Weekly Preview Weekly Comments for the Week Beginning May 11, 2009 
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 May 11, 2009 |
Review and PreviewEquity markets across the world rallied right into the Mercury retrograde of Thursday, May 7. And then the “Stress tests” for U.S. Banks came out right after the market closed. Well, actually word of the results was leaked out days before May 7, which was a brilliant short-term political strategy, for it led stock markets to new multi-month highs, and with it, an increasing sense of optimism about the future – at least near term. But within the first hour of trading of May 7 (Mercury retrograde-turn day), this incredible 9 week-rally topped out at 8577 in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and then it sold off over 200 points by the afternoon. But the sell signal in the stock market generated by Thursday’s sell-off in the DJIA was immediately negated the next day, and in spite of Friday’s jump in the unemployment rate to 8.9%. The DJIA surged to another new high at 8587. However, that may be a little misleading, for the NASDAQ Composite fell well short of making a new high on Friday’s rally. But isn’t this “flip-flop” typical of Mercury retrograde? Sure it is, and you very well know this if you are a Financial Astrologer. The “trickster” (Mercury), is at its strongest when it turns retrograde, coinciding with all kinds of mixed signals from politicians and economic data releases alike. It is not unusual to see a bullish close one day, suddenly turn to bearish close the next, only to flip-flop again a day or two later. It can be an exciting time for those who are very short-term traders, but it can be a grind for those who are position traders looking for technical signals to complete a suggested move. In non-Mercury retrograde markets, such an expectation and patience is rewarded. In Mercury retrograde markets, such patience is more often punished. Don’t be a masochist. Don’t torture yourself. Learn to take profits quickly now. Sudden turns on Thursday and/or Friday, the day of and the day following Mercury-turned-retrograde, were also noticed in other markets. Crude Oil, for instance, soared to 58.57 early Thursday morning. That was its highest price since November 17 and followed a triple bottom low at 33.55 back on February 12. It was even as low as 43.83 on April 21, just a little over two weeks ago. By late Thursday afternoon, it had already fallen 3.00 from its morning and 5-month high. But on Friday, it rallied to 58.75, thus making another new 5-month high. Grains unfolded with a similar story line. Early Thursday morning, Soybean prices were at 1145, its highest level since September 29. The bottom was 776 on December 5. As recently as March 2, prices were as low as 843. But by the end of the day (Thursday), Soybeans were already more than 30 cents off that high. They rallied back a bit on Friday, but not above Thursday’s multi-month highs. However, Corn and Wheat did make new cycle highs on Friday. In yet other markets, Silver took off last week, reaching as high as 1415 on Thursday. Just last week – May 1 – prices were testing 1200. Back in October, they were trading in the low 800’s. Gold got as high as 926.50 on Thursday, Both metals pulled back slightly on Friday – but not much, perhaps because the heliocentric position is moving closer and closer to Sagittarius (May 19-30), a time band that acts like a magnet, drawing Silver prices higher into it about 65% of the time. The other 35% it is either flat or severely bearish. Another big mover at the end of last week was in the European currencies, relative to the U.S. Dollar. The Euro currency, for example, closed the week at 1.3646, its highest level since late March, and well off the 1.2883 lows of April 20 and 22. Short-Term GeocosmicsJust because Mercury is retrograde doesn’t mean there isn’t a trend or even a counter-trend move, as is usually the case with Venus retrograde. It just means that the very short-term swings will appear to negate that trend, and then all of a sudden, it is back on. What we want to watch carefully for next week is the May 15-20 period. I will repeat comments made last issue, because I believe they are pertinent as we come closer to this geocosmic critical reversal time band of importance. “I will be most focused on the weekend period of May 15-18, for that is when three things happen. First, that will be around the middle of the retrograde period, when sudden reversals happen. It is more important than usual this time because 2) Saturn will be turning direct that weekend (May 16) and 3) heliocentric Mercury will be entering Sagittarius (May 19-30)… Heliocentric Mercury in Sagittarius also tends to correspond to sharply rising prices in precious metals and currencies, and declines in stock prices. Of course, the other thing we know about Mercury Rx is that whatever you think is suppose to happen, usually doesn’t. Many things go exactly the opposite of what you anticipate.” Longer-Term ThoughtsLast week witnessed the Dow Jones Industrial Average and NASDAQ (and other world) indices make new cycle highs after Tuesday, May 5. This puts into force our bullish “8-week” rule,” which states that in bull markets, primary cycles will top out after Tuesday of the 9th week. Accordingly, we now have a bullish signal in effect. It means that the low of March 6 was a cycle greater than a primary cycle (it was a 50-week or greater cycle). And according to cycles theory (well, my theory on cycles as elucidated in “Merriman on Market Cycles: The Basics,” as well as Volume 1 of “The Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing: Cycles and Patterns in the Indexes”), the first “phase” of any cycle is bullish. And when that cycle is longer than the 13-21 week primary cycle, it will be looked upon as a new bull market. That is the case today. However, readers should also understand that this new “bull market” is headed right into the 14-year Jupiter-Neptune conjunction of May 27-December 21. Jupiter-Neptune is the classical “rose-colored glasses” view of the world. Everything looks great, but nothing can be verified. It’s all based on faith, and reality or direct experience is only something within the confines of one’s imagination. Still, a positive reality must start with a positive and hopeful thought. But the test will be to manifest these great hopes into reality. President Obama is fond of saying, “words matter.” And no doubt, to him and to those he speaks, they do matter. But numbers also matter, because they have a greater capacity to “verify” the words being spoken. So far, we only have this spring. As of yet, there are no “numbers” to substantiate that the Saturn-Uranus opposition crisis in the world economy is really over. Nevertheless, we can be thankful for the respite, for it gives us a chance to reflect on what went wrong, and if we are smart, to make corrections now - before the next wave of Saturn to Uranus (and Pluto with it) hits late this year. |
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).
Archives
Previous weeklies (2006) are archived at www.olmta.com
For other language editions of MMA´s weekly comments:
- Dutch : www.markettiming.nl (Nederlands)
- Spanish : www.mmacycles-spanish.com (Espaņol)
- German : www.mma-europe.ch (Deutch)
- Japanese : www.merriman.jp
- Russian : www.urania.ru
- Serbian : www.mma-balkan.com
- Polish : www.astrobiznes.pl
Owners of websites:
This Weekly Market Climate is available for co-branding. Call 1-800-662-3349 for details.
