REVIEW AND PREVIEW
Stocks of fast large growing companies had their worst month since the pandemic-fueled selloff of March 2020, and Treasury yields are around their highest since June. Strategists who had predicted another strong quarter of economic growth are cutting estimates because of supply chain bottlenecks and the highly contagious Delta variant of Covid-19. – Akane Otani, “Stocks End Quarter in Turmoil, Worst Month Since March ’20,” Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2021.
“What I have made clear to the President and Democratic leaders,” Mr. Manchin said in a statement, “is that spending trillions more on new and expanded government programs, when we can’t even pay for the essential social programs, like Social Security and Medicare, is the definition of fiscal insanity.” Opinion Page, “The Manchin Intervention,” Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2021.
World equity markets started out strong last week, rising nicely off their lows of September 20. But then Mercury the Trickster turned retrograde on Monday, September 27, and the decline that had started from all-time and multi-year highs in August and early September resumed until late this past week.
In Asia and the Pacific Rim, it was a mixed performance. China and Japan fell hard into late last week, with both the Shanghai Composite and Nikkei indices down 5.5 and 6.9% respectively, from their multi-year highs of September 14, an MMA two-star geocosmic critical reversal date (CRD). The Australian ASX index also declined last week to its lowest level since June 2. But India’s Nifty stayed near its all-time high of September 24 made the prior week.
In Europe, the Netherlands AEX fell 5.3% from its all-time high of September 17, while the DAX dropped 6.47% from its all-time high of August 13. The Zurich SMI was the biggest decliner last week, falling almost 9% off of its all-time high made on August 18 during MMA’s last three-star geocosmic CRD. The London FTSE remained near its recent lows of September 20.
All three major U.S. indices were underwater most of last week until Friday’s big rally. But the NASDAQ suffered the most, falling 7% off its all-time high made on September 7. Each of the three indices tested their lows of last June and July in what was a rather tense week of trading related to the stalemate in Congress over Biden’s massive spending bill, plus the persistence of the Delta variant to COVID-19, combined with the threat of a government shutdown. They managed to avert the shutdown for two more months, but they couldn’t agree to raise the debt ceiling, so the U.S. credit status is still vulnerable to a downgrade if something isn’t done soon. With Mercury retrograde until October 18, there is reason to doubt anything sustainable will be done “soon.”
Precious metals markets were noteworthy last week as Silver plunged to a low of 21.41 on Wednesday, September 29, a loss of over 14% since September 3 when it was testing 25.00. That was a new 3-month low. Gold held above the low that started its primary cycle in August for a case of intermarket bullish divergence as both rallied smartly on Thursday, September 30. October is expected to be a turning point for Gold, as discussed in our recent webinar on September 3.
One of the reasons metals (and T-Notes) fell so hard is because the Dollar rose so strongly on the increasing concern that the Fed will soon start to taper. As stated before, we do not see that happening until after Jupiter re-enters Pisces and separates from its positive aspects to the Fed’s Sun/Pluto opposition. That won’t be before mid-January.
Interestingly enough, even as the Dollar rallied, so did Bitcoin and Ethereum. After dropping to their major cycle lows on September 22, both cryptos soared over 20% into Friday’s high. Our crypto clients are quite happy as our awesome streak in Bitcoin and Ethereum continues this year.
SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS AND LONGER-TERM THOUGHTS
This is a big week coming up via our market timing studies. It may also present several excellent trading opportunities, although Mercury the Trickster, in retrograde September 27 through October 18, may have something defiant to say about that. I do not expect this Mercury retrograde cycle in Libra to be easy to navigate, but the only geocosmic cycles unfolding now can still correlate with a meaningful reversal in several financial markets.
Let’s start with the 25-month Sun/Mars synodic cycle, which takes place on October 8 in mid-Libra. Our studies have shown that this conjunction has a fairly strong correlation to large reversals within 8°. These reversals can begin or end in this time band. The current Sun/Mars conjunction period began with market highs around September 13 (some started from highs in mid-August) and ends on November 1. Historically, many stock indices have plunged 8-20% when a high forms slightly before or during this time frame. Most world indices have declined 5-7% so far, except the Zurich SMI, which has already met this minimum price decline target, having fallen close to 9% from its recent high on August 18. This is why we think stock indices might still have further to fall this month.
The Sun and Mars in Libra is not a strong placement astrologically. Mars is in its detriment in Libra. However, one day before the Sun/Mars conjunction, Venus will enter Sagittarius for one month (starting October 8). Venus in Sagittarius has a positive correlation to stock prices, so it would not be surprising if stock indices find a low nearby. Adding to the possibility of a reversal this week is Pluto changing directions on October 6, the same day as the new moon, with the midpoint of Mercury retrograde on October 7-8. These are all important market timing indicators.
Just as strong as the geocosmic indicators of a reversal mentioned above is Saturn turning stationary direct on October 11. This is a powerful Level 1 geocosmic signature that has a 70% correlation to primary or greater cycles within 9 trading days. The psychological theme of a highlighted Saturn is caution and defensiveness. A sense of worry and anxiety about the future often prevails within a few days of this cosmic event.
So, how do we handle this as traders and individuals trying to get by in life during the era of a pandemic and political disunity? We wake up every day and commit ourselves to do the best we can. The message of Saturn is to exhibit discipline and stay with a well-thought-out longer-term plan. That is not always easy to do with Mercury retrograde, for the Trickster thrives in a climate of distraction and chaos, especially when at the same time Saturn (discipline) is still in its waning square aspect to Uranus (more chaos, disruption, and divisiveness).
Mercury retrograde has gained some notoriety with traders as a result of its propensity for many false breakouts and technical buy/sell signals. It also corresponds to a greater than usual amount of miscommunications, misunderstandings, and technical mishaps (“why do my Word and Gmail/email and YouTube programs suddenly not work right?”). However, it can be favorable for reviewing and correcting past errors and current situations that are hampering progress. Plans need to be adjusted, and individuals (and traders) who are open-minded and flexible can thrive in this time frame.
This is also a note to fearless leaders in government and society who are trying to make moderates (the majority of U.S. citizens) into villains and traitors of their nation. They have it backwards. But then again, we are starting a new month with six planets (seven if you count Chiron) in retrograde, where the cosmos appears to be moving backwards too.
All those retrogrades. It is time to review, revise, and start over again.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOTE 1: Get Ready! The Forecast 2022 Book and the Annual Forecast Pre-Order Event is now underway. Our preliminary outlook is that 2022 will be another very important year with the long-term Saturn/Uranus square aspect continuing to be in force. Although 2021 is not yet over, several forecasts made in the 2021 book have already unfolded. For a review of the Forecast 2021 Book as of September 23, 2021, please visit our Scorecard.
This pre-publication period will be in effect through October 31 and will include our once-a-year sale discounts on both the annual Forecast Book and MMA Subscription Reports. You may pre-order Forecast 2022 at the discounted rate of $45. After the pre-order event ends, the price will increase to $55 on November 1st. Order both an eBook and print book (Forecast 2022 Bundle) for only $65, a savings of $45 off the standard rates. This may be a good idea as printers report they are 2-4 weeks behind normal completion schedules this year all over the country. We will have the book completed before December 1 as always, but we cannot promise it will get printed and mailed by December 15 this year as has been the case for the past 45 years. You can also save 10% off any subscription ($275+) with purchase of Forecast 2022. Use code SALE2022 at checkout to receive the subscription discount. Click here for subscription information.
This year we are again pleased to announce the publication of our TRENDS FOR THE TWELVE SIGNS 2022 book, which will include the individual Sun Signs forecasts. This very popular book on the annual outlook for each sign is written by Antonia Langsdorf-Merriman and Raymond Merriman. Antonia has written an annual Sun Sign book in German for the past several years, based on interviews conducted with me beforehand. We will follow a format this year where Langsdorf will cover the health and relationships outlook and Merriman will cover the business, career and overall psychological outlook of each sign for the year. The cost of this book will be $25, with a further discount if ordered with the Forecast 2022 Book. To order this book, click here.
This year’s printed and/or e-Book versions of Forecast 2022 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/
The English version will also be available through info@markettiming.nl or www.markettiming.nl.
NOTE 2: THE NEW MERRIMAN ON MARKET CYCLES: THE BASICS book is out! The printed edition has just been received on Friday, October 1, and the eBook is also available! This new edition contains the most comprehensive and modern listing of 175 long-, intermediate-, and short-term financial cycles in over 40 financial, currency, and commodity markets available anywhere! The book is a clearly written text on the MMA methodology for determining cycles periodicities and recognizing patterns within those cycles. It is a 72-page basic book for those who want to improve their timing skills by integrating cycles analysis with technical studies. It is a glossy softcover, 8-1/2” x 11” with illustrations to demonstrate the correct way to count cycle lengths, identify their phases with instruction on the trading strategies used to successfully trade each phase. The cost of the new version is $35.00. Details for pre-ordering are available now by clicking here.
NOTE 3: NEW OPTION TO MMA CYCLES REPORT! We are adding a mid-month option to the MMA Cycles Report by Pouyan Zolfagarnia, one of the top students in the Merriman Market Timing Academy (MMTA). This is for subscribers of that report only and will be issued as a complimentary addendum through December, after which there will be a charge of $95/year (or $45/three months, or $20/issue) to continue to receive it as an option to MMA Cycles. The first pilot of this addendum went out last week and the reviews are excellent from subscribers who received it. It has very attractive graphics, is written clearly with a little more emphasis on geocosmics (including charts) and is basically an excellent and not-so-technical update of the MMA Cycles Report. If you are a subscriber to the monthly MMA Cycles Report and did not receive the first issue sent out last week, let us know at once. If you wish to receive a copy of this visually and analytically excellent report, you can simply sign up for a one-month trial to MMA Cycles and you will also receive both the monthly cycles report and this mid-term addendum. As mentioned, this report will be delivered at no cost to subscribers of MMA Cycles through December 2021. To order click here.
Really excellent, with the color-coding and shading, etc. Nice complement to Ray’s work and obvious edge of experience. I would definitely subscribe to this. J.N, trader and subscriber.
Just wanted to let you know that I thoroughly enjoyed the first issue of the MMA Monthly Cycle Report Mid-Month Addendum. I felt the analysis was clear and relevant. Looking forward to next month’s analysis. If the following months are as insightful as this issue, I will be a purchaser of this subscription. M.T. MMA Cycles subscriber.
NOTE 4: Coming in January! A new ETF report by MMTA Director Gianni di Poce! We have received many requests for an ETF report as many readers prefer trading ETFs on commodities and financials rather than futures contracts. So, we are organizing a new service for those who wish to have a monthly ETF report. The ETFs to be covered will include a precious metal (probably GLD), stock index (probably an S&P), Treasury Notes or Bonds, and Bitcoin. Stay tuned for more information as plans develop.
For any questions, please contact us at customerservice@mmacycles.com or call (248) 626-3034, or (800) MMA-3349.
EVENTS
January 13-15, 2022: Zurich, Switzerland: Trends for 2022, sponsored by AstroData, and featuring Claude Weiss, Alexandra Klinghammer, Monica Kissling, Verena Bachman, Antonia Langsdorf, Raymond Merriman and others. Details and location to be announced in October. Stay tuned!
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.