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REVIEW AND PREVIEW
It’s official! The S&P 500’s (SP500) longest bear market since the 1940s has come to an end. The benchmark index closed up 0.6% to 4,294 on Thursday, vaulting it back into bull territory with a 20% advance from its October low. The rally has been powered, in large part, because of a handful of companies posting outsized gains, like Big Tech, Tesla (TSLA) and AI darling Nvidia (NVDA). There has also been somewhat of a resurgence in economic optimism, compared to the sentiment that plagued the market in 2022. – Wall Street Breakfast, “Run, Bull, Run,” www.seekingalpha.com, June 10, 2023.
Global equity markets were mixed last week, with some soaring to new multi-week or multi-month highs, others falling to multi-week lows, and still others between the lows and highs of the prior week. Such discordance must mean … we are in the Sun sign of Gemini, where markets will be all over the place and not all following the same instruction manual.
In Asia and the Pacific Rim, the Japanese Nikkei index made a new 33-year high last week. The Indian NIFTY index is close to making a new all-time high. The Hang Seng index of Hong Kong had a good week, but only after making a multi-year low on May 31. China’s Shanghai Composite and Australia’s ASX indices held the prior week’s low, but not by much as both economies struggle to show signs of growth.
European bourses also struggled to find direction. It was an inside week in all the major indices we track, with the London FTSE closer to its multi-month lows, whereas the DAX was closer to its recent all-time high. Is it a bull or is it a bear? Don’t ask Europe when the Sun is in Gemini. It’s both or neither, depending on how well you can bi-locate.
The Americas, however, are much clearer that it is indeed a bull, especially after Washington lawmakers finally put the debt limitation crisis to bed just before the June 5 deadline when a national fasting and energy savings mandate would have to be implemented in order to make sure the government stayed open. Just kidding. But lawmakers mostly went to bed anyway after that exhausting struggle over so little. It was a welcome sign in any event that they found a way to compromise and avoid a financial disaster (at least for another day) at the last moment.
In other markets, Bitcoin fell to a new 12-week low on June 6 but then recovered quickly. But it’s still a case of lower lows and lower highs lately. Gold and Silver are both trying to bounce back from recent declines, but the road is bumpy in Gemini. Crude Oil made a new cycle high of 75.06 last week, a nice move from its primary cycle low of one month ago at 63.64. This back-and-forth nature of Gemini may get a reality check next week when Saturn and Neptune both get highlighted (see next section).
SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS AND LONGER-TERM THOUGHTS
Shifts in personal fortune and unexpected turns remind us of what we know in the abstract and forget in the particular. They remind us that life is not, as a friend once reflected, a painting. In a painting the curtain doesn’t move. In life it moves, often softly but sometimes, in a storm, wildly. Life is dynamic—fate, chance and character play big, determinative roles. We go through the daily grind thinking nothing ever changes, but life is change. Sometimes it’s barely perceptible; sometimes it goes boom. – Peggy Noonan, “Don’t Count a Third Party Out in 2024,” Wall Street Journal, June 11, 2023.
The biggest political group in America isn’t Democrats or Republicans; it is the unaffiliated. Gallup, which does a monthly poll on political affiliation, reports a record number of Americans say they are politically independent. In March Gallup put the share of independents at 49%—pretty much the same as the two parties put together. – Peggy Noonan, “Don’t Count a Third Party Out in 2024,” Wall Street Journal, June 11, 2023.
“I just want to tell you I am an innocent man. I did nothing wrong and we will continue fighting this just as we have for the last seven years.” Donald Trump, when informed of the new charges being brought against him, June 9, 2023.
It is an interesting idea that Peggy Noonan discusses in this weekend’s edition of the Wall Street Journal. She suggests a third party consisting of both a Republican and Democrat candidate could win the next election. I was thinking the same thing. I was also thinking about Robert Kennedy Jr and Nikki Halley, both born in late Capricorn, with their natal Sun conjunct the U.S. natal Moon/Pluto conjunction. Transiting Pluto (power and reform) will re-enter late Capricorn this week (June 11), conjoining their natal Suns until November 2024 (election). The Moon in the July 2 founding chart of the U.S. indicates a woman of power rising, maybe even becoming president (or VP). I know we have one now, but this is someone else. Yes, I know Dems are hoping Michelle Obama runs, and interestingly enough, she too is a late Capricorn (same January 17 birthdate as Kennedy Jr.). Thus, I don’t think we can count either of these three individuals out if they decide to run in some combination together.
On the other side of the political universe lies the beleaguered Donald Trump, a victim once again of the consequences of his own doings. He was charged with 37 counts of felony violations of national security laws for his handling of classified documents. Of course, Joe Biden did something very similar and one has to wonder when he will have to also deal with the consequences of his own doings as well (probably if and when Donald Trump gets re-elected).
We note that Mr. Trump will celebrate his 77th birthday this week, on June 14. That means his solar return is also this week – a time when the Earth is at the same position in its orbit around the Sun as it was when he was born. This is an actual event, and like all events, a chart can be cast for that moment and based on the location of where the event takes place, which in this case appears to be in West Palm Beach, Florida. Yes, I know some astrologers believe you must use a location other than where the person is located at the time of their solar return, such as one’s birthplace or residence. But that is not the basic foundation for which an accurate and relevant solar return (or event) horoscope is cast – if you follow the tenets upon which astrology is based. But I digress.
The former president’s solar return will take place at 1:17 AM on June 14 in West Palm Beach, FL. The rising will be 17° Pisces, right on the midpoint of Saturn and Neptune at 7° and 27° Pisces, respectively. Since the Saturn/Neptune midpoint is symbolic of weakness and the ascendant is you, the person, and your body, it poses the possibility of confinement. He needs to get the hell out of West Palm Beach if he wants to change the dynamic to something resembling “freedom of movement.” He does have the Moon conjunct Jupiter in Taurus in the second house, so this also implies he will rake in another busload of donations from these new charges. It’s good for his finances, but maybe not so good for his personal liberty if he is actually in West Palm Beach at that time, and this chart proves to be relevant.
Shorter-term, we note that this week finds Pluto moving back into Capricorn and Mercury forward into Gemini on Sunday, June 11, the same day Venus will square Jupiter. There is a change of sentiment starting, but it may not get fully underway until after June 17-19 when Saturn turns retrograde and the Sun squares Neptune. These are both powerful Level 1 signatures, the strongest correlations to reversal (and primary cycles) in financial markets given an orb of 11 trading days. With Saturn in Pisces and Neptune retrograde, Crude Oil will likely be highlighted for a reversal.
On a more personal level, highlighting Saturn in Pisces and Neptune squared by the Sun favors those engaged in spiritual practices and who hold honesty and truthfulness in high value. It does not favor those who are deceptive and prone to spread false or misleading information that adversely affects the right of others to make informed choices based on full disclosure. This is not the time to hide something from someone that they have a right to know or to intentionally mislead them into making a poor decision to one’s advantage at their expense. Those who violate this principle at this time may end up in a situation much like Donald Trump this week. Saturn with Neptune can be the ultimate victim aspect. The solution? Be accountable, be honest and truthful.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOTE 1: THE JUNE ISSUE OF THE MMA Monthly Cycles Report will be released on Monday, June 13. This month’s report will update the current status of the 4-year cycle in stocks as well as the 7.83-year Gold cycle and Silver’s 4.34-year cycle. Every issue provides an intermediate-term investors’ and near-term traders’ outlook for the U.S. Stock Market, Gold, Silver, Copper, Treasuries, Euro Currency, Crude Oil, and Soybeans. The Monthly Cycles Report reviews MMA’s original geocosmic critical reversal dates (CRDs) and Solar/Lunar reversal dates over the next several weeks as well as trading strategies for position and aggressive traders during the next month. With the June 21 summer solstice coming up, Saturn turning retrograde June 17, and Neptune turning retrograde June 30, this is an important period for financial markets! If you would like to try out one month of the MMA Monthly Cycles Report, you can sign up for the June Report for only $35!
NOTE 2: MMTA3 Course Three: Geocosmic Correlations to Trading Cycles in Financial Markets will begin on Saturday, June 24 at 12PM EDT. This online course will be conducted over six Saturday sessions lasting about 2.5 hours each, via Zoom. Instructors will be Raymond Merriman and Gianni Di Poce.
This 6-week course will cover the role of Transiting Aspects and Ingresses to trading cycles (primary, half-primary, major, and shorter trading cycles) in financial markets. With this course, one will learn to identify time bands that historically have coincided with the crest and troughs of the primary cycle and its phases and how to determine CRDs (Critical Reversal Dates). Strategies will be discussed for trading them based on cycle studies as well as geocosmic correlations to strength and consistency of the reversals historically. Every class will include a discussion of how these cycles and geocosmics pertain to the current and next week’s various markets (such as stock indices, Gold, Silver, Treasuries, Euro currency, and Bitcoin), with the goal of identifying when the next excellent trading opportunities are most likely to take place.
Although this course is part of the overall MMTA graduate program, it may be taken as a solo course for up to ten non-MMTA3 students who wish to learn this material as well.
The cost for this course is $2500 and includes a 90-page workbook, access to all live classes, video recordings of the classes, and slides of the class presentations. For further information on this course, contact MMA at 1-248-626-3034 or by email at customerservice@mmacycles.com.
NOTE 3: RECORDINGS OF THE 2023 MMA INVESTMENT RETREAT on “GEOCOSMIC CORRELATIONS TO LONG-TERM INVESTMENT CYCLES” are now available! The 4-day investment retreat took place June 1-4 at the Michigan State University Management Education Center in Troy, Michigan. Instructors and presenters included Ray Merriman, Gianni Di Poce, Kat Powell, and Rita Perea.
This 4-day intensive described the role of Outer-Planet Aspects and Ingresses to long-term financial market cycles. With this course, one will learn to identify time bands that historically have coincided with the most favorable long-term investment opportunities as well as time bands that have correlated with long-term market peaks or selling opportunities. Outlooks were given for long-term cycles in various markets (such as stock indices, Gold, Silver, Treasuries, Euro currency, and Bitcoin), with the goal of identifying when the next excellent investment and trading opportunities are most likely to take place.
The cost for these recordings is $2750 and includes all 20 of the video recordings, a 120-page workbook and slides of the class presentations. For further information on this unique and special event, contact MMA at 1-248-626-3034 or by email at customerservice@mmacycles.com.
NOTE 4: SUBSCRIBE TO MMA’S WEEKLY YouTube show, Geocosmic Week in Review and Look Ahead. Each 5-15 minute FREE episode reviews 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 alerted when a new weekly episode is released! To view this week’s MMA YouTube episode, click here.
NOTE 5: 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 on Spotify to listen to all our episodes. New episodes will be released every weekend. This is a FREE service and available to everyone. Checkout out our Podcasts on Spotify and on YouTube. It makes for great listening!
EVENTS
JULY 16: 12:00 PM EDT: The Annual Mid-Year Market Update Webinar with Raymond Merriman and Team. Save the Date! Starts at 12PM EDT, which is 5:00 PM GMT, 6:00 PM CET. It will be very early in the morning in Australia, Beijing and Tokyo. In the comfort of your own home or office, you can tune into MMA’s annual Mid-Year Financial Markets Update Webinar. This broadcast will address themes from this year’s Forecast 2023 Book, with updates on the U.S. stock market, Gold, and Bitcoin by Ray; Crude Oil, T-Notes and Euro by Gianni Di Poce; Copper by Matthieu Kaiser; and Soybeans by Wyatt Fellows. Cost is $55 and includes access to the live presentation via Zoom, the slides of the presentation, plus the video recording of the live event 24 hours after the presentation. Questions that are submitted one week before the event will be answered if they are deemed of interest to the overall audience. Again, if you are unable to attend live, the video recording will be available the following day. To register, click 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 under