futures. Anything over 100 means it has an above-average correlation to reversing from an isolated high or low if it forms that day. The higher the value, the more probable the reversal. To see these daily values, please go to www.mmacycles.com, and just check it out on the top of the page.

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.