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

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift.That's why we call it "present". Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962).

Raymond Merriman's video Forecasts for financial markets for 2010.

We are going to start taking orders for the Forecast 2011 book now via phone (1-248-626-3034), fax (1-248-538-5296), or email (ordersmma@msn.com). In a couple of weeks, you will be able to order directly from our website too. We are pleased to announce the price will remain the same as last year. That is :
- $55.00 if ordered after October 31,
- $45.00 if ordered before (plus postage).

We will also be offering special 10% discount rate for our subscription services to those who also pre-order Forecast 2011.
— This is a great deal, for in the words of one of our daily subscribers recently, " I don't know whether you want to hear/take any comments at all but I wanted to say that, so far, I am a very happy camper and the only thing which I think that I did wrong with subscribing to your service that I did it TOO LATE ! What was I thinking...? :-)" - R. Rood, Lugano, Switzerland, futures trader and technical analyst, former cash grain trader. For a review of the forecasts from the Forecast 2010 book, please follow that link. And now we have a special first-time opportunity being developed. This year's Forecast Book will be available in electronic book format. The details are still being worked out, but we expect to have this format available this year, also around December 15.

The Forecast 2011 Book can be pre-ordered in several languages, at attractive pre-publication rates, through the following MMA publishers, which also publish our free weekly columns in their respective languages :

- Chinese Dutch Deutsch Japanese Russian Spanish

The Market Week in Review :

First of all, I would like to thank all readers and subscribers in Argentina and Brazil who made my recent trip such a success. It was exciting to be in Buenos Aires as their Merval Index soared to new all-time highs, and in Rio de Janeiro, where the current run up in that country's Bovespa equity index is at its highest level since April.

Since our last column two weeks ago, equity prices around the world have continued their strong rallies which started in late August. In Asia and the Pacific Rim, multi-month highs were noted in all indices we follow. The stellar performer, however, was the Hang Seng index in Hong Kong, which on Friday raced above 23,000, its highest level since November 2009.

In Europe, the London FTSE also soared to new multi-month highs, hitting 5707 on Thursday's new moon. This took out it prior high of 5635 on September 21, but not its yearly high of 5833 on April 16. However, neither the Amsterdam AEX, German DAX, nor Zurich SMI indices took out their highs of September 21, thus setting up a potential case of intermarket bearish divergence as Venus turns retrograde. Russia's MIXEX index did take out the September 21 highs, similar to the FTSE.

In the Americas, the Merval index of Argentina made a new all time high last week, and Brazil's Bovespa soared to a new 6-month high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed above the 11,000 mark on Friday for the first time since early May. The NASDAQ Composite briefly went above 2400, something it also barely accomplished on September 30 and October 5.

Last week was significant for precious metals and currencies too. On October 7, Gold made a new all-time high at 1366, while Silver peaked at 2356, its highest level since the heady days of 1980. The culprit for this move was the collapsing U.S. Dollar, which fell to a new all-time low against the Swiss Franc, and another 15-year low against the Japanese Yen.

Short-Term Geocosmics :

We are now approaching the end of the powerful September 4-October 8 time band of eleven important geocosmic signatures. The most important were the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction of September 18, Sun-Jupiter opposition of September 21, and the Venus retrograde of October 8. All of these are Level One signatures, as discussed in the studies of "The Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing, Volume 3: Geocosmic Correlations to Trading Cycles." A Level One signature has an historical correlation of at least 67% to primary or greater cycles in stocks, within an orb of 12 trading days (usually much less). As noted in the introductory comments, several stock markets in Europe made their cycle highs on September 21, which was the midpoint of this time band. Others were making new highs at the end of last week, as the Libra new moon and Venus retrograde signatures unfolded (October 7-8). On Monday, the two-day Sagittarius Factor unfolds, which can result in a spillover of the trend from the end of last week. But it is a powerful mutable lunar cycle, so reversals can also commence then.

For Financial Astrologers, however, the most important factor happening right now is Venus turning retrograde in Scorpio, and its conjunction to Mars, also in Scorpio. Venus pertains to currency and assets of value. It rules Taurus, the sign of money and wealth. But Scorpio is its opposite sign, which means it is in its "fall" here. It is weaker. The desire to appreciate one's net worth is Venus and Taurus. But Scorpio and its ruler Mars pertain to the accumulation of debt. For some reason, the USA Dollar has a tendency to go down when Mars is in Scorpio, and precious metals tend to rise sharply. It is happening again.

But Venus retrograde is a powerful reversal signature all by itself. Historically it has a higher correlation to primary cycle crests than troughs, although the last time it occurred was March 6, 2009, which was exactly the day of the 72-year cycle trough in the DJIA. Every fifth Venus retrograde happens in the same part of the zodiac, and that occurs every 8 years. The last Venus retrograde to take place in mid-Scorpio was on October 10, 2002, the exact date of the 4-year cycle trough that ended the bear market after the dot com bubble. This time it is not a trough (low in price). If it is to correlate with a reversal, it will be from a primary cycle crest, since prices of many indices are at or near their highest levels since the lows of May 20-July 6, depending on which index you look at. If the market doesn't reverse here, than this becomes one of the 22% cases. That is, the historical rate of frequency for a major reversal here is 78%. How far and how long such a reversal might be in effect depends upon many factors that we will discuss in this week's MMA Cycles Report. But for now, let's just remember that in the past, there are instances when a high around the new moon of Libra would be followed by a sharp decline to the full moon two weeks later. And that happens along with Venus turning retrograde. Watch for signs of changing economic, monetary, and/or fiscal policies, which will spur changes in price direction.

Long-Term Thoughts :

I was wrong. Yes, I know it doesn't happen too often, but when it does happen, it is already too often. It is the curse of every market analyst. You look at charts, you look at your numbers, and you are aware of the probabilities because you have done your homework and formal research studies. And you go with the probabilities that are at least 80% based on historical instances. But every so often, the less than 20% probability is the one that happens. And when the scenario you expected in fact does not happen, you have to start considering that the opposite is happening. Or else you are under a Uranus aspect, in which case no matter what you predict, it will not happen quite as you thought.

So here I am - master financial analyst, master Financial Astrologer, master cycles analyst and legend in his own mind - quite convinced that stock markets are headed down to a longer-term cycle low due at the end of this year. After all, that low on July 2. 2010, was too late to be a 50-week cycle trough as measured from March 6, 2009. It was 69 weeks, and only 8% of historical cases saw the 50-week cycle bottom later than 67 weeks. Who would choose to go with an 8% probability ?. The 50-week cycle had to be that low of February 5 (48 th week). That meant that this was a newer 50-week cycle, and it would not be due to bottom until after September 2010, which was just right for several other longer-term cycles that were due. But the 8% probability did happen. Did I ever mention the trap of arrogance or dogmatism to market traders ?.

So there I am, trading and positioning my own portfolio as if we are in the last phase of an older 50-week cycle, when actually we are in the first phase of a newer one. For those of you unfamiliar with cycle studies, this is significant. The last phase of a cycle is almost always bearish. It is the most bearish part of a cycle that has been bullish. The first phase of a cycle is almost always bullish. Your strategy in the last phase of cycle is much different than in the first phase. In the last phase, your strategy is to sell rallies. In the first phase, your strategy is to buy dips. That's the mechanics of a cycles' analyst and trader.

But what about Financial Astrology ? What did it say about this past summer ? As expressed in the Forecast 2010 book, my bias was that the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction of late May and early June would commence an extremely speculative market environment, in which assets (like stocks and Gold) would be vulnerable to very sharp rallies. This was to be "asset inflation gone wild". Based on the Jupiter cycle over the past 140+ years, the stock market was expected to soar into early 2011 (see Forecast 2010 book). But that didn't happen immediately after Jupiter and Uranus entered Aries, which are all speculative dynamics. It didn't really start until late August. Why then and not late May - early June ? Well, now we come to the part about Financial Astrology that provides a learning experience - for me and all Financial Astrologers. We are all students.

The market didn't take off from late May-early June when the wild and speculative combination of Jupiter and Uranus entered the impulsive fire sign of Aries, because at the same time Saturn was in opposition to that Jupiter-Uranus in Aries (and all squared Pluto in Capricorn). Saturn pertains to the principles of "fear and restriction". Fear entered the market community as investors sought the safety of U.S. treasuries, and not stocks, which are more speculative. And the hard aspects from Saturn transits didn't end until.... August 21. And then the explosion in assets like stocks and precious metals began. Investors did, after all, leave the paltry yields offered from Treasuries, for the more robust growth exhibited in stocks and metals, just as forecasted, only about two months later and right after Saturn began its separation from the midsection of the Cardinal Climax.

Now that Saturn is out of the picture of aspecting Jupiter and Uranus until March 2011, there is really little that I see in Financial Astrology to stop the asset inflation bandwagon - other than perhaps a few weeks of correction during Venus retrograde. In the meantime, I lick my wounds for treating this as the last phase (bearish) of a longer-term cycle when it is clear now that it is the first phase (bullish) of a newer cycle. Unfortunately, I - as a mere mortal - have cycles too. Fortunately, as a mere mortal who tries to learn from past experiences, I don't put my life style at risk in the market place. And I make the necessary adjustments once I see the light (unless it blinds me). Arrogance and fixed mindedness are, in the end, killers for successful trading.

Now if the central bankers and politicians could also learn from long term cycles of the past that have now returned, and if they could also see the light and get their foot unstuck from the accelerator of rampant spending and never-ending stimulus, we might come out of this economic "twilight zone". Why does this investment climate remind me so much of the late 1990's and the dot com bubble ? Let's ask that question again in the first part of 2011. Until then, enjoy this ride, despite the bad news and despite the negative election campaigning. The market will like these "walls of worry" to climb, especially now that Saturn has moved on his way and stops pushing things down.

In the meantime, Federal regulators closed Shoreline Bank in Washington this past week, the 129 th bank to fail this year. It's closing in on last year's record 140 bank closings.

To be continued... (next week)

Announcements :

The monthly MMA Cycles Report and its companions - the MMA Japan Cycles Report and MMA European Cycles Report - will come out this week, Monday and Tuesday, via posting on our web site, or attachment via direct emails, for subscribers. If you are a subscriber and did not receive it, contact us at once. We also sent an update to subscribers on Wednesday. This report covers our longer-term analysis of the U.S. stock market, precious metals, crude oil, currencies, Treasury Notes, and grain markets. The MMA Japan Cycles report covers the Nikkei, JGB Bonds, and the Dollar-Yen. The new MMA European Cycles Report covers the German DAX, Swiss SMI, and Netherlands AEX, each in English only. These reports are included in the Japanese, German, and Dutch translated MMA Cycles Report respectively. New yearly (or renewing) subscribers to these reports will receive a free copy of the Forecast 2010 book while supplies last (see below). You also qualify for a special discount on a yearly subscription if at the same time you pre-order Forecast 2011. For subscription information, please go to the front page of our web site at www.mmacycles.com, or call us at 1-248-626-3034.

If you are an active short-term trader, you may be interested in 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-Notes, Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Gold and Silver. The daily reports cover all stock indices listed above, as well as futures in Euro, T-Notes, 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".

CD's DVD's, MP3's, and "On-Line Streaming Video" of the July 11 webcast are now available !!! Each of these various ways to see the event can now be ordered via our website at www.mmacycles.com (just click the opening banner), or by calling 1-248-3034 or email operations at ordersmma@msn.com. The cost of each is $45.00, plus postage if necessary. This webcast covered our outlook for stocks, precious metals, interest rates and Treasuries, foreign currencies vis-à-vis the U.S. Dollar, and Grains. We pick this time because it is right before the astrological midpoint of the Cardinal Climax, which takes place late July through early August. It may be the peak of the huge trend reversals expected in many of these markets, aided and abetted by major changes of trend in geopolitical matters. You won't want to miss this presentation. Order now, because most of the trading opportunities presented are in effect from July 21 through October 8, 2010 !!!.

January 14-16, 2011, Zurich, Switzerland. "Forecasts 2011" symposia featuring top mundane and financial astrologers, plus one day workshop on Financial Market Timing. For more details, go to www.astrodata.ch.

March 10-12, 2011 : Mexico City, Mexico. Speech on Forecasts 2011, and workshop on "Evolutionary Astrology : The Journey of the Soul Through States of Consciousness". For information, please contact acuario888@gmail.com.

April 28 and 30, 2011 : Kansas City, Mo. "Forecasts for 2011" and "Financial Astrology Workshop" with Raymond Merriman. Sponsored by AOA. Details soon.

The MMA Catalogue of products and services for 2013 is now out!!! You can download it in PDF. The ordering page is the last page of the catalogue. This is especially useful for those outside of the USA, since we do not mail these out by mail unless requested.

We are pleased to announce that the Spanish publication of "Basic Principles of Geocosmic Studies for Financial Market Timing" has just been completed. This first edition in Spanish will be in print in 10 days. For more information and ordering, please contact www.lecochonsideral.info/PubliMERRI/Espagnol/Annee2012/semana.html.

We also have our new CD available : "The Cardinal Climax 2008-2015 : Investment Opportunities and Dangers". This 75-minute CD outlines the most powerful geocosmic configuration of our lifetime : The Cardinal Climax of 2008-2015. This presentation examines the historical, long-term geocosmic signatures that are present 2008-2015, how they correlated to economic crises in the past, and how they will likely impact various financial markets and investment opportunities this time. In fact, many of the themes are already underway. Approximately 75 minutes, with PDF file of charts used: $25.00 plus postage.

I am oftentimes asked for recommendations of a money manager who uses my methods, since I won't manage other people's money. The thing is, almost all money managers I know use their own systems. But many subscribe to my services and share my thoughts about the future of the economy, various financial markets, and how to position one's portfolio along these lines. One money manager who subscribes to our services that I would suggest for those looking to structure a longer-term portfolio, such as a retirement account, is Duke O'Neill of Boulder, Colorado. He can be reached at dukeoneil1@gmail.com, or 1-(303) 545-5837. For those looking for a professional trader of commodity and futures contract might consider Ted Lee Fisher at ted.fisher@comcast.net. Ted is a legend in financial futures and has a seat on the CME. Both are very knowledgeable of the tools I use, of the way I am looking at markets, and yet each makes their own decisions as to exactly when to enter and exit any market. They will be more than happy to assist you.

To the above list, I would also like to recommend long-term MMA subscriber Erwin Brunner of Zurich, Switzerland. Mr. Brunner is the founder of BrunnerInvest AG. One of his five funds was awarded the "Best in-house fund of funds" in the world recently. Mr. Brunner is a former director of the Swiss Banking Corporation (today it is known as UBS), and a general director of Rothschild Bank in Zurich. As an independent wealth manager for high net worth individuals and institutional clients only, he places his clients into the funds of the best performing fund managers in the world, via his own research and experience. For high net worth readers interested in Mr. Brunner's funds, please contact him through www.brunnerinvest.ch.

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.

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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September 1-8, 2011: Bali! "Financial Astrology" Intensive workshop with Raymond Merriman, and "Mundane Astrology" with Claude Weiss. For more information on this unique week-long intensive and incredible South Pacific paradise adventure.