REVIEW AND PREVIEW
Gross domestic product grew at a seasonally and inflation-adjusted 2.4% annual rate in the second quarter, the Commerce Department said Thursday. That was faster than economists expected and above the 2% growth in the first three months of the year. – Sarah Chaney Cambon and Christian Robles, Wall Street Journal Online, July 27, 2023.
The Federal Open Market Committee raised its target interest rate by another quarter point to 5.25%-5.5% after a pause at its June meeting. Mr. Powell said at his post-FOMC press conference that future rate increases are possible this year if the inflation data warrants.– The WSJ Editorial Board, “Powell on Inflation: ‘We Need to Get This Done,’” Wall Street Journal,” July 26, 2023.
The Bank of Japan announced Friday “greater flexibility” in its monetary policy — surprising global financial markets. The central bank loosened its yield curve control — or YCC — in an unexpected move with wide-ranging ramifications. It sent the Japanese Yen whipsawing against the U.S. dollar, while Japanese stocks and government bond prices slid. – Silvia Amaro, “The Bank of Japan just shocked markets with a policy tweak,” www.cnbc.com, July 28, 2023.
In the first week of trading under the current Venus retrograde cycle, central banks were very active. Rate hikes were initiated in the U.S. Eurozone, UK, Australia, Canada, and Norway. Japan just reported an unexpected spike in inflation, and with that, the BOJ announced it would loosen its yield curve control and long-standing negative interest rate policy. China and Viet Nam, however, are lowering rates.
Yet, with all this rate-hiking taking place with so many central banks, global stock markets continue to make or stay near yearly highs. Welcome to Venus retrograde, the planet of diplomacy, indecision, and contradiction, especially regarding interest rate-related markets like currencies. These very qualities, along with the “disruption” characteristic of Uranus in Taurus (sign of money and one of the signs ruled by Venus), have combined to create a sense of chaos and uncertainty in financial markets. It seems every couple of weeks the investment sentiment shifts from bullish to bearish and back again. Right now, it is bullish. But with Venus retrograde, do not be surprised to see another shift in sentiment shortly, and probably when investors least expect it – again.
Although it might appear that Venus retrograde has not coincided with a reversal in global stock indices and other financial markets, it may be pre-mature to write off the possibility just yet. Although it is true that the German DAX and Indian NIFTY indices soared to a new all-time high in the past week, it is notable that the NIFTY did so on Friday, July 20, the last trading day before the goddess of love and wealth turned retrograde. The NASDAQ made a yearly high just one day earlier, on July 19, while both the S&P and DJIA made their yearly highs on Thursday, July 27, just four days afterwards. Since Venus retrograde has a history of primary cycles unfolding as late as 12 days afterwards, its correlation to a reversal time frame is not over yet. Additionally, most of its reversals have happened within just four trading days, and Thursday’s high was four days removed from the change of motion. Yet, there is no technical sign of a top at this time either. But then again, that’s how retrogrades like Mercury and Venus work. They often negate bullish or bearish technical signals.
The reversal correlation of Venus turning retrograde was evident in currency markets, precious metals, energy, and grains. The Euro and Japanese Yen made multi-month highs on July 18, just prior to Venus retrograde last weekend. Gold and Silver put in highs for their new primary cycles so far on July 20. Crude Oil traded above $80 for the first time in three months last week. Copper is testing its 2-month high. The grain markets made multi-month highs late last week, just 4-5 days after the Venus station – and then fell hard the rest of last week. Bitcoin and Ethereum fell to multi-week lows on July 24, the first trading day after Venus turned retrograde. It may feel like trends have not changed under Venus retrograde, but so far, the highs and lows of several cycles within four trading days are being recorded.
And, oh yes! The Barbie movie had the largest sales of any movie opening this year as the planet of beauty and love was highlighted in the heavens. But the question remains: Is Barbie a real feminist or not?
SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS
As many global investors have now decided that China is “uninvestable,” it increasingly looks like India’s time has come both as a stock market and as an economy. – Chris Wood, “As China Loses Global Investors, India’s Time May Have Come,” Grizzle Research and Quant, July 28, 2023.
Attitudes about future trends in finances and economies are changing. This is yet another theme related to Venus retrograde, especially as she forms three waxing square passes to Uranus between July and September. Uranus is important here because it is in Taurus, one of Venus’ ruling signs, and in this case, also the sign of money and banks. The second – and likely the strongest of the three square passages to Uranus – will take place on August 9. Another reason why Uranus is important is that it is the planet ruling technology stocks, and hence the NASDAQ. The first of the three passages of the Venus/Uranus square took place on July 2, which was the week when the NASDAQ broke out to new highs and led the other indices that followed shortly after. But now we have to wonder if the opposite will happen. Will the stock markets top out around August 9 and reverse, instead of breaking out to more new highs? Or will markets fall hard into that aspect and then reverse back up? With Venus retrograde, don’t expect the outlook to be crystal clear. The direction of market prices can change with each bit of data that comes out under Venus retrograde. The data released may not fall in line with expectations, for Venus – as ruler of Taurus – rules expectations, but the retrograde advises us not to be locked into expectations right now.
Venus square Uranus (expect the unexpected) is only one of the important geocosmic signatures approaching that we are watching. Another is the waxing trine of Mars and Jupiter on Tuesday, August 1, which has a correspondence to both Crude Oil and stock markets. Since global indices are still rising, it’s possible they will find a ceiling nearby to this favorable trine between these two fiery planets. If so, we could then see a healthy pullback into a low during Venus square Uranus.
Not only does Mars trine Jupiter next week, but the Sun will form a square to Jupiter as well on August 7. The Sun is the third of these fire trilogy planets, so all three will be active with one another between August 1 and 7. Each of these transits has a high correlation to sharp reversals within four trading days, which will also overlap August 1-7. For us, this is a short-term trading time band favorable for aggressive traders seeking maximum profit with minimal exposure. Usually, that means a brief but sharp decline is likely into that period.
The next most powerful signatures for a prolonged move don’t arise until late August into early September. Any market that peaked or bottomed within a week of Venus retrograde (July 22, +/- 1 week) is a candidate to sell off into Venus turning direct, which takes place on September 4. Until then, enjoy the summer of love with Venus in Leo! And if you are a subscriber to any MMA Cycles Report, get ready for the launch of MMA’s annual Forecast 2024 pre-publication “best” sales that will start in a little over one week. General public pre-sales will begin in early September.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOTE 1: MMA’s Annual Mid-Year 2023 Webinar was awesome! It was probably MMA’s best webinar ever! The recording of this event, which took place on July 16, is now available and very current.
The webinar lasted 4 hours, our longest ever, probably because we had four presenters plus several interesting questions from attendees that were answered. There were more subjects and markets covered than usual as well, including Ray Merriman’s overview of the geocosmic climate corresponding to current world events and future socio-political trends. Additionally, Ray shared his cyclical outlook for the U.S. stock market, Gold, Silver, and Bitcoin. Gianni Di Poce provided excellent insights into Treasuries, the Euro currency, and Crude Oil, while first-time presenters Matthieu Kaiser and Wyatt Fellows presented exceptional cycle studies and projections on Copper and Soybeans. Ray also delved into three major geocosmic time bands in effect the second half of this year – including the Venus retrograde period of July 21-September 3 and the Sun/Mars conjunction in Scorpio opposing both Jupiter and Uranus in Taurus this November. To order the recording of this amazing event, click here. The cost is $55 and includes a copy of the slides that were used (which were also awesome – see some of the comments below).
Today’s webcast was extraordinary! The graphics are superior including the background in your presentation; adding Gianni, Matthieu, and Wyatt takes it to the next level. –Richard B, trader, Albuquerque, NM
I thought your recent webinar may have been the best ever. I contacted the people I recommended it to and they loved it as well. Great job! Garrett Jones, Observations market letter and author, CA.
NOTE 2: THE JULY ISSUE OF THE MMA Monthly Cycles Report Plus+, edited by Pouyan Zolfagharnia, was issued last week. Pouyan has conducted new studies on Crude Oil that he will share in this month’s report! His market letter 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). The mid-month addendum to the MMA Cycles report has stunning graphics and charts (people love it!) and is very readable. It contains more illustrations and references 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. The cost for a monthly copy of both reports is $55. That will give you both the most recent July copy of the MMA Cycles Report and the June MMA Cycles Report Plus+ addendum coming out this week. For further information and ordering instructions, please click here.
NOTE 3: The MMA Monthly Grain Report by MMTA Graduate Wyatt Fellows was also issued last week, on time, even with Wheat harvesting. This is an exceptional report by a top MMTA graduate who is also the owner of a large family farm operation. Wyatt knows the farming business and grain markets from both a cyclical and fundamental point of view. This report is an in-depth look at long-and short-term cycles in Corn, Wheat, Soybeans and Cotton. The MMA Monthly Grain Report has been extremely accurate in its first editions that began in January. If you trade grains or are in the farming business and wish for accurate timing and understanding of when to hedge your crop, this report is not to be missed! To order, click here.
NOTE 4: SUBSCRIBE TO MMA’S WEEKLY YouTube show, Geocosmic Week in Review and Look Ahead, with Gianni Di Poce. Each 5-15 minute FREE episode reviews the market activity of the past week and offers a preview of the geocosmic signatures in effect for the next week and beyond. There will be a slew of special guests coming up in the next month, so stay tuned for announcements via our Twitter feed. You may subscribe to MMA’s YouTube Channel today at no cost and get alerted when a new weekly episode is released! William Stickevers, Crypto Analyst and Mundane Astrologer will be Gianni’s special guest on this week’s MMA YouTube episode. Last week incorrectly announced it was then, but it is this week, click here!
NOTE 5: MMA’S FREE WEEKLY COLUMN IS ON APPLE NOW! Now you can listen to a podcast or broadcast of this weekly column by Thomas Miller. The Free Weekly Forecast Podcast is now available on Saturday. Just follow Merriman Market Analyst Spotify to listen to all our episodes. New Podcast episodes will be released every weekend. This is a FREE service and is available to everyone. Checkout out our Podcasts on Apple, Spotify, MMA- Merriman Market Analyst Podcast and on YouTube, Merriman Market Analyst. It makes for great listening!
EVENTS
August 8: People Get Ready! There’s a new year a-comin’ and The Forecast 2024 Book will begin its Annual Forecast Pre-Order Event on Tuesday, August 8!
August 26, 2023 – October 7, 2023: “Solar/Lunar Correlations For Short-Term Trading.” This is a six-week course on how to determine, measure, and use solar-lunar combinations in financial markets for optimal short-trading (even day trading). This six-week course is based on studies of Ray Merriman as presented in Volume 4 of The Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing; The Sun, The Moon and Silver Market: Secrets of a Silver Trader; and Solar/Lunar Correlations to Short-Term Trading in Gold. The course explains the studies identifying Sun-Moon combinations that have the highest correlation to isolated highs or lows in stock indices, Gold, and Silver from which tradeable reversals are likely over the following 1-4 trading days. The set up that activates the trade in these time bands is shared, and supporting market signals that will help in determining the price target with the “lowest risk to optimal reward” possibilities via these studies. In addition, we will also share our latest results on the lunar cycles correlating with sharp, short-term reversals in Bitcoin and the Euro, and if ready, Crude Oil studies. This six-week course will be part of the MMTA (Merriman Market Timing Academy), Course 4. Those who complete this class will receive credit for that course. The cost is $2500, which includes six Zoom classes of about 2.5 -hours each, plus recordings of each class and a workbook. Classes will take place each Saturday, beginning at noon EDT, from August 26 through October 7. Instructors will be Raymond Merriman (CTA) and Gianni Di Poce (CTA), with one or two special guests to be announced soon. Registration is limited, so sign up now by clicking here.
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.