REVIEW AND PREVIEW
The rate for the most common kind of mortgage just surged again. The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage shot significantly higher Friday, rising to 4.95%, according to Mortgage News Daily. “That’s the second time this week, and it puts this week on par with the worst week from the 2013 taper tantrum — a record we didn’t see being legitimately challenged a few days ago,” said Matthew Graham, COO of Mortgage News Daily. – Diana Olick, “Mortgage Rate Soars Closer to 5% in its Second Huge Jump This Week,” www.cnbc.com/, March 25, 2022.
U.S. stocks rebounded for a second consecutive week as investors gained confidence that the economy can withstand the escalating war in Ukraine and the Federal Reserve’s plans to lift interest rates to control inflation. The S&P 500 climbed 1.8% for the week, extending its gains over the past two weeks to 8.1%, the strongest run since late 2020. – Ben Eisen and Anna Hirtenstein, “Stocks Cap Largest Two-Week Gain Since Late 2020,” www.wsj.com/, March 25, 2022.
Knowledge of the two Venus/Mars conjunctions between February 16-March 7 has proven to be a value worth its weight in Gold – or Silver, Dollars, or any currency. It was during this period that most world equity markets bottomed, either on February 24, the day that Russia invaded Ukraine, or on March 7, when a secondary low occurred. It was right at the end of this period on March 8, that Gold, Silver, and Crude Oil topped out as well.
In the U.S. for example, all three major indices completed their primary, 8-month, and 23-month cycle lows on February 24. Those declines ranged from 12.66% in the DJIA to 22.5% in the NASDAQ (the S&P declined 14.6% from its all-time high in early January). When multiple cycles bottom together, the amplitude of the decline can be the most severe in several months. Our forecast made in our recent webinar was that the decline would be greater than the previous sharpest decline of 10.46% in late October 2020, but not as much as the 38% decline of March 23, 2020 in the DJIA and other world indices.
The decline from the all-time highs in November 2021 (NASDAQ) and January 2022 (S&P and DJIA) was the steepest since the pandemic lows of March 23, 2020. But since those lows of February 24 or March 7-9, 2022, most major world indices have rallied over 10%. It was the strongest 2-week rally since late 2020. The DJIA was actually a laggard, rallying only 8.33% into its high on Friday, March 25. Other world indices soared much higher, as in the case of the Japanese Nikkei and German DAX, where the rallies of the past two weeks were 14.8 and 16.09%, respectively. Sharp rallies in a short span of time like this often occur when primary and longer-term cycles unfold, and especially when there is an abundance of geocosmic signatures in a rather tight time band, as was the case February 16-March 7, and then again last week with Venus and Mars in square aspect to Uranus. In fact, more are on their way.
Gold, Silver, Crude Oil, and Bitcoin also enjoyed smart rallies last week. After reaching a double top to its all-time high on March 8 at 2078.80, Gold plummeted sharply (nearly $200) to a low of 1895.20 one week later on March 16. But then last week it rallied back to 1967.20. Silver had exploded from a low of 21.98 on February 3 to a yearly high of 27.49 on March 8, an increase of 25%. It then fell back to a low of 24.55 on March 16 before recovering to 26.16 on Thursday, March 24.
Bitcoin was even more exciting, rising to a high of 45,120 on Friday, March 25, a gain of 31.5% since its low of February 24. Ethereum was even more impressive, appreciating nearly 40% during the same period. Crude Oil rallied 24% to a high of 116.64 last week after nosediving to 93.53 on March 15.
SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS
What we used to condemn as piracy we now praise as patriotism. – James Michener, “Chesapeake,” Random House, 1976.
We humans are pattern-matching animals, and astrology is the universe’s grandest pattern-matching game. Alexander Boxer, “A Scheme of Heaven,” W.W. Norton & Co, New York, NY, 2020.
This dance between Venus and Mars with Saturn and Uranus since February 16 has been impressive from a market analysis point of view. They have correlated very nicely with cycle studies. This dance will end April 5. But then a new number known as the Jupiter/Neptune serenade will begin and it will last until the unusual solar eclipse on April 30 when Venus will conjoin Jupiter and Neptune in late Pisces. It is possible world indices can rally until then, for the 14-year Jupiter/Neptune conjunction is a much longer and hence more dominant and lasting planetary cycle than those involving Venus and Mars to Saturn and Uranus, whose cycles last slightly more than two years.
Even within this Venus/Mars to Saturn/Uranus dance, there are variations that can coincide with sudden and perhaps steep reversals. The absolute bottom in the U.S. stock indices on February 24 was just one day before the midpoint of the two Venus/Mars conjunctions of February 16 and March 6 (Venus rules peace, while Mars rules war, so this is a war dance too, or more like a “pirate dance” where the invaders think they can take what they want simply by brute force). The secondary bottom on March 7 was the Monday following the last passage of Venus and Mars on March 6. And just two trading days after Venus and Mars formed a threesome conjunction with Pluto, which was during the time the tide of the war began to turn as both Venus and Mars ingressed from Capricorn to Aquarius, leaving Pluto behind.
Venus and Mars then commenced another aria in this epic opera/dance last week as both formed a square to Uranus. The next segment of this epic story will take place March 29-April 5 when the gods of love and war conjoin with Saturn. This may be the conclusion, or at least an intermission, for the music may dramatically change from a militaristic marching beat to one of soft harmonies and dreams of peaceful and romantic periods of the past. Jupiter conjoins Neptune in Pisces on April 12, followed by the translation of Venus to these two symbols of spiritual bliss and cooperation, in the last week of April.
We must make every effort to resolve this conflict by the end of April, for looming ahead after May 10 will be Jupiter marching into the sign of military activity, Aries. People in other countries may wonder why Americans are so taken by what is happening in Ukraine. It is because it reminds us of our own revolutionary war against the world’s greatest superpower at the time. No one – not even the colonists – believed we could win. But we did. It was also when American pirates of the seas (and defenders of the land taking up the fight with inadequate arms) became patriots in the fight against taxation and tariffs levied by the mother country to create pain and suffering among the new world inhabitants. It was an effort to get the upstart Americans to quickly surrender to the vastly superior military power. They didn’t surrender. And out of that revolution of Pluto in Capricorn was born a new nation with new heroes and new leaders in a new world.
Speaking of Jupiter conjunct Neptune in Pisces, a concern that we discussed before seems to be unfolding. The freedom of movement part of this aspect is coinciding with the ending of lockdown and restrictions that had been placed upon many people over the past two years. And as also suggested, this new freedom is also correlating with an increase in careless behavior resulting in the start of another mutation of the coronavirus that is beginning to spread rapidly throughout the world. Remember that this Jupiter/Neptune conjunction is a cosmic sign to enjoy life and freedom of movement again. But it is also a time that can make people susceptible to another contagion if not careful.
Have fun, make money in the markets as a sense of irrational exuberance is swelling up once more, but be responsible and protect yourself. Learn from the lessons of the past two years. Fall in love with spring (that’s what Jupiter conjunct Neptune wants to do, as does Venus and Mars when they are not fighting) and enjoy the newfound unity that is emerging in people and societies throughout the world, an ironic but promising mass response to the Mars part of the dance led by the invasion of V.P. on Ukraine. Not only has this invasion brought people all over the world together in a collective spirit of unity and purpose, but it also has thrust Volodymyr Zelensky into the role of a modern-day hero, which is yet another theme related to Jupiter/Neptune conjoining in Pisces.
If you would like to hear more about the astrology of this war, come join Antonia Langsdorf and me in a live YouTube event to take place at 4 PM EST, Wednesday, March 29. The join, please note the link is https://youtu.be/5Z-IitVt0w8. See Announcements and Events below.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOTE 1: THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE MMA Monthly Cycles Report Plus+ written by Pouyan Zolfagarnia will be released this week, March 28. The mid-month addendum to the MMA Cycles report 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 March issue of the MMA Monthly Cycles Report (which featured a special long-term update on Gold), sign up online and select the subscription option: March Issue One Time Payment + Addendum for only $55. That will give you both the most recent copy of the MMA Cycles report, Special Long-Term Gold Update, and the MMA Cycles Report addendum coming out this week.
NOTE 2: I will be speaking at “The Year Ahead Astrology and Finance Day” Conference sponsored by the Mayo School of Astrology on Saturday, March 26. My topic will be on “The Pattern of the 10-Year Jupiter/Saturn Waxing Phase Hope for Humanity.” Also speaking will be Christeen Skinner, Lara van Zuydam, Bill Meridien, Georgia Stathis, and Grace Morris. My presentation will be at 1:30 PM EDT, the last one of this one-day event. For more information, please visit https://mayoastrology.com/events/.
NOTE 3: Antonia Langsdorf (my wife and well-known German Astrologer) just wrote an excellent article on The Astrology of the Ukraine Conflict with analysis of the charts of Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine, and the relationship of each to the “Great Mutation” (Jupiter/Saturn conjunction in 0 Aquarius) of December 21, 2020. This article available is now on our website. To read it, click here.
NOTE 4: TUNE INTO MMA’s NEW WEEKLY YouTube Channel on the geocosmic climate related to financial markets hosted by MMTA Educational Director Gianni di Poce. The video is recorded late Friday night and posted then or early Saturday, depending on the editing process. These 5-10 minute video presentations review the 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!
“Just a quick word to say your (Gianni’s) weekly video on YouTube is really a great complementary format to Ray’s letter. I find it interesting and masterfully delivered. Thanks to both of you for this!” M.K., Paris, France, Portfolio Manager.
NOTE 5: I will be interviewed by Antonia Langsdorf live, on Tuesday, March 29, on her “Cosmic Vibe” program. The subject will be on the “Russian-Ukraine War: Now and In the Future.” We will discuss the charts of Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Ukraine. The interview will be in English, and later she will post the interview with German translation for both hers and our German-speaking audience. To view this live interview, click https://youtu.be/5Z-IitVt0w8 at 3 PM EDT, Tuesday, March 29. Looking forward to seeing many of you there! It is free. No cost.
NOTE 6: THE ANNUAL WORLDWIDE WEBINAR and Address on Forecast 2022 with Raymond Merriman took place on FEBRUARY 20, 2022. The recording is now available, still relevant, and highly recommended to view if you were not present. This broadcast updated financial markets since the Forecast book was written in November 2021, including the U.S. stock market, Gold, Silver, Crude Oil, Euro, Corn, Soybeans and Bitcoin. The cost for the recording is $55.00 and includes the slides of the presentation. For more information or to order, go to Forecast 2022 Webinar.
EVENTS
March 26, 5:30 PM GMT, Raymond Merriman will be speaking at “The Year Ahead Astrology and Finance Day” Conference sponsored by the Mayo School of Astrology. His topic will be “The Pattern of the 10-Year Jupiter/Saturn Waxing Phase.” Jupiter and Saturn conjoin one another approximately every 20 years. The first ten years are known as its waxing phase (between conjunction and opposition). A pattern tends to unfold at regular intervals in this 10-year period related to the world economy, stock markets, and geopolitical tensions. This pattern will be reviewed and shown how it relates to the Nodal Cycle of economic prosperity and recessions. An overview about what these cycles imply for the remainder of this decade will follow. Also speaking will be Christeen Skinner, Lara van Zuydam, Bill Meridien, Georgia Stathis, and Grace Morris. Ray’s presentation will be at 1:30 PM EDT, the last one of this one-day event. For more information, please visit https://mayoastrology.com/events/.
April 1: Ray Merriman will join Gianni di Poce on MMA’s weekly YouTube Channel discussing the geocosmic climate related to financial markets. The video will be posted by Saturday morning. We will review the market activity of the past week and offer a preview of the geocosmic signatures in effect for the next week and beyond. Like this free weekly column, this video is intended to be educational and there will be no cost. You may subscribe to our YouTube Channel today and get announcements when each geocosmic market review is ready for viewing!
May 8, 2022: MMA’S ANNUAL FINANCIAL MARKETS UPDATE WILL TAKE PLACE MAY 8, 2022, 1:30 PM EDT: This broadcast will take place on Sunday, May 8, 2022 at 1:30 PM EDT (that’s 10:30 AM PDT, 6:30 PM UK, 7:30 PM CDT. 2:30 AM Tokyo, 3:30 AM Sydney). In the comfort of your own home or office, you can tune into MMA’s Annual Spring Webinar on Financial Markets. This 3-hour webinar (with two 5-minutes breaks) will give an intermediate-term update on several financial markets, including the U.S. stock market, Gold, Silver, Crude Oil, the Euro currency, Bitcoin and Soybeans. This will be an especially timely presentation because 1) the 12-year Jupiter orbital cycle will be making its first entrance into Aries on May 10, and 2) May 27-June 22 has been highlighted as one of the more probable times in 2022 for major moves in Bitcoin as well as several other financial markets. Joining Ray to share their outlook will be Ulric Aspegrén (Euro, U.S. Dollar) and Gianni Di Poce (U.S. Treasuries, Crude Oil and Soybeans). Ray will be covering equities, metals, and Bitcoin. There will be a Q&A with attendees during this webinar. The cost to attend is $55.00 and includes the slides of the presentation, plus access to the video recording of the event. If unable to attend live, you can still sign up, as everyone who orders the Webinar will receive the video recording following the live event. For more information, click here and SIGN UP NOW TO LOCK IN YOUR PLACE for this event!
August 25, 2022: 1:00 PM, Denver, CO, ISAR Conference, 4-Hour Pre-Conference Workshop by Raymond Merriman on “ASTROLOGY AND THE ART OF FINANCIAL MARKET TIMING: HOW TO FORECAST TRENDS AND MARKET REVERSALS.” Financial markets offer objective means to test astrological validity. The Moon changes signs every 2-3 days and is valuable for short-term trading. Planetary stations and aspects identify longer-term market reversals. Approximately 4-5 times/year, markets will form important highs or lows, which are the most favorable times to buy and sell for position traders. This course provides research studies showing the correlation of astrological factors to short-term and longer-term financial markets. The focus will be upon stock markets, precious metals (Gold and Silver), and Bitcoin, and how to integrate astrology with cycle studies to attain optimal market timing skills. Visit https://isar2022.org/schedule/ for further information and register for a great event!
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.