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

The Market Week in Review :

After ending a corrective decline last Monday, March 31, many of the world stock indices commenced one of their strongest rallies in a long time over the next two days. In some indices, the rally continued right into the end of the week. This behavior fits with well our Financial Astrology bias stated in last week's column as follows: "One key may lie in the important Venus-Uranus conjunction of this past Friday, March 28. If that indeed acts as a reversal signature, it could lead to a rally, as the U.S. stock market has declined into it." Later on, this same report ended with, "Another reason why stocks may reverse right here is because Jupiter is making its first of three sextiles to Uranus on March 28, the same day that Venus forms a conjunction to Uranus." Bingo! After bottoming at 12,177 on Monday, the DJIA soared to close the week at 12,608, a gain of 391 points from the prior week's close. On Tuesday alone, the DJIA was up 391 points, before heading sideways the remaining days. The NASDAQ Composite had its low the prior Friday as Venus formed its conjunction to Uranus. That is noteworthy in the study of Financial Astrology because aspects to Uranus are relevant to technology companies. The NASDAQ is heavily weighted in tech stocks. In this case, the rally continued right into Friday when the Composite made its weekly high at 2391. For the week, this index was up 109 points.

In Europe, the pattern was similar. Al, the markets ended their corrective decline on Monday, and all soared sharply higher the next two days, with the London FTSE and Netherlands AEX continuing their rallies right into the close on Friday, just like the NASDAQ Composite. But the German DAX and Swiss SMI indices topped out on Wednesday and then went sideways, just like the DJIA.

In the Pacific Rim and Far East, it was mostly similar to Europe and the U.S.A. Both the Australian All ordinaries and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index were up all week, with huge gap up days in the middle of the week. Japan's Nikkei ended a modest corrective decline on Monday at 12,430, and then soared nearly 1000 points to its weekly high on Thursday. But in India, the NIFTY index was a little different. It topped out under the Venus-Uranus conjunction of the prior week, and then spent most of this past week trending down.

Precious metals and grains ended their sharp declines on Tuesday, and then promptly started new and impressive rallies right into the end of the week. During this rally, Corn prices soared to an all-time high. Of interest here is the fact that farmers announced they were increasing their plantings of Soybeans by 18% and Wheat by 6%, while decreasing their planting intentions of Corn. This is exactly in line with our forecasts made in this year's Forecast Book as well as our past few issues of the "MMA Cycles Report." And, as anticipated, the report caused Soybeans to fall sharply, down to $11.35/bushel in the July contract. Just a month ago it was trading above 15.80. Wheat also fell, but Corn soared. As state din Wednesday's Wall Street Journal, "Stocks of Corn before the new harvest could fall to a decades-long low of 636 million bushels, compared with 1.4 billion bushels currently. If corn usage remains unchanged and if yields are the same as last year, he (Terry Roggensack of the Hightower Report) says "we'll run out of corn."" This possibility is no surprise to readers of our annual Forecast Books the past two years. When Corn was trading below 2.20/bu in the summer of 2006, our forecast was for Corn to hit double digits by the end of this decade. It looks like we are on track if these reports of plantings are actualized.

Short-Term Geocosmics :

There are three signatures of importance this week. On April 6, Venus will ingress into Aries and form a waxing square to Pluto. On April 10, the Sun will form a waxing square to Jupiter. The Venus transit through Aries will last the entire month (April 30), and suggests new proposals (Aries) that could affect the value of currencies and treasuries (Venus and Pluto). We saw some of that last week when Treasury Secretary Paulsen introduced his idea of sweeping changes in the banking world, including increased powers for the Federal Reserve Board. This idea of increasing the powers of the FRB is in direct contradiction with my understanding of Pluto moving into Capricorn, and its relationship to the Sun-Pluto opposition in the FRB chart. For an astrological view of this transit over the next three years to the Federal Reserve Board, and its implications concerning lessening of powers (not increase), please check the article that appears on our website. Not surprisingly, the investment community reacted as if Paulsen's plan was "dead in the water" already. But with Venus in Aries now, and Paulsen himself an Aries, maybe this plan gets modified and floated or promoted again in the coming days. Or, since Venus passing from Pisces to Aries signifies a downgrade in it's dignity from "exalted" to "fall", perhaps it is buried altogether.

The two aspects - Venus square Pluto and Sun square Jupiter - are rather powerful signatures. Both have a nearly 80% correlation to 4% or greater reversals within four trading days, according to our studies reported in "The Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing, Volume 3: Geocosmic Correlations to Trading Cycles." This week could be a little bit wild, especially since Jupiter alone represents the principle of exaggeration. A quick 200-400 point down day in the DJIA is within the realm of possibility sometime this week. However, that does not negate the possibility that a new 4-year cycle is in force. That won't be negated until the DJIA falls back below the 11,634 low of January 22.

Long-Term Thoughts :

The Labor Department's employment report of Friday, April 4, showed a decrease of 80,000 jobs last month, the biggest monthly decline in several years. Of course this immediately prompted more proclamations that the U.S. economy is already in the midst of recession, a claim that spurred the dramatic sell off in world wide equities just two weeks ago. Our column of the past two weeks alluded to this reminder, as it stated, "With Pluto turning retrograde April 2, followed by Venus in a square aspect to Pluto on April 8 (should be April 6-7), we have to be aware that the forecasts of a great and miraculous recovery may also be pre-mature."

But what about a recession? Are we in a full-fledged recession? Will it be a deep one, or is this just mild and temporary? For this year, and especially the next two months, the long-term geocosmic signatures are quite favorable, if we apply principles of modern-day astrology. That is, there are important trine (120 degree) relationships in effect between Jupiter and Saturn, as well as Saturn and Pluto, for most of this year. And, as mentioned last week, Jupiter has also now begin its first of three favorable sextile (60 degree) aspects that will last into November. Modern-day astrology, applied to the field of market timing, hypothesizes that such favorable aspects are ultimately favorable for the economy and equity markets.

However, we also discussed the idea that traditional astrology might have another viewpoint. Here, it is not planets in aspect that are so important, but rather planets in signs are more important. In this regard we note that both Jupiter and Saturn are in earth signs (Capricorn and Virgo respectively), and earth signs have more a contracting quality. Thus the economy and stock markets might not perform so well with these placements. In my opinion, I think it is a combination of these principles at work. The planet-sign relationships may coincide with the constriction we have been experiencing in regards to economic growth and stock market behavior so far. But the favorable aspects have also limited the amount of downside activity too. The economy and stock markets may not be so bullish bright now, but they aren't really falling hard either. For the amount of fear we saw just two-three weeks ago in the world investment community, these economies ansd equity markets have held up pretty well. The fear was great, but the fear has yet to materialize anyway near the degree to which many analysts predicted.

Yet it is interesting to note the similarity between the last instance of the 29-year cycle of Saturn in Virgo, to this current time. The last time Saturn was in Virgo occurred from November 1977 through September 1980. You may remember in the United States, that was a time of sharply rising prices (inflation), when precious metals soared to historic highs. But it led to an economic recession and sluggish stock prices. They called it "stagflation." And here we are again, with Saturn in Virgo, September 2007 through October 2009. Commodity prices are soaring, Gold recently passed $1000/oz for the first time ever. Yet the economy and stock markets are struggling, and the "R" word is being bandied about loosely. Back then, President Jimmy Carter forbid the use of the "R" word, preferring instead to refer to the economy as "bananas." I wonder what words today's administration will use to address the state of the economy. Maybe peanuts ?

Announcements :

The "MMA Cycles Report" and "MMA Japan Markets Cycles Report” came out (March 25 - 26). 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 next "SOS Global Market Cycles Report" comes out , April 9. 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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