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Note: Next week will be a shortened trading week due to the observance of the July 4 Independence Day in the U.S.
Review
It was in fact as consequential as any presidential debate in history, and the worst night for an incumbent in history. It was a total and unmitigated disaster for Mr. Biden. It was a rout for Mr. Trump…. It is impossible to believe that the Democrats will continue with Mr. Biden as their presidential standard-bearer.
— Peggy Noonan, “The Most Important Presidential Debate Ever: It Was an Unmitigated Disaster for Biden and a Rout for Trump. Democrats Will Have to Face Reality,” Wall Street Journal, July 29, 2024.
Politics and financial markets exhibited a tug of war between the worrisome dynamics of Saturn turning retrograde and the ecstatic hopefulness of Neptune turning retrograde, with both stations taking place on June 29 and July 2, respectively. That is, some markets trolled their lowest price in several weeks while others continued making all-time or multi-year highs. In a way, the markets’ contradictory behavior reflected the stark contrast between the performance of the two U.S. presidential candidates in Thursday evening’s debate. One side was euphoric, the other was shocked and stunned by reality, and now they are in a state of crisis about their future (see “Short-Term Geocosmics” for more discussion).
Let’s look at last week’s conflicted market behavior. European stock markets were mostly stuck in congestion between their highs and lows of the past six weeks. The Netherlands AEX showed the most vigor with a triple top on June 26 to its all-time high. But for the third time, it was turned back as it tried to break out. Perhaps it was a sign of Neptune’s propensity for passivity in the presence of Saturn’s skepticism and doubts about future growth.
In Asia and the Pacific Rim, it was an exhibition of several divergences. India’s NIFTY index was the star, showing great exuberance as it soared to another new all-time high. Japan’s Nikkei showed signs of renewed strength as it rallied to its highest level since April 4 and is now in striking distance of its all-time high made on March 22. The Australian ASX index was bound in congestion, whereas China’s Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell to their lowest levels since early April. Thus, India and Japan appeared more under the spell of Neptune. On the other hand, China and Hong Kong were more under the foreboding weight of an uncertain financial future associated with Saturn.
The Americas fared much better, at least until Friday. Brazil’s Bovespa continued to rally smartly into Friday, June 28, following its primary cycle low of June 17. In the U.S., both the futures of S&P and NASDAQ attempted to hit a double top on Friday but then turned negative by the close for a key reversal down signal on a powerful geocosmic critical reversal date. The DJIA also was reaching for a double top on Friday but, like the others, could not hold its gains and closed negative on the day. Thus, continued the case of intermarket bearish divergence between the three indices.
Intermarket bullish divergence was also exhibited between the metals, with Silver dropping to a new cycle low on June 26, while Gold tested its low of June 7 on the same day, but held above it. What is quite remarkable is how the solar/lunar values on the new MMA app have worked extremely well for DJIA and Silver, and especially for Gold. The low of June 26 was yet another example of the new MMA market timing app identifying an isolated low from which Gold reversed at least 2% in the following 1-5 trading days. Much credit goes to MMTA graduate Yating Hu for coordinating the research studies on Gold going back to 1975 and to Jonathan Buehler, an exceptional programmer who is about to graduate from the current 2-year class of MMTA. The studies are based on the research design outlined in our books on solar/lunar trading for short-term (swing) traders. Yes, I am biased, but the results (objective) have been truly outstanding since the app was released on May 23.
Short-Term Geocosmics
If the debate was the president’s best chance to turn around a tight race with Trump, which has him in deep peril of losing reelection, it was a failure. Biden ended the night with the Democratic Party in crisis with serious conversations taking place behind the scenes among senior figures over whether his candidacy is now sustainable, two months before the Democratic National Convention.
—Stephen Collinson, “Biden’s Disastrous Debate Pitches His Reelection Bid into Crisis,” www.cnn.com, June 28, 2024.
And I went down to the demonstration
To get my fair share of abuse
Singing, “We’re gonna vent our frustration
If we don’t we’re gonna blow a fifty-amp fuse”
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well, you just might find
You get what you need.
—Keith Richards and Mick Jagger, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” from the album Let It Bleed, Decca Records, 1969
I missed the U.S. presidential debate on Thursday night. But I had good reason for my absence, which is more than I can say for the current president of the United States, who probably wishes he could have missed that debate. My excuse? I had tickets to see one of the three greatest bands of my generation, “The Rolling Stones.” It was a gift from my children for Father’s Day. And, unlike the debate (which I saw upon returning from the concert), the performance was amazing. Mick Jagger, who is as old as Joe Biden, had more energy and vitality than even Donald Trump. The comparison of Jagger (and Keith Richards and Ronnie Woods) to the (lack of) vitality exhibited by President Biden was off the charts.
Now, what happens? And how will this affect financial markets? Everyone thinks Mr. Biden will bow out, which would probably be the most patriotic decision he could make. But that is not a given from an astrological point of view. His Sun is the fixed sign of Scorpio and is in the 12th house. Fixed signs are not by nature given to changing their minds if they believe something to be true and right. And the 12th house can be challenged to know the difference between reality and illusion (if not even delusion) when it comes to self (Sun). So, he may fully (and irrationally) believe he is the only person who can defeat President Trump, and that staying in the race is the patriotic thing to do. Efforts to convince him otherwise might very well be ignored at best or a cause for an angry outburst and rejection of the messenger at worst. Yet, Uranus is transiting his 6th house of health and service, in opposition to his natural Sun (vitality and leadership) and Mercury (nervous system and problems with communication). With Uranus in such an aspect, one’s lifestyle is vulnerable to a sudden change—either by choice (not likely given his fixity) or circumstance outside of his control (more likely).
On top of that, transiting Pluto is square to President Biden’s natal Moon. No one escapes Pluto’s transits unscathed. Pluto demands a surrender and a transformation of the path one is on. The more one resists, the more psychologically painful it becomes for the individual and those connected to him/her. In this case, it is the natal Moon, which represents one’s family. His wife or other family members may have to intercede and coax him to do something he resists doing—and something the vast majority of Americans want him to do—which is to let it go.
I won’t speculate at this time as to who might replace Biden (if he is even replaced), but I will say this: the period of time between the election and inauguration could be very chaotic. I can imagine a case where the outcome is unknown for some time and leads to a sudden spike in Treasury prices. As an investor, I would want to have cash available to pick up high-grade Treasury Bonds and Treasury Notes that might offer exceptional yields (value) then.
In the meantime, both Saturn and Neptune are turning retrograde between now and Tuesday, July 2. This is a powerful reversal combination for many financial markets, most notably stocks, metals, and crude oil. It is also a powerful combination for those seeking a religious or spiritual experience. But if not careful, it can also lead to delusions and unintended consequences. One needs to be able to distinguish between what’s real and what is wishful thinking. If you act upon a fantasy and wishful thinking, you may find your dream turns into a nightmare. If you examine your dream and work out a realistic plan to attain it, it can become a dream come true. Imagination based on reality can be a powerful force for good. The same with trading. If you have an intuition about a market, do your studies, make your plan, and execute it. The result can be nicely profitable. This is a good time to identify a market making an important low or high and trade accordingly. We will provide insights on that in this weekend’s MMA Options webinar (see below).
In conclusion, let me circle back to my night at the Rolling Stones concert and my statement that they are one of the three greatest rock and roll bands of my generation… the other two, in my humble opinion, are the Beatles and Carlos Santana. It was a great night and a great way to honor Saturn (legacy) and Neptune (music), which are going stationary in Pisces, the sign of art, music, and theatrical performances.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOTE 1: LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP! THIS SUNDAY! June 30, 2024, 1:30 PM EDT: A Special “MMA Options Webinar” with Derek Panaia and hosted by Raymond Merriman. The timing for this webinar is perfect because (1) several markets are in time for a primary cycle or secondary low — especially metals, and (2) it is a 3-star geocosmic CRD (July 1 +/– 3 trading days). Also, there are two solar/lunar reversal dates in effect during this period with highly weighted value scores for reversals in Gold, Silver, and stock indices. It is also right in the middle of the Saturn and Neptune retrogrades that will occur on June 29 and July 2, respectively. We want to be prepared with limited-risk option strategies on Gold, Silver, the S&P, Copper, and Soybeans.
The cost to attend is still $95 and that includes 1-3 additional follow-up adjustments via email from Derek just this one time. We know the cost for comparable workshops on options are $300+, so this is a great value for 2-3 hours of valuable information. Sign up now! Click here to register! Note: Keep in mind that options trading is speculative, and this webinar is designed for speculators who have some basic knowledge of options. For those who don’t have that basic knowledge, MMA offers a recording of Derek’s webinar on option principles on its website.
NOTE 2: THREE MORE WEEKS TO SIGN UP FOR OUR SPECIAL OFFER FOR A TWO-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION TO THE NEW MMA SOLAR/LUNAR FORECASTING APP FOR IPHONE!
Sign up now and automatically receive a FREE 3-day trial plus the $19.99/mo. rate until July 23. Search “Merriman Market Analyst” in the Apple App Store to take advantage of this introductory offer. After July 23, the regular rate of $39.99/mo. or yearly rate of $299.00 will be available. The yearly rate gives you a savings of $180/year.
To learn more about the MMA app, click here.
This app is an ideal tool to have handy if you are a short-term swing trader looking for high-probability dates that identify isolated lows and highs in the DJIA, Gold, and Silver markets. Since it was launched four weeks ago, it has been uncannily accurate in identifying swing lows and highs in each market.
How does it work? Based on historical frequencies, the higher the weighted value, the greater the probability of a swing trade reversal in the following 1-7 trading days (usually 2-5 days). Built into the app are instructions for ideal setups and explanatory FAQs. It’s pretty amazing!
Update: The MMA Solar/Lunar App gives each market an average of one trade per week every five trading days, creating a more active experience than the MMA Daily report (an average of one trade per market every three weeks) or the MMA Weekly report (an average of one trade every 3-18 weeks for each of the 15 markets tracked). The Solar/Lunar App is designed for “swing trades” looking for 2-5% moves from isolated lows or highs. If you like active trading signals based on solar/lunar combinations, the MMA App is for you!
NOTE 3: THE JUNE-JULY ISSUE OF The MMA Monthly Cycles Report Plus+, edited by Pouyan Zolfagharnia, was issued last week. Pouyan has been hot with markets, especially the NASDAQ. This market letter has become a very popular addition to the MMA Cycles Report (it’s less technical, more visual, and contains horoscopes of current importance, high-quality analysis, and updates on MMA Cycles Report markets). The mid-month addendum to the MMA Cycles Report has stunning graphics and charts (people love it!) and is very readable. It contains more illustrations and references to geocosmics than most MMA Cycles reports and is only available for subscription to those who also subscribe to the MMA Monthly Cycles Report. Each issue offers an update on the NASDAQ, Gold, Silver, and Crude Oil. If you wish to try this month’s addendum, along with the latest issue of the MMA Monthly Cycles Report, sign up online at the link above. A subscription for a monthly copy of both reports costs $55. That will give you both the most recent June copy of the MMA Cycles Report and the monthly MMA Cycles Report Plus+ addendum, which came out last week. For further information and ordering instructions, please click here.
NOTE 4: ONE MORE MONTH TO REGISTER FOR THE MMA 2024 Investment Retreat AT THE SPECIAL RATE!!! It is available online or in person.
This special event will take place on September 19-22, 2024, at the Rikli Balance Hotel, located in the Julian Alps region of beautiful Lake Bled, Slovenia. This will be MMA’s first investment retreat in Europe since 2015. You won’t want to miss this chance to hear the outlooks and wealth-building strategies using MMA market timing methods by top MMA analysts Raymond Merriman (USA), Gianni Di Poce (USA), Ulric Aspegrén (Switzerland), Pouyan Zolfagharnia (UK), Irma Schogt (Netherlands), Matthieu Kaiser (France), Rita Perea (USA), Vincent Wang (Singapore), Wyatt Fellows (USA), plus special guest speakers Claude Weiss (Switzerland) and Aleksandar Imsiragic (Serbia). Special attention will be given to the stock markets of the USA, Germany, China, and Japan, plus Gold, Silver, Copper, Bitcoin, Wheat, Crude Oil, Real Estate, and interest rates. There is nothing quite like a life-altering MMA Investment Retreat! Sign up early if you wish to attend in person to secure one of the limited rooms reserved for our group at the fabulous Rikli Balance Hotel right on Lake Bled. To register for this spectacular event, click here. To see the full brochure, schedule, topics, and speakers’ bios, click here. To see a list of questions and answers (FAQs) regarding the Investment Retreat, click here.
NOTE 5: The MMA Weekly YouTube show, Geocosmic Week in Review and Look Ahead, with Gianni Di Poce, is conducted on Wednesday evenings! Each 5- to 20-minute FREE episode reviews the previous week’s market activity and offers a preview of the geocosmic signatures in effect for the coming week and beyond.
NOTE 6: MMA’s Free Weekly Column Podcast Is Available on SPOTIFY, APPLE, and AMAZON! Now you can listen to a podcast of this weekly column by Thomas Miller on Saturdays! Just follow Merriman Market Analyst on Spotify or Apple to listen to all our episodes. A new podcast episode will be released every weekend. This is a FREE service and is available to everyone. Check out our podcasts on Apple, Spotify, and Amazon Music. It makes for great listening!
EVENTS
June 30, 2024, 1:30 PM EDT: A Special “MMA Options Webinar” with Derek Panaia and hosted by Raymond Merriman. Click here to register! See “Announcements” above for further information.
September 19-22, 2024: MMA’s 2024 Investment Retreat. Save the dates!!! We will be hosting our 2024 Investment Retreat in Europe for the first time since 2015. You won’t want to miss this chance to meet with the top MMA analysts (plus special guest speakers Claude Weiss and Aleksandar Imsiragic) live and hear our long-term investment and wealth-building strategies using MMA market timing methods. Learn when and at what price to scale in on the 18-year cycle due in world stock indices is now entering the time band for perhaps the best long-term investment opportunities in over a decade. The location is the beautiful Lake Bled in Slovenia, a premier (and affordable) destination in the Julian Alps, with a historic castle nestled in the mountains where the Saturday evening banquet will take place. The cost is $3500, but only $3000 if you register early, before August 1. Registration is now open! The event will be available in person or online. However, note that all rooms at the conference hotel (Rikli Balance) are now sold out. A list of nearby hotels is available on the MMA website, and a waiting list is now being created for those who wish to book a room at the Rikli Balance Hotel if a cancellation occurs. Those who wish to attend online will receive a link to see the event as it unfolds, or they can watch the event a few hours later, as the recordings of the presentations will be posted for download to those who register. For a brochure of the event, click here.
March 7-9, 2025: Cosmic Patterns Inc. presents its “Convergence 2025” conference in Orlando, Florida. This will be one of the top astrological conferences of 2025 and will include a track on “Research and Financial Markets.” MMA market analysts Ray Merriman, Gianni Di Poce, Pouyan Zolfagharnia, Ulric Aspegrén, and Wieke Held will speak, along with well-known financial astrologer Christeen Skinner of the U.K. There will also be a number of well-known professional astrologers speaking, including Lynn Bell, Charlotte Benson, Öner Döşer, Pam Gallagher, Demetra George, Aleksandar Imsiragic, Dr. Lea Imsiragic, Rick Levine, Darri Low Murphy, Anne Ortelee, Joni Patry, Kathy Rose, Gisele Terry, and Fei Cochrane. For further information, please go to https://cosmicpatternsconference.com/. You can also hear and read about this exciting gathering on YouTube (click here). Looking forward to seeing many of you there!
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 the 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 their potential effect on 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.