REVIEW AND PREVIEW
The U.S. housing market suffered the biggest drop in value since 2008 as home prices came crashing down. According to a new report from real estate brokerage firm Redfin, the total value of U.S. homes tumbled from a record high of $47.7 trillion in June 2022 to $45.3 trillion at the end of the year — a decline of $2.3 trillion, or 4.9%. It marks the biggest drop in percentage terms since the 2008 financial crisis, when home values plunged by 5.8% from June to December. – Megan Henney, “US housing market sees $2.3T drop in value, biggest since 2008,” www.foxbusiness.com/ February 24, 2023.
The Federal Reserve is unlikely to be able to bring down inflation without having to raise interest rates considerably higher, causing a recession, according to a research paper released Friday. Former Fed Governor Frederic Mishkin is among the authors of the white paper that examines the history of central bank efforts to create disinflation. – Jeff Cox, “Fed can’t tame inflation without ‘significantly’ more hikes that will cause a recession, paper says,” www.cnbc.com, February 24, 2023
And now the Sun is into Pisces. And so is Neptune, with Saturn headed there too next week.
What’s so special about the season of Pisces? Well, it is the sign of hopes and wishes, romance and infatuation. It often coincides with stock market euphoria. But when the hopes and wishes are dashed, traders (and romantics) fall out of love with their illusions about reality (like the interest rate future), and instead, panic and hysteria can set in. That’s why we often find the month of Pisces can contain large price movements and major reversals in equities and other financial markets. It is looking like that may be the case again this year, perfectly in alignment with the near-term forecast given in last week’s annual webinar.
Stock markets, precious metals, currencies, and cryptos are all pointing down as we come to the end of February after posting cycle highs on February 2, very near to the full moon in T-square with the major planet of reversals and surprises, Uranus. The only market we track looking good at the moment is the U.S. Dollar, also right in line with the U.S. Presidential cycle, as covered in last weekend’s webinar. But that will all change shortly as we are nearing both our short-term price targets as well as understanding the history of markets and their nature in the volatile sign of Pisces.
SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS
The Federal Reserve minutes were anxious about the tightness of the labor market. The financial markets were anxious about the Fed’s anxiety. The weird thing is that US real wages have been breaking all records—and not in a good way. The year-over-year rate of real wage growth has been negative for 22 consecutive months. With such a collapse in living standards, the Fed’s relative focus on labor-led rather than profit-led inflation seems peculiar. – Dr. Paul Donovan, “Tight Labor Markets or Tight Budgets?” UBS Morning Audio Comment, February 23, 2023.
March is a big month for western (tropical) astrologers. Saturn will enter Pisces on March 7, followed by Pluto entering Aquarius on March 23. The reason that it is “big” to astrologers is that these are both outer planets with long orbital cycles around the Sun. Saturn’s orbit is about 29 years, and it’s been about that long since Saturn last began its transit through Pisces. But that’s nothing compared to Pluto, whose orbit is 248 years. It last began its 20-year transit through Aquarius in April 1777. That began a 20-year period of revolutions whose influence has shaped the world order ever since.
However, planets ingressing into signs have not shown to be a strong correlation to reversals in financial markets at the time of their entrance into the new signs. They represent more of a change of attitude that may eventually influence new trends in the sector of finances ruled by the sign – just not at the moment of the sign change. Actual trading reversals (cycle reversals) are more in the domain of aspects between planets, a hallmark of modern-day astrology.
For the next three weeks, there are not many planetary aspects worthy of note taking place. For this week, Venus will conjoin Jupiter, and Mercury will conjoin Saturn on March 1. The first is usually a lovely aspect of harmony and agreement, but this time they are in Aries, which is not considered a sign of harmony so much as initiative and even aggression as Venus is in detriment there. It could have a correlation to sharp price movements in crude oil, perhaps because of the possibilities of negotiations regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. Mercury conjunct Saturn the same day may indicate seriousness in any efforts towards negotiations with optimism turning to reluctance and hesitation, and rallies giving way again to declines. With the Moon in Cancer on Wednesday-Thursday, the appeals may be emotional, the feelings of frustration at the delays again.
The more powerful geocosmic correlations to major reversals seem to be March 15-21. This is when the Sun conjoins Neptune in Pisces, while Mars forms a square to both. It’s passive-aggressive, a promise, and then a breaking of the agreement that seems more like a betrayal or an intentional effort to deceive. But the more important aspect may be the third and final semi-square between Jupiter and Saturn on March 21. This might be the height of the frustration that has been ongoing since last spring when they first formed this aspect, and especially September 21-28 during the second passage when the hysteria in stock and crypto markets peaked. Expect a bit of a return to those themes. Once again, Crude Oil and progress (or lack of progress) in war and peace are likely to be the cause of these movements or the recipient of the frustration of opposing parties with one another. Highly visible legal issues and court cases may also rise to a climax.
It ends and possibly peaks when the Sun enters Aries on March 20-21. Everything takes a turn around then. Everyone might credit it to Pluto entering Aquarius on March 23, but it is the outer aspects just mentioned that correspond to reversals in many financial markets, and not outer planets changing signs. They represent changes of attitudes and strategies that later in time tend to manifest as larger market cycle highs and lows, and usually under the trigger of Mars making aspects reflecting similar principles to the planets in signs, such as to the ruler of the signs that the outer planets are going through.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOTE 1: The Recording of the Annual Worldwide Webinar and Address on Forecast 2023 with Raymond Merriman, conducted February 19, 2023, is now available. This broadcast addressed the unusual situation of the outermost planets changing signs 2023-2025 and what this portends for major innovations, long-term investment opportunities, shifts in socio-political directions, and world war versus peace. The greater part of the presentation involved analysis on financial markets, including the U.S. stock market, Gold, Silver, Crude Oil, U.S. Dollar, and Bitcoin plus several questions from participants. The cost of this recording is $55.00, and includes the slides of the presentation. To order, click here.
“Please share with Ray that I thought he did a terrific job with today’s webinar. He covered complex ground with both depth and range. Many thanks., J. C.
“I wanted to thank you so much for all your generosity in sharing your insights in this wonderful February webinar. I’ve listened to it twice and continue to find gems. Appreciate that you stuck your neck out in giving your long-term outlook on stocks. You rose above the noise and gave very meaningful opinions that resonated.” L.S.
NOTE 2: THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF THE MMA Monthly Cycles Report Plus+ edited by Pouyan Zolfagharnia, which has become a very popular addition to the MMA Cycles Report (less technical, more visual, high-quality analysis and update on MMA Cycles Report markets) will be issued this week. The mid-month addendum to the MMA Cycles report has very attractive graphics and charts (people love it!) and is very readable. It contains more references and illustrations to geocosmics than most MMA Cycles reports and is only available for subscription to those who also subscribe to the MMA Monthly Cycles Report. If you wish to try this month’s addendum, along with the latest issue of the MMA Monthly Cycles Report, sign up online at the link above. Cost for a monthly copy of both reports is $55. That will give you both the most recent copy of the MMA Cycles report and the MMA Cycles Report addendum coming out this week. For further information and ordering instructions, please click here.
NOTE 3: ONLY Three Weeks To Go!!! REGISTRATION IS NOW OFFICIALLY OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT INTO THE 2023-2024 MMTA (MERRIMAN MARKET TIMING ACADEMY) TRAINING PROGRAM. Would you like to learn how MMA was able to advise its clients to purchase Gold when it was in the 1640s last fall and then carry the position until the nearby month hit 1950 a few weeks ago? Or to sell Silver short above 24.40 recently and carry it down into last week’s lows? Or purchase Bitcoin recently near its lows as it now continues to test $25,000? This is the skill set of MMA’s Market Timing methods, which will be taught in the new MMTA program.
Applications to this series of MMTA courses will remain open for the discounted tuition rate until March 11, or until all slots are filled. Course 1 begins on March 18. This is your chance to learn how to analyze and identify important time bands (and price targets) for market reversals in financial markets for traders and investors alike. This is the most complete course offered anywhere on the integration of cycles, geocosmics, trend studies, price objectives, chart patterns, and technical analysis. If you want to become a better trader, investor, or an analyst for traders and/or investors, this is the course for you! The instructors will be Raymond Merriman and MMTA Director Gianni Di Poce and it will be the last MMTA program co-taught by Raymond Merriman. Also, we conducted a one-hour Q&A last weekend on the forthcoming MMTA program. To view the video of this Q&A click here. For further information or assistance with applying, or regarding the program and course schedule, please contact customerservice@mmacycles.com.
NOTE 4: TUNE INTO MMA’S WEEKLY YouTube Channel on the geocosmic climate related to financial markets hosted by MMTA Educational Director Gianni Di Poce. These 5-15 minute video presentations review market activity of the past week and offer a preview of the geocosmic signatures in effect for the next week and beyond. You may subscribe to MMA’s YouTube Channel today at no cost and get announcements when each geocosmic market review is ready for viewing! To view this week’s MMA YouTube episode, click here.
EVENTS
March 4. “How Outer Planets Drive opportunities in Financial Markets.” A 3-hour intensive workshop presented by MMTA director Gianni Di Poce for ISAR, the International Society for Astrological Research. Cost is $95.00 (or $55 if you are an ISAR member). This workshop will cover the importance of outer planet transits to one’s natal chart as well as in the skies to identify optimal times for major moves in financial markets. To register for this exciting presentation, click here.
March 18-April 29, 2023: Cycles and Patterns in Financial Markets. This 6-week online course will take place for 2.5 hours every Saturday (except April 8), starting at noon, Eastern Time. If you are interested in how cycles work and how to use them to time your investments or positions trades for maximum profit potential, this is the course for you. There is no astrology in this 6-week course. It purely identifies cyclical time bands for long-term investment and short-term position trading. You will learn to speak the language of cycles as they pertain to financial markets, and to understand what constitutes a bullish or bearish trend via cycles and their relationship to the proper moving averages. You will also learn the three type of cycle patterns in bull and bear markets and what strategy to apply in each phase of the cycle. After this course, you will see charts and their patterns like never before. Charts will not appear random anymore. And each class will end with a discussion of how these methods apply to the current markets in the week ahead.
This will also be the first course (of 8 courses) of the MMTA (Merriman Market Timing Academy). You do not need to be enrolled in MMTA to take this course unless you also aspire to be a graduate of MMTA over the next two years. It is open to everyone. The cost for this course is $2500. To sign up, click here.
I noticed that learning your method, which has made me rather well off, is already leading me to think beyond profits. These courses are worth more than what you are charging. So what you are doing will challenge the weight of Gann and Elliot in technical analysis. – Vincent W, Bank Career Trader and Head of Foreign Exchange Desk at major bank, Singapore.
“My perspective on the markets, and perhaps life, have changed dramatically since being gifted the privilege of joining MMTA2. I am extremely grateful for having been given the opportunity to learn directly from you.” – Kyle M, MMTA2 graduate, North Carolina, programmer, trader, and high school math teacher.
“Attached is my final research project on the cotton market…as always critiques are welcomed!! Doing these research projects and really dissecting the cotton market during this course has allowed me to trade cotton very successfully over the last year. It is extremely rewarding to do the work and then to watch it unfold according to plan.” – Wyatt F, Wisconsin, MMTA2 graduate, Owner of large family farm operation, and now an MMA analyst.
” MMTA2… was one of the best things I have ever done.” – Renato R, Australia, MMTA graduate.
Disclaimer and statement of purpose: The purpose of this column is not to forecast 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 often cite 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 may affect human activity in the times to come. The author (Merriman) will do this from the perspective of a cycles’ 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 the psychological dynamics that underlie (or coincide with) the news events and their potential effect on financial markets.
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 of this column assume any responsibility whatsoever for anyone’s trading or investment decisions. Readers of this report should understand that commodity futures and options trading are considered high risk.