REVIEW AND PREVIEW
Silver prices just made their biggest weekly advance since the 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers, but the run-up has been largely eclipsed by smaller gains in gold prices. The less-valuable metal climbed 20 percent over the past week to $23 an ounce, an increase of more than 94 percent from its bottom below $12 in March. – Jonathan Garber, “Silver Prices Poised to Outshine Gold,” www.foxbusiness.com, July 24, 2020.
So the default is to proceed on the notion that the way to hold the White House and Senate this fall is to join Democrats in a spendathon. In fact, conservative voters are increasingly unhappy about the lasting damage Washington’s aid bills are doing to both the balance sheet and the underpinnings of the private economy…The mystery is who in the White House keeps deputizing Mr. Mnuchin as lead congressional envoy, given Mrs. Pelosi’s flawless record of schooling him in the art of the deal. Kimberly A. Strassel, “The Mnuchin Follies,” Wall Street Journal, July 24, 2020.
The triple solar oppositions to the “Capricorn Stellium” involving Jupiter, Pluto, and Saturn, July 14-20 saw precious metals prices explode to new multi-year highs. It also coincided with probable cycle crests in several world stock indices, after which many began to fall. Aiding this surge in precious metals and the pause in world stock markets was the continuing decline to new yearly lows in U.S. Dollar and new yearly highs in the Euro currency.
A fundamental shift in investor psychology is underway again, which is the message of Saturn moving back into Capricorn on July 1, 2020, joining Jupiter and Pluto as part of the powerful “Capricorn Stellium” for 2020. It is a time to re-visit, re-evaluate, and correct errors in judgement and/or decisions made in the first quarter of this year before Saturn left Capricorn briefly for Aquarius, March 21-July 1. Much of this, of course, has to do with the return of accelerating cases of COVID-19 in the U.S., and the flood of money being created by the Federal Reserve Board, along with additional fiscal stimulus measures being developed by the government in an attempt to address the economic threats of this virus (or is it primarily to garner votes for the November elections?). With this “spendathon” comes the fear of re-visiting the 4 D’s of Pluto in Capricorn: debt, deficits, downgrades, and defaults. With Jupiter (exaggeration), monetary and fiscal matters are spiraling out of control to debt levels never imagined under Republican leadership in the U.S., it makes you wonder: who is really in control here? Do they (or he) really know how to manage money? And how much debt can the U.S. take on without seriously debasing its currency, or at least losing the faith of other nations who currently regard the Dollar as the standard of world monetary exchange?
Let’s begin with a review of the U.S. stock market of the last two weeks. The triple solar oppositions unfolded July 14-20. On July 13, the NASDAQ futures made a new all-time high. It was re-tested again on July 21, and in fact, the cash market made a new-time high then, for a case of intermarket divergence between futures and cash. The other indices did not make new all-time highs, but the S&P made a new primary cycle high on July 22. The DJIA did not, but it did make a new major cycle crest (one level less than a primary) on July 15 which was re-tested again on July 22. Its primary cycle high remains June 8, the first trading day after a powerful lunar eclipse, and two trading days after the midpoint of Venus retrograde. These are further examples of intermarket bearish divergence in a geocosmic critical reversal zone. By the end of last week, each of these indices was testing or breaking below its 15-day moving averages, an indicator that the major cycle has topped out, and because it is so late in the primary cycle, that may have also been the primary cycle crest, right in the time band for a reversal as identified by these geocosmic studies. This is how market timing works via our methodology of combining cycle studies with geocosmic studies along with charting and technical studies.
These market divergences were observed in stock markets across the globe. In Europe, post-crash highs were made on Tuesday, July 21, in the Netherlands AEX, German DAX, and Zurich SMI. All then fell hard into Friday. The London FTSE did not even make a new weekly high.
In Asia and the Pacific Rim, India’s NIFTY index made a new post-crash high on July 22, whereas China completed its primary top on July 13. No other markets in this region made new primary cycle highs last week.
However, the bigger story was in Gold and Silver. Gold traded above 1900 for the first time since its all-time high in September 2011, which makes us look good since we started our buying program for subscribers in August 2018, just 1-2 days after it made its 31.33-month cycle low at 1167. Silver soared to 23.67 last week, its highest price since September 2013. All of this bullish activity was related to the decline in the U.S. Dollar due to the questionable financial policies and intentions of the U.S. government described earlier. This is truly a reflection of the principles of Jupiter and Pluto (excessive debt), along with Saturn in Capricorn. And with Saturn soon to move into Aquarius again and form a waning 45-year cyclical square to Uranus next year, there is reason to be concerned that the government is not being run by financial geniuses –not that the opposition to the ruling party is any better.
SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS
Our current focus is shifting to August 4-24, when transiting Mars in Aries will make its first of three quarter cycle square aspects to the Capricorn stellium. The other two will be completed by the end of this year, which means that between now and late December 2020, we will be returning to the social, political, governmental, economic, and health-related dynamics that were present when these Synodic cycles involving Mars began March 20-31, 2020. That was the peak of hysteria related to the awareness that COVID-19 is an invisible enemy not to be easily contained, and out to destroy our way of life, whether real, imagined, or manipulated. The cosmos doesn’t care or judge. It just reports what is happening in the cycles of human activity. And, it suggests that those same forces are back again now, and possibly through the end of this year.
If it is anything like late March (and geocosmics suggest it is), then financial markets could be riled again, subject to large price moves. What makes the rest of this year even more intriguing is that this hard aspect of Mars to Jupiter/Pluto/Saturn will also contact the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) natal Jupiter/Neptune conjunction in opposition to Saturn in the same cardinal sign degrees, especially between August 30-Ocober 12. It will then form a grand cardinal cross with the NYSE then. It touches off a similar pattern with planets in the natal charts of the U.S.A, the Federal Reserve Board, Jerome Powell, Peter Navarro, and Donald Trump.
If you like action, this may be fine. If you wish safety and security, it may not be so fine if you are not aware of the correspondence between cycles in the cosmos and cycles in human activity. With awareness and knowledge, you can make choices that affect the outcome and consequences of decisions in your life. You can choose not to be careless or impulsive. You can choose to think twice before initiating action (especially when that action may create adverse reactions from others), or making decisions that put yourself, your community, your nation, the planet, and others in danger. This is a time for everyone to strive to be authentic, calm, and self-controlled, and to understand when it is both too much and never enough. You don’t have to be a genius and you don’t have to be loud and bold. In times like this, it may be best just to be alert, aware, and practice self-control and good management of circumstances (Saturn in Capricorn) and finances. With these tools, you can successfully navigate the dynamics of this powerful geocosmic formation that is upon us for most of the remainder of this year. In terms of personal trading, these qualities can lead to very handsome profits. Failure to adhere to these qualities could have the opposite effect. The opportunities, as well as stakes, are very high right now, whether related to health, relationships, or finances.
I don’t mean to preach. I just want everyone to be aware of what is happening above, because “… as above, so below.”
And let’s not forget that there is the 6000-year cyclical Comet Neowise visible in the morning skies. A messenger and an astronomical marvel of beauty and hope for humanity.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOTE 1: The ICR (International Cycles Reports) will be released this week, July 28-29. The ICR Financials includes analysis on ASX (Australian Stock Index), RUT (Russell 2000), SSE (Chinese Shanghai Stock Composite), HSI (Hang Seng Index), AUD (Australian Dollar), DXY (US Dollar), and GBP (British Pound). The ICR Commodities Report includes analysis on LC (Live Cattle), MJ (Cannabis), XAU (Gold and Silver), KT (Coffee), KA (Sugar), C (Corn), and W (Wheat). These reports are written by MMA Analyst and editor Mark Shyterman (metals, stock indices, and soft commodities), MMA President Raymond Merriman (China’s Shanghai Composite Index), MMA Analysts Ken Liao (Hang Seng) Ulric Aspegren (Currencies), Isabella Suleymanov (Grains), and Gianni Di Poce (Australian ASX and Dollar, Cannabis (MJ), and Live Cattle). Order now to make sure you get this month’s report! Consider trying the July report for only $35.
NOTE 2: MMA will offer its second 2-year program of the Merriman Market Timing Academy beginning on October 24, 2020! This is the rare opportunity (only the second time in 7 years that it is offered) to learn the MMA Methodology of financial market timing and financial market analysis. The first course took place between 2013-2014 and graduated 20 apprentices, many of whom are now professional market analysts. Several of the graduates now serve as analysts of specific markets for various MMA subscription reports. This second 2-year program will be offered online and will be led by MMTA graduate Gianni Di Poce and founder Raymond Merriman. There will be 6-7 classes per course, 8 courses in all. Each class will last 2 hours each. These will take place live on Saturdays, and video recordings will be available the following Monday to those who register. There will be a one-month break between each course. The cost for the 2-year program in 2013-2014 was $20,000 and required students to spend 3-4 day courses onsite in at the Michigan State University Management Center in Troy, Michigan. This second series of courses will be online, and will cost $12,000, with a 10% discount for those who register by September 20, 2020. To enroll for the “MMTA Apprentice,” designation, you will need to know how to read an ephemeris and/or take a pre-entrance exam to demonstrate this aptitude. If you don’t know how to “Read an Ephemeris,” a link to an video presentation will be provided at no cost to those who sign up for at least the first year. An “MMTA Certificate of Graduation” (as an MMTA apprentice) will be awarded for those who take and pass exams at the end of each course and complete a research project with teams of up to three members each between courses. Courses may be taken separately, without an entrance exam, course exams, or research papers if one only wishes the knowledge without the certificate of graduation. For more information and schedule, please visit MMTA and find out how you can become a financial market timer and analyst, the MMA way.
NOTE 3: The Forecast 2021 Book will begin taking pre-publications orders on August 10. Our preliminary outlook is that 2021 will be another very important year with the long-term Saturn/Uranus square aspect taking place. There will be changes this year, as every Forecast Book since 2010 has grown larger and larger and has taken more and more research and time to write. From a book size of 150-160 pages, it has steadily grown to 250 pages last year. The results have been impressive, but it was a challenge last year to complete the book on time. Thus, it is necessary to cut back on some features in order to finish in a timely manner. One of the sections that will not be included in this year’s annual Forecast Book will be the 32-36 pages on individual Sun Signs. That will save me about 2 weeks of work that can be used to write the main body of the book that addresses the outlook for the national and global, political, economic, and financial markets. We are, however, developing a plan for a second publication for those who enjoy the yearly trends for the 12 individual signs. It is titled “Trends for the Twelve Signs 2021,” will be written by Antonia Langsdorf-Merriman and myself. Antonia is one of Europe’s most renowned astrologers and has written an annual Sun Sign book in German for the past several years, based on interviews conducted with me beforehand. We will follow that same format in 2021, where she will interview me on the career, health, and relationship outlook of each sun sign for the year ahead, and then she will write the text based on these views. We anticipate that this book will be just as popular here in the U.S. (and elsewhere) as it has been in Germany. Stay tuned for further announcements – and pre-publication sales – on Forecast 2021!
EVENTS
September 12-13, 2020: The ISAR 2020 conference is being rescheduled into two events. The first part is a 2-day online event, called “A Virtual Conjunction: Reimagining the Future,” On Saturday 12, 2020, from 1:00 – 5:30 PM, EDT, eight world class astrologers will make 25-minute online presentations addressing “Reimagining the Future: The Astrology of Entering a New Era.” The second day will take place 1:00 – 3:30 PM, EDT. The subject will be “The USA 2020 Presidential Election: An Astrological Perspective,” featuring a discussion on the charts of the election, between Lynn Bell, Caroline Casey, Lee Leaman, Christeen Skinner, and Raymond Merriman. The cost for the two events is $95, or $55 for any single one. For more information and reservation, please visit the ISAR website at https://isar2020.org/ and prepare to be amazed!
The second event will be the main conference, which is being rescheduled to August 18-22, 2021 on site, in person, at a location to be announced shortly.
September 17, 2020: Special Q&A webinar for MMA Subscribers with Raymond Merriman! 4:30 PM, EDT or 1:30 PM PDT 9:30 PM GMDT). This webinar is free to those who subscribe to any MMA subscription reports, or $55 if not a subscriber. Subscribers may send in a question they wish Merriman to address ahead of time. The only requirement is that the questions be of general interest to everyone attending the Q&A. Questions about a specific market are fine. It is possible that there may not be enough time to address all questions, so they will be answered on a first come, first serve basis. This event will last 90 minutes. You must register to attend at least two days before the event and a link to enter the meeting will be sent to all registrants that week.
October 24, 2020: The first class of the 2-year program of the Merriman Market Timing Academy begins! For details, see the above announcement, or visit MMTA.
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 a 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 hence potentially affect 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.