MMA WEEKLY - Financial Astrology commentary, Market timing, MMA Cycles, The Merriman Market Analyst

Note: next week's column may be a day later than usual due to my lecture obligations at the International Balkan Conference in Belgrade next weekend.

The Market Week in Review :

It was ugly last week for many stock indices around the world. And it was not unexpected on the basis of our studies in Financial Astrology. First of all, the entire period of February 25 through March 7 witnessed the Sun translating the Saturn-Uranus opposition, a period that we previously described would, "... offer a glimpse of what to expect from November 2008 through July 2010 when that Saturn-Uranus opposition is in effect." It was similar to what happened in January of this year when Venus also made a translation to this forthcoming Saturn-Uranus opposition. And as in January, stock markets around the world sold off again. In fact, these indices are right back around those same multi-month lows of January 22-23, and the sense of panic that was present then, has returned. And what is the cause? According to the front page of Friday's Wall Street Journal, "Housing, Bank Troubles Deepen." It is the same story line that was sounded during the sharp declines of last August and January.

Secondly, this decline into Friday's new monthly low coincided with the new moon conjunct Uranus. This is potentially a geocosmic critical reversal signature. Not only that, but Uranus signatures such as these can coincide with a sense of panic or hysteria, as if there is no hope left for the economy or stock markets. But as financial astrologers, we have to keep in mind that this is happening in Pisces, the sign of faith versus hopelessness. Pisces rules the imagination, the dream state. It is not considered practical or realistic. It is illusion and confusion. If the market falls during a Pisces influence, it may be based on fear of the worst. Based on the fact that commodities say there is a real threat of inflation, and Treasuries say there is not, we have a case of confusion. Based on the fact that stock markets appear headed downwards with no bottom in sight, and consumer confidence numbers are falling just as hard, there is also a growing lack of faith. And this is reflected in the increasing number of economic leaders who are proclaiming we are in a recession, when the data has yet to confirmed that. It is very much typical of a new moon in Pisces (confusion), conjunct Uranus (hysteria), and in opposition to Saturn (fear of loss).

But commodities and currency prices are still roaring to record levels, and this too is typical of a new moon with Uranus. That is particularly true of crude oil, which is ruled by Pisces. Crude oil prices surged to another record high on Friday. They traded as high as 105.97. As stated in this column over the past several years, Uranus in Pisces is a signature that suggests crude oil would make an all-time high while transiting between 10 and 20 degrees. This condition is in effect right now, through May 2008. For this market to make its all time with the new moon also conjunct Uranus is almost a perfect astrological set up. Once the high is in, the possibility of a 50-90% decline before Uranus leaves Pisces is also very possible, based on the history of Uranus transiting signs and the sectors they correspond to in the past. Remember 1995-2003, when Uranus was in Aquarius? Aquarius rules technology stocks. They too had an explosive bubble to new all-time highs that suddenly ended in March 2000. Within two years, the NASDAQ Composite (of tech stocks) dropped 80%. The same could happen to crude oil by the time Uranus leaves Pisces in 2011. No one believed it two years ago when this column forecasted 100.00 crude oil by 2008. And today no one believes crude oil could possibly fall back to 50.00 or lower within the next three years. No one believes. Such is the nature of Pisces. Such is the work of Financial Astrologers, whose tools are always leading indicators, not lagging ones.

Short-Term Geocosmics :

Last week's column correctly forecasted, "This could be a very dangerous week for many markets. In addition to the Sun translating the opposition to Saturn and conjunction with Uranus there are other powerful forces at work that should be of interest to all Financial Astrologers... Mars will also cross the 0 degree Cancer point on March 4. Historically that is a period when central banks make critical changes or announcements in their interest rate policies, which in turn affect Treasuries and currency prices, and by association, also precious metals and stock markets... And (O)n March 4, heliocentric Mercury will also enter Sagittarius through March 17. This is a period that has a very high correlation to sharp price swings in many markets, especially precious metals and currencies. With heliocentric Mercury in Sagittarius at the same time as the new moon in Pisces conjunct Uranus around March 7, it could be a very dramatic time coming up.... Fasten your seat belts again. It could get very turbulent into next Friday."

In typical Uranus fashion, the Payroll and Unemployment reports were worse than expected. Treasuries rose and stocks fell.

For this week, Venus will enter Pisces March 12, followed by Mercury doing the same March 14. More Pisces. More confusion and uncertainty. This is followed by Venus starting its translation to the Saturn-Uranus opposition, starting with its opposition to Saturn on March 15, and culminating with its conjunction to Uranus on March 28. The roller coaster may pause this week, but more steep slopes could be ahead March 15-28. Of course with the new moon conjunct Uranus this past Friday, a sudden and sharp rally is also possible, for it can be counted on for one thing: it does what most people do not expect.

Long-Term Thoughts :

Despite all the negativity and fear as we ended last week, there are still signs of hope for the world, according to the study of Mundane and Financial Astrology. The major planets of Jupiter and beyond are still in favorable aspect until November of this year. The transit of faster moving planets to the forthcoming Saturn-Uranus opposition has shown us that there will be periods of utter depression and even panic. But these longer-term harmonious aspect also suggests that equity markets will find support, and these declines will be followed by healthy rallies. The declines will likely not be straight down, just as we witnessed after the falls of mid-August, late November, and late January. Very strong rallies followed each plunge, and that pattern is likely to happen all year.

So, consistent with the theme of this new moon in altruistic and romantic sign of Pisces, it is appropriate to remind ourselves to "keep the faith." The world is not ending. At least it isn't ending before the November elections. It may feel at times like the world is losing control and its collective mind. But be patient. It is only temporary insanity, symbolized this past week with the new moon in Pisces conjunct Uranus. And let us also remember that our fire sign leaders of the U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve Board aren't done yet with their rescue saving heroics. We have our heroes. They won't abandon us. They don't want the economy or the stock market to crash on their watch. And soon the Sun and the other planets will leave the fog of Pisces and enter the fire sign of Aries (March 21). That's when Bernanke and Paulsen will be back in their element, another rescue mission will be conducted, and the world will look rosy once again soon after. And we will all live happily ever after - until the next time. Isn't it a perfect setup of a new moon-in-Pisces fairy tale? The knights and their white horses are coming, maybe even this week as Venus enters Pisces, and makes a favorable sextile-trine to the Federal Reserve Board's Sun-Pluto. They did it in January. And both the aspects and the market patterns look a lot alike.

Announcements :

The next "MMA Cycles Report" and "MMA Japan Markets Cycles Report” l came out (February 18-19). These reports come out every month to subscribers of these reports. The "MMA Cycles Report" is our market advisory report for traders of the U.S. stock indices, T-Notes, Gold, Silver, Euro, Swiss Franc, Grains, and Crude Oil. This report will be issued Monday night to those who receive it via email. The "MMA Japan Cycles Report" covers the Nikkei, Dollar/Yen, and JGB Bonds, and will come out Tuesday afternoon. For more information

The new "SOS Global Market Cycles Report" will came out last week, March 6 (March 6 for email subscribers in English). And it will be one day later in German to our German SOS subscribers (please go to www.mma-europe.de in to order the German version of SOS). This SOS monthly report will address the long- and intermediate-term cycles that affect all world markets, but specifically through the history of the U.S. stock market, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average. It is the "big picture" ahead, like where we are in terms of the 18- and 4-year cycles. It will then give an overview (and projection) of the shorter cycles (primary and its phases) of the German DAX, Netherlands AEX, the Australian All Ordinaries, Hang Seng of Hong Kong, National Stock Exchange (NSE) of India, the NASDAQ Composite Index, and the XAU Gold and Silver Mining index. The German edition will soon give analysis also of the Swiss Market Index (SMI). For ordering information.

Many readers may be interested in knowing about the largest gathering of Financial Astrologers in many years that will be taking place May 15-20, 2008, in Denver, Colorado. In fact, the largest gathering of astrologers since 1974 will be taking place then. The United Astrological Conference (UAC) will convene for the first time since 2002, and approximately 1500 professionals and students of astrology will be present from all around the world. Whether you are a professional or student or novice, you will find one of the 15 tracks being offered to be of great interest. They even have a beginning track based on sun sign astrology for those who know very little about how astrology really works. In all, there will be 155 speakers from over 30 different countries. For more information on this conference, go to www.uacastrology.com .
For more information on the Financial Astrology track (18 different presentations), go to http://www.uacastrology.com/cgi-bin/tracks.cgi?CODE=12 . And the best news of all is that there is a pre-registration discount special in effect until February 20. After February 20, the price for the main conference will increase $50.00. Sign up now (before February 20) and save big bucks, for the most exciting astrological gathering of our generation!.

On April 12-13, 2008, I will giving two special presentations in San Diego, CA. On Friday evening, April 12, I will give a lecture on "Political and Economic Cycles for 2008-2012." On Saturday, April 13, I will give a six-hour workshop on "Introduction to Financial Astrology." This workshop will explain the methods for financial market timing that I use. It will cover the U.S. stock market, interest rates, and precious metals markets, both historically as well as the projection of future trends and reversals using this method of forecasting. For further information, contact Gayla Pierce at (619) 654-1265, or kalypso@earthlink.net .

Our MMA 2013 catalogue is now out and available to overseas clients on our web site at www.mmacycles.com, and then under MMA Catalogue, and then under MMA Catalogue (pdf). Or just click here. Due to high overseas postal costs, we will no longer send this catalogue out by postal mail except to clients in the U.S.A. So, if you are interested in this year's services and products, you can download it from our web site.

The newly revised The Sun, The Moon, and Silver Book : Secrets of a Silver Trader, is now out. This is a book that you will use as a reference guide for...many, many years. It identifies all the key Sun-Moon combinations that have a higher (and lower) than expected probability of correlating with 4% or greater reversals in COMEX Silver. It also identifies "Big Range Days" - those days in which the range of Silver is most likely to be 3.5% or more of the price of Silver, which is a great tool for day traders. This book fulfills the dream of all traders: high probability winning trade possibilities, with minimal market exposure. It is that “extra edge.” And Silver is a great market to trade now. The cost is $125.00. For ordering on line.

If you are an active short-term trader, you may wish to consider subscribing to our Weekly or even Daily Market Reports with short-term trading recommendations. It is the only way I keep in touch with traders on a daily or even weekly basis. These reports give in-depth analysis of the DJIA, S&P and NASDAQ futures, Euro currency (cash and futures), Swiss Franc, Dollar/Yen cash and Yen futures, T-Bonds, Soybeans, Wheat, Gold and Silver. The daily reports cover all stock indices listed above, as well as futures in Euro, T-Bonds, Soybeans, Gold and Silver. Subscription to the daily report also includes the weekly report. For more information, or call our offices at 1-248-626-3034. In the words of one of our subscribers : "I recently subscribed to your weekly report and am finding it to be excellent and a very useful companion to the MMA Cycles Report. I can't imagine now managing my investments without them."

I have had several calls regarding a “crisis investing” portfolio that I suggested could be developed with the help of a money manager who subscribes to my reports, and shares my views about the next few years. If you are interested, you can contact him at ted.fisher@comcast.net.
He will be more than happy to assist you.

Disclaimer and statement of purpose : The purpose of this column is not to predict 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 oftentimes report 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 will likely affect human activity in the times to come. The author (Merriman) will do this from a perspective of a cycle’s 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 these psychological dynamics that underlie (or coincide with) the news events and hence financial markets of the day.

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 assume any responsibility at all for those individual decisions. Reader should understand that futures and options trading are considered high risk.

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