NOTE: U.S. markets will be closed Thursday, November 23, in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
REVIEW
The U.S. economy is approaching what most economists had thought either unlikely or impossible: inflation returning to its prepandemic norm without a recession or even much economic weakness, a so-called soft landing. Six months ago, the consensus among economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal was that the economy would enter a recession over the next 12 months. In October’s survey, the average forecast of economists was for no recession. After Tuesday, the probability appears to have dropped further. If they are right, it would be highly unusual. In the past 80 years, the Federal Reserve has never managed to bring inflation down substantially without sparking a recession. – David Harrison and Jeffrey Sparshott, “Economy Closes In On a Soft Landing,” Wall Street Journal, November 16, 2023.
Add falling supplier prices to the good inflation news of the week. The producer-price index fell 0.5% in October from the previous month, the largest single month decline since early in the pandemic. That follows a cooler-than-expected consumer inflation report for October released on Tuesday, which showed that consumer price growth was flat from the prior month. The encouraging readings likely confirm that the Federal Reserve is done raising rates in its current cycle. – Gabriel Rubin, “More Good News on the Inflation Front.” Wall Street Journal, November 15, 2023.
It was a red-hot week on the geocosmic front, and this translated into a positive week for most global stock indices. That is, the Sun and Mars (both considered “hot planets” in astrology) conjoin on Saturday, November 18. But both were in opposition to Uranus, the planet of disruption, November 11 and 13. With Uranus, one never knows if markets will reverse or “break out” above multi-month resistance levels or below multi-month support levels. In this case, many global equity markets broke out above resistance amidst Tuesday’s very welcomed inflation numbers were announced.
In the Dow Jones Industrial Average, for instance, prices “gapped up” well above their highs of October on Tuesday morning, November 14, after the first favorable reports came out. The rally, which started from the low of 32,327 on October 27, reached a high of 35,051 last week. That’s a gain of 8.4% in less than three weeks after having dropped over 9% from its yearly high on August 1. This fits perfectly with other studies reported in this column about the history of the Sun/Mars conjunction, namely that prices will fall at least 8% and rally at least 8% into and out of that aspect within an 8° orb.
The favorable inflation reports were also positive for commodities and other markets. Gold jumped from a major cycle low of 1935.50 on Monday, November 13, to a high of 1996.40 on Friday, November 17. Silver rallied from 21.92 on Monday to a high of 24.22 on Friday. In both cases here, the aspects with Uranus were reversals and not breakouts of support or resistance. Bitcoin was more erratic and consistent with the nature of Uranus. First, it dropped to a weekly low of 35,000 on November 14, then surged to a new yearly high of 37,973 two days later before starting another pullback. Crude Oil was also erratic as it continued to break down to new five-month lows after first rallying into Tuesday, November 14, at 79.77, then tanking to 72.16 two days later. Thus, last week was an upside breakout of resistance in stocks, a downside breakout of support in Crude Oil, a new yearly high in Bitcoin, and a normal reversal in Gold and Silver. Uranus, the planet of the unexpected and non-conformist, was alive and well last week in financial markets.
SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS AND LONGER-TERM THOUGHTS
Boston Federal Reserve President Susan Collins said Friday that more interest rate hikes could yet be needed to bring down inflation. – Jeff Cox, “Fed’s Susan Collins Says More Rate Hikes Can’t Be Taken Off the Table Yet,” Jeff Cox, www.cnbc.com, November 17, 2023.
“We are not going to have any more inflation,” – Jeremy Siegel, CNBC’s “Closing Bell,” www.cnbc.com, November 15, 2023.
Until recently wages have just not kept up with inflation. Consumers have been able to maintain living standards, but have had to consciously dip into savings to do so. That is a regular reminder that inflation has damaged living standards. Perhaps the biggest problem for politicians trying to take credit for lower inflation is consumers often focus on price levels. The relative price stability pre-pandemic has created a mental idea of what the price of an item “should” be. There is a tendency to feel aggrieved that today’s price level is so much higher, even if the pace of price increase has slowed. Dr. Paul Donovan, “Politics and Prices,” UBS Weekly Blog, November 17, 2023
The good times might just keep rolling along in global stock markets as we enter the season of Sagittarius. That is, the Sun enters the sign of optimism and cheer on Wednesday, November 22, lasting through the winter solstice, which takes place on December 21. Usually, this is a favorable seasonal time for stocks. But there have been exceptions.
There may be some headwinds this year as the Sun and Mars will now move from their opposition with Uranus to a square aspect with Saturn, which is posited in early Pisces, November 23-25. This is the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., and markets will be closed those two days but open on Friday, November 24, when Mars will also enter Sagittarius. With Mercury also in Sagittarius 0from November 10-December 1, there will likely be plenty of firepower to continue the stock market rally.
However, the Sun and Mars in Sagittarius square Saturn in Pisces are indicative of a further propaganda war involving Israel and her neighbors in the Middle East. Mars in Sagittarius/Capricorn (November 24-February 13) is often a time of war threats involving Israel. Plus, it is a time when Crude Oil prices tend to spike. The rhetoric between opposing sides continues to escalate with no sign of relenting next week, perhaps until Neptune (planet seeking peace) turns stationary direct on December 6. But even after that, Mars is still on the offensive while in Sagittarius and sometimes into Capricorn. The winners are those who sell oil and those who are most organized and plan well in strategic or military matters (Mars in Capricorn).
Q & A With Ray
Q: I am having trouble understanding what is the best or intended trading method to use with MMA reports to be most successful. Options, or Futures, or Stocks? Thanks, Ray T.
A: Thank you for your question. They may all benefit from MMA Reports. But futures, if you trade them, are probably the primary beneficiaries of our studies because they are based on futures or cash prices. If you do not trade them, then stocks and ETFs would be the next recommendation, but you will have to adjust their prices to conform with those of the futures contracts. You can get Globex futures prices at www.cmegroup.com, which is what we use.
Options are only advisable when we expect a big move, such as following a primary cycle low or high, each of which happens 2-3 times per year in most markets. We highlighted options with Gold in our special report of October 4, when we recommended certain lower-risk option strategies based on Mars entering Scorpio. This paid off very handsomely, almost immediately. But options are not our specialty, yet it is the preferred trading vehicle for many MMA subscribers. Hence, we will offer a special one-day workshop on options led by Derek Panaia, an MMTA student but also a veteran options trader, who guided us with the option spread recommendations given in the October 4 special Gold report.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOTE 1: Great News! Thanks to the genius of Thomas Miller, an Abridged Edition of Forecast 2024 will be available as an Audiobook this year! This shortened MP4 audio edition, narrated by Thomas Miller, will include all chapters except the financial markets and the calendar/ephemeris pages in the back of the annual book. The abridged edition will include the first nine chapters on the Mundane Astrological outlook for the year (and the next eight years) based on the long-term planetary cycles and their historical themes over the past several centuries. This will include “The New Aira,” The “Aries Vortex,” Cycles of War and Renaissance, Living in “The New Aira,” The World and National Economy, and The U.S. Presidential Election in 2024. Original and special studies conducted on the history of the major aspects 0of 2024 related to the election outcome are given. The audiobook will also include the retrograde time bands of 0Mercury and Mars and their importance in 2024.
Offering the Forecast 2024 Audiobook at a very affordable price is something new for MMA, and an excellent choice for those who enjoy listening to books while driving, walking, or working out. The narrator, Thomas Miller, is a well-known astrologer and podcast host of “Fun Astrology” (but it is also serious astrology, at https://funastrology.com). Thomas has an excellent voice from years in radio broadcasting. The cost of the Forecast 2024 Audiobook is $29.99. If you already pre-ordered the print or eBook edition of Forecast 2024, check your inbox, as you will receive a special coupon code to SAVE $10 on the Forecast 2024 Audiobook. The audiobook will be ready before the print edition (before December 15). For more information or ordering, please click here.
NOTE 2: THE ANNUAL FORECAST 2024 BOOK IS COMING DECEMBER 15!!! Pre-publication orders can be secured by clicking here.
This will be the 48th year of publishing this popular annual astrological almanac by Raymond Merriman. Approximately 200 pages; the yearly Forecast Book projects the major social, political, mundane, and economic issues of the next year as seen through the lens of rhythmic and planetary cycle studies. This is critical at this time because 1) we are approaching the Aries Vortex in 2025-2026, which itself is the middle of the “New Aira” period of 2020-2032, and 2) the U.S. presidential election is taking place in 2024. This year’s book gives an in-depth view of this election. In addition to analysis of mundane cycles, this book also provides our outlook on the Stock Market, Gold, Silver, Copper, Bitcoin, Currencies, Crude Oil, Treasuries and Interest rates, and Grain markets. The back section contains an ephemeris and geocosmic calendar outlining planetary aspects and lunar ingresses in effect every day of every month from January 2024 through March 2025.
The retail price of the Forecast 2024 printed edition is $66, and the eBook is $55. The print edition is limited based on the number of pre-orders received by December 1. When they sell out, they are gone. There are no reprints. This book has sold out in six of the last eight years, so order now and make sure you receive your copy of Forecast 2024!
MMA will also offer a special “bundle” discount rate for those who wish to order both the eBook and print editions of Forecast 2024. The eBook usually comes out 1-2 weeks before the print edition, and avoids delays caused by the postal system, especially if overseas. Yet many readers prefer the print edition, so ordering both via the Forecast 2024 Bundle makes sense. You will receive the eBook on December 15th, and your Print copy will be mailed mid-December. The cost of the bundle is $86.00, which is a savings of $35.00.
This year’s printed and eBook versions will also be available in these languages:
German: www.mma-europe.ch/ or email at info@mma-europe.ch
Japanese: https://www.toushinippou.co.jp/
Chinese: www.nodoor.com/
For more information on this year’s Forecast Book, please view our recent YouTube Video Interview with Ray and Alie at the Merriman Market Analyst YouTube channel, or by clicking here.
We created an updated list of our most common Forecast FAQs to help this Forecast season.
The Forecast 2023 Scorecard of the Forecast 2023 Book can now be viewed by clicking here.
NOTE 3: SPECIAL “INTRODUCTION TO OPTIONS” WORKSHOP, December 10. On September 30 and October 7, veteran options trader and MMTA student Derek Panaia gave a presentation to MMTA students on how to use options and option spreads to trade big moves in Gold as suggested by MMA market timing methods. The strategies presented during these two presentations resulted in gains exceeding 500% in less than 2 weeks. By popular demand, the students have requested a full three-hour Zoom workshop on his methods, and MMA will sponsor this workshop on Sunday, December 10, open to all readers of MMA reports and this column.
In this workshop, Derek will discuss the nature of options, terminology, and calculations of Delta and other Greeks to determine the best value options to trade at the given time. He will also cover simple option strategies with limited risks, like bull and bear spreads when large price moves are anticipated. His strategy to buy Gold calls and bull option spreads in early October has already resulted in exceptional profits for MMTA students. He will revisit this trade and discuss new strategies in other markets that look attractive for options trading in early December. The cost will be $195.00 if registered before December 1, and $250 afterwards. Registration for this workshop is now open. Click here for more information and registration.
NOTE 4: THE NOVEMBER ISSUE OF THE MMA Monthly Cycles Report Plus+, edited by Pouyan Zolfagharnia, will be issued this week. This market letter has become a very popular addition to the MMA Cycles Report (less technical, more visual with horoscopes of current importance, 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 June copy of the MMA Cycles Report and the June MMA Cycles Report Plus+ addendum coming out this week. Please note that subscriptions rates for this report will increase as of January 1, 2024. By ordering this week with Forecast Book, you save Big Bucks!!! For further information and ordering instructions, please click here.
NOTE 5: SPECIAL “INTRODUCTION TO OPTIONS” WORKSHOP, December 10. On September 30 and October 7, veteran options trader and MMTA student Derek Panaia gave a presentation to MMTA students on how to use options and option spreads to trade big moves in Gold as suggested by MMA market timing methods. The strategies presented during these two presentations resulted in gains exceeding 500% in less than 2 weeks. By popular demand, the students have requested a full three-hour Zoom workshop on his methods, and MMA will sponsor this workshop on Sunday, December 10, open to all readers of MMA reports and this column.
In this workshop, Derek will discuss the nature of options, terminology, and calculations of Delta and other Greeks to determine the best value options to trade at the given time. He will also cover simple option strategies with limited risks, like bull and bear spreads when large price moves are anticipated. His strategy to buy Gold calls and bull option spreads in early October has already resulted in exceptional profits for MMTA students. He will revisit this trade and discuss new strategies in other markets that look attractive for options trading in early December. The cost will be $195.00 if registered before December 1, and $250 afterwards. Registration for this workshop is now open. Click here for more information and registration.
NOTE 6: THE MMA WEEKLY YouTube show, Geocosmic Week in Review and Look Ahead, with Gianni Di Poce, is now conducted on Wednesday evenings! 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. You may subscribe to MMA’s YouTube Channel today at no cost and get alerted when a new weekly episode is released!
NOTE 7: MMA’S FREE WEEKLY COLUMN IS NOW ON SPOTIFY, APPLE, AND AMAZON PODCAST! Now you can listen to a podcast of this weekly column by Thomas Miller on Saturdays! Just follow Merriman Market Analyst on Spotify or Apple 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, and Apple Music. It makes for great listening!
EVENTS
December 10, 2023: SPECIAL “INTRODUCTION TO OPTIONS” WORKSHOP. The cost will be $195.00 if registered before December 1, and $250 afterwards. Click here for more information and registration.
January 12, 2024. “Trends for 2024,” sponsored by AstroData of Zurich, Switzerland. Speakers to be announced shortly, but will include Ray Merriman giving his outlook on 2024. This event is in German, and Merriman’s presentation will be translated from English to German. For further information, contact www.AstroData.com.
February 18, 2024, MMA’s Annual Forecast 2024 World Webinar. Details and reservations will be opened after January 1. Save the Date!
April 20, 2024: “FORECASTS 2024 AND THE APPROCHING ARIES VORTEX,” Nova Southwestern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, with Ray Merriman. An in-person event and workshop, 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM with a 90-minute lunch break. Cost $95.00. This event will not be broadcast via Zoom, but recordings will be made available for sale a few days afterwards. For further information and registration, please click here.
September 19-22, 2024: SAVE THE DATES!!! This will be the next MMA Investment Retreat! Negotiations are currently underway to bring this exciting gathering to a destination location in Europe for the first time since 2015. Once the agreement with the hotel is finalized, we will make a formal announcement, but for now… SAVE THE DATES! You won’t want to miss this chance to meet with the top MMA Analysts (and others to be invited) live and hear their strategies for long-term investments and wealth building ideas using MMA market timing methods. There is nothing quite like a life altering MMA Investment Retreat!
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.