REVIEW
Bad news about the labor market is good news for stocks today. All three major U.S. indexes climbed Friday, helping them to their best weeks of the year. One reason: The latest jobs report showed hiring slowed. The U.S. added 150,000 jobs in October, below economists’ projections, while the unemployment rate was slightly higher than expected. That’s a sign that the economy is cooling. For investors, that suggests the Fed might stop raising interest rates. Bond yields tumbled after the report. – Anna Hirtenstein and Hannah Miao, ”U.S. Indexes Log Best Week of 2023 After Jobs Report,” Wall Street Journal Online, November 3, 2023.
The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged on Wednesday. The decision marked the second consecutive meeting at which the Fed left rates unchanged after a long campaign of increases. – David Marino-Nachison, “Fed Keeps Rates Unchanged,” Wall Street Journal November 1, 2023.
So, the Fed kept interest rates unchanged. This is not a surprise to readers of this column, which stated several months ago that rates would likely stabilize with Jupiter in Taurus, May 2023-May 2024. Now, the Street is catching up to what geocosmics indicated would be the case six months ago. But then again, that is the purpose of cycle and geocosmic studies. These are tools that act as leading indicators in financial markets as well as economic, banking, and political trends.
With the Fed basically saying that it has no plans to raise rates for now, global stock markets celebrated. In the U.S., equity indices had their best week of the year, with the DJIA rising 1643 points. The S&P December futures contract was up 242 points. The strength of this rally suggests that the low of one week ago, October 27-30 (MMA CRD – critical reversal zone), was the start of a new cycle greater than the primary cycle, at least in the DJIA. In terms of geocosmics, this also reflects the powerful oppositions to Jupiter from both the Sun and Mars last week, plus Venus trine Uranus. Each of these aspects unfolded from October 28-November 3. Whenever Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus are highlighted in the same week, big moves can suddenly erupt in stock indices. Last week was an example. We will discuss what this means in this week’s MMA Weekly Report and Tuesday’s release of the monthly MMA Cycles Report for subscribers.
In other markets, Bitcoin and Ethereum had sharp rallies into Thursday, November 2. In the case of Bitcoin, it was at its highest level since May 2022. Gold and Silver went basically sideways in a narrow range, reflecting their recent rallies. Crude Oil, however, fell on Friday to 80.10, its lowest level in two months. It looks weak, but with both the Sun and Mars in opposition to Jupiter and Jupiter co-ruling Crude Oil, it may be due for a reversal here.
SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS AND LONGER-TERM THOUGHTS
“Defund the police were the three dumbest words ever uttered by the Democratic Party.” Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Real Time with Bill Maher TV show, HBO, October 27, 2023.
Trump’s Agenda: If elected in 2024, this is what the GOP presidential front-runner has pledged to do. Law Enforcement: Defund the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Justice Department. – Andrew Restuccia and Jess Bravin, “Trump Campaigns on Sweeping Plans to Reshape Federal Government,” Wall Street Journal, October 30, 2023.
As discussed last week, “… the cosmos is just beginning its most intense and dangerous campaigns this week and lasting through November 25.” The main celestial engine of this danger to global security is the Sun/Mars conjunction in Scorpio on November 18. Mars represents the path of the warrior and those who engage in war games. With the Sun, the warrior wants to win and is driven to be the victor in any contest. In a nation’s chart, Mars represents the warrior class or, in today’s modern age, a nation’s military. This particular Sun/Mars conjunction is more potent than usual because as it approaches, these two bodies will oppose Jupiter and Uranus from October 28 through November 13. Then, as they separate from one another, they will square Saturn, November 23-25. In the midst of this cycle of danger and conflict, the issue of safety escalates. In an election year, as in the United States in 2024, this can quickly become a top priority, even more important to voters than the economy.
In the United States, the issue of both local and national security is likely to be very pronounced. First, we note that in March 2024, the Lunar North Node will conjoin Chiron, the “wounded healer” in Aries, the sign ruled by Mars, the warrior. This also conjoins the U.S. natal and progressed Chiron. As if that were not enough, these conjunctions are in opposition to progressed Mars retrograde, debilitated in Libra. The U.S. is concerned about safety. Yet both the political parties and/or their leaders are taking stands to defund the country’s major law and order agencies. There is a disconnect here that threatens the very safety that the electorate is likely to consider a top priority.
These aspects also have a strong correlation to the stock market. For instance, the Chiron/North Node is a 14-year cycle, +/- 2 years. Their conjunction will happen next on March 5, 2024. The last time they conjoined was July 27, 2008, in the heart of the Great Recession. They also conjoined on October 23, 1929, shortly after the stock market made its all-time high and then began its worst collapse in history as the Great Depression got underway. In fact, in six of the last eleven instances of Chiron and the North Node conjoining, the U.S. has been in a recession. There was another case, and there were two recessions that happened – one within a year before and another within a year after (1921 and 1923).
Shorter-term, both the Sun/Jupiter opposition of November 3 and the Sun/Mars conjunction of November 18 have unusually high correlations to stock market cycles that are greater than primary types. In fact, this column has alerted readers that an 8% or greater decline would likely happen when the Sun/Mars conjunction was within an orb of 8°. This has now happened in many global indices with the lows of October 23-30. When the Sun entered Scorpio on October 23, Mars was sitting at 8° Scorpio. From its yearly high of 35,670 on August 1, the DJIA had dropped 9.4% to its low of October 27.
With so many hard aspects in effect October 28-November 25 that involve the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus, this is not a “safe” time in terms of personal or national security. It is also not a time when markets are likely to trade smoothly in one direction. The Sun/Jupiter opposition of Friday, November 3, and Saturn turning direct on Saturday, November 4, are both powerful Level 1 geocosmic signatures (the most consistent correlates to primary or greater cycles in U.S. stocks) at which reversals often occur. Also important will be the period of November 11-20 when the Sun and Mars will be in opposition to Uranus and also forming a T-square with the Mercury/Pluto square in the chart of the New York Stock Exchange (founded on May 17, 1792).
The wars of the world are not over yet. And neither is the likelihood of sharp price movements in financial markets, including global stock markets.
Q & A With Ray
This week’s question comes from subscriber Ray T, who writes, “Hello, for the monthly cycle reports, I am having trouble understanding what the best or intended trading method to use with these reports to be most successful is. Options, Futures, or Stocks? Thanks.”
Answer: Futures, if you trade them, as that is what most of our price levels are based on, with the exception of cash markets like the DJIA and some of the currency markets we cover. If you don’t trade futures, then stocks and ETFs will do, but you will have to adjust prices to conform with those of the futures contracts. 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 had one, for instance, with the low on October 6 in Gold, in which we advised subscribers to consider outright call options or bull spreads, which has worked out very well. To learn more about how and when to use options when applying MMA market timing methods, consider the special webinar we will be offering on December 10 with MMTA student and veteran options trader Derek Panaia. Derek is an excellent trader. Click here for more information. Thank you for your question, and I hope this answer addresses it!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOTE 1: THE NOVEMBER ISSUE OF THE MMA Monthly Cycles Report will be released this Monday, Tuesday, November 6-7. With the powerful rally in stocks last week, this month’s issue will explain what it means for longer-term cycles and the possibility of a new all-time high. Plus, Gold has already been surging since its low of October 6. Is this rally about to end, or is this just the start of a new move up to new all-time highs soon? The same may be asked of Copper, which often leads the stock market. Each monthly MMA Cycle report covers the outlook in the U.S. Stock Market, Gold, Silver, Copper, Treasuries, Euro Currency, Crude Oil, and Soybeans. The MMA Monthly Cycles Report reviews MMA’s original geocosmic critical reversal dates (CRDs) and Solar/Lunar reversal dates over the next several weeks with trading strategies for position and aggressive traders. If you would like to try out one month of the MMA Monthly Cycles Report, you can sign up for the November Report for only $35!
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 we are approaching the Aries Vortex in 2025-2026, which itself is the middle of the “New Aira” period of 2020-2032. In addition to analysis of mundane cycles, this book then goes into depth on the market and planetary cycles in effect related to the Stock Market, Gold, Silver, 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 Forecast 2024 Print is $66, and the eBook is $55. The print edition is limited to a print of 20% of all 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: THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF THE MMA Monthly Cycles Report Plus+, edited by Pouyan Zolfagharnia, was released last 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 copy of the MMA Cycles Report and the October MMA Cycles Report Plus+ addendum coming out this week. Please note that subscription rates for this report will increase as of January 1, 2024. Sign up now and save big bucks! For further information and ordering instructions, please click here.
NOTE 4: THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF THE MMA Monthly ETF Report by Gianni Di Poce was also issued last week. The ETF report is a monthly newsletter that everyone trading ETFs is encouraged to read, especially those that seek less risky trading venues than futures. This report covers 8 ETFs on a monthly basis for readers. The ETFs include: SPY (S&P 500), GDX (gold miners), BITO (Bitcoin), TLT (+20-year Treasuries), USO (Crude Oil), XLV (healthcare), XLK (technology), and XHB (homebuilders). This is a report that was requested by popular demand, and Gianni’s insights and strategies are excellent. For further information, click here.
NOTE 5: 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 6: 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. 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 he presented during these two presentations have so far 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.
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.
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!
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.