MMA Weekly Comments

Review and Preview:

This week’s column is being written from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where the annual Astro Economics Conference is being held. And there should be plenty to talk about at this gathering of some of the top minds in this field of Financial Market Timing.

Last week saw many world stock indices soaring to yet new multi-year or all-time highs, like in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Argentina, Germany, England, Switzerland, and even the NASDAQ Composite in the United States. But then all markets in Europe and the United States got clocked (sold off) on Friday. The same happened with currencies and Gold too. After briefly touching $600.00 on Thursday, June Gold started a somewhat sharp retreat on Friday. After soaring above 1.2350 on Wednesday, breaking an important trend line on the way up, the nearby Euro currency contract sold off sharply into Friday’s close, back around 1.2150. At the same time, the Ten-Year Notes in the U.S.A. dropped to their lowest levels since the summer of 2002 (this means interest rates are rising, and in the process, starting to choke the housing market).

Yes, I am sure there will be a lot to discuss at this weekend’s Astro Economic Conference. It is a good time to meet with these brilliant minds, and share ideas. I am glad I am here.

Short-Term Geocosmics:

There are three geocosmic signatures of note discussed in last week’s column seem to have produced a reversal in many equity markets at the end of last week. Most of these equity markets topped out on Thursday or Friday, shortly after Saturn turned stationary direct, and Venus entered Pisces. There is no technical evidence yet, however, that these declines will be anything other than “corrective” in nature.

As we look around the world, we see many stock indices at new multi-year highs, and the same with precious metals. Obviously these markets are in ”blow-off” phases. Astrologically, we must ask: what signatures correlate with “blow offs?” Well, we would have to start with Jupiter, the planet associated with excesses and exaggeration. Next we would have to consider Uranus, the planet that classically is described as “breaking boundaries,” entering into hitherto unexplored territory. And finally, we might also consider Neptune , and other planet which seems to know no boundaries, but is less explosive in nature than Uranus.

Currently, we are in the midst of two moderately long planetary aspects involving Jupiter to both Uranus (trine) and Neptune (square). The Jupiter-Uranus trine is occurring in three passages between November 2005 and August 2006. The Jupiter-Neptune square is also unfolding in three passages, between December 2005 and September 2006. The second passage of Jupiter-Neptune took place on March 16, and the second passage of Jupiter in trine to Uranus takes place on May 5. My studies, as reported in “The Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing, Volumes 2 and 3,”indicates that the greatest cycles tend to be completed within the first and last passage, and usually before the end of the second passage. Well, we are shortly removed from the second passage of Jupiter-Neptune, and the same will pertain to Jupiter-Uranus in about a month. Right now it is looking like my colleague Manfred Zimmel of Austria may be correct, when he forecasted several months ago that he though the stock indices of the world might continue posting new highs into May. Even if they were to top out now, being within one month of such a crest would be an excellent call. Manfred, by the way, will be one of the featured presenters at the ISAR week long intensive in Financial Market Timing, talking place in Tuscany , Italy , May 6-13 (see “Announcements” below and/or the upper right on markettiming.nl).

For this coming week, we will focus upon the ingress of Mars into Cancer, which occurs on Friday, April 14. This is critical because 1) Cancer is a cardinal and solstice sign, and 2) when it moves into Cancer, it will form a conjunction-opposition to Pluto-Sun in the chart of the Federal Reserve Board, created December 23, 1913, public record). This is therefore a time when that Central Bank tends to make important announcements on their monetary policy, and in turn, interest-rate sensitive markets tend to make reversals. This will be followed by Venus in conjunction to Uranus on April 18, a Level One signature for U.S. stock indices (highest correlation to primary or greater cycles within 12 trading days). Two days later that same Venus will be in trine aspect to Jupiter, which can have buoyant association with stock prices. It may be a harbinger of what to expect as Jupiter moves towards its second trine to Uranus on May 5.

Long-Term Thoughts:

Last week’s report related the correlation of the forthcoming Saturn-Neptune opposition (August 2006-June 2007) to disappointments in one’s leaders – a time when the world “becomes bogged down in scandals involving its leaders, or scapegoats sent in to take the fall for its leaders.” That theme unfortunately continued this past week. The front page of Friday’s “USA Today” newspaper proclaimed “Bush OK’s Leak, Former Aide (“Scooter Libby”) Says.” President Bush cannot get a break during these months as Saturn continues to sit on his natal Ascendant, Mercury, and Pluto. According to the “USA Today” article (and Libby), “President Bush authorized a leak of classified prewar intelligence about Iraq to help justify the case for war.” Well, what’s wrong with that? Except that later on the article quotes Bush on September 30, 2003, as stating “There are too many leaks of classified information in Washington .” Which prompted Jane Harmon, Democratic representative from California , to state, “…if the disclosure is true, it’s breathtaking – the president is revealed as the leaker-in-chief.”

What is wrong with our leaders today? Why is there so much scandal, so many violations of simple ethical awareness in government, and especially within a political party that claims the high moral ground? Weren’t the ills of Washington politics suppose to be finally resolved by the 2004 election, in which the Republicans finally gained control over the House, Senate, and White House for the first time since … 1929-1933? As Yogi Berra once said, “It’s Deja Vu all over again!” And the aspects at the end of this decade are also eerily similar, as Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto all enter a cardinal T-square with one another, for the first time since 1930-31.

As stated last week, under Saturn-Neptune, the populace is craving for leadership of integrity and trustworthiness. The Republican Party seems to be disintegrating before our very eyes, and yet the opposition party (Democrats) isn’t exactly coming up with any exciting alternative ideas to improve the condition of faith and confidence in government, at least in the U.S.A.

Is there any hope? Well, actually there is. Part of that forthcoming T-square is Saturn in opposition to Uranus, 2008-2010. Although many existing structures in societies may be vulnerable to breakage, this aspect also correlates with highly ingenious and inventive ideas, many of which stick and lead to promising new long-term trends. It is an enlightening period. The key, I think, is to watch the young people. What drives them? Where are the headed? What is getting them involved in an activist way? Maybe we are seeing the starting point of these trends with the new wave of interest – and social protests – around the immigration issue. It is still too early to tell for sure, but it does seem that the youth are getting more involved in what is happening in the world, after decades of disinterest. Some may see this as a disturbing sign, much like they did the last time these two powerhouses formed an opposition (1965-1967). I see it is a positive sign, for I think it will lead to opportunities socially and economically. Just keep in mind that whatever the “old guard” tries to suppress and destroy, will probably survive… and that’s where the opportunities will arise. There is always a bull market in something. And even in bear markets, money can be made if you are willing to go against conventional wisdom.