MMA FREE WEEKLY COLUMN FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING JUNE 17, 2024 ©

Review

 Google Trends is reporting an astonishing spike in searches for “petrodollars.” This is apparently because of a viral story that on 9 June, Saudi Arabia failed to renew a secret 50-year deal with the US to keep oil priced in dollars. Oil has always traded in non-dollar currencies….Saudi Arabia’s riyal remains pegged to the dollar….The dollar’s reserve status depends on how money is stored, not how transactions are denominated. The story seems to have started in the crypto world. Many crypto speculators desperately want to believe in the dollar’s demise. Confirmation bias encourages people to ignore what is realistic if their prejudices are seemingly confirmed. This is a poor investment strategy.

—Dr. Paul Donovan, UBS GWM Chief Economist, UBS Weekly Blog, June 13, 2024.

More Americans lost their homes in May as foreclosures move higher.

—Megan Henney, “Home foreclosures are on the rise again nationwide,” www.foxbusiness.com, June 14, 2024.

U.S. indexes finished mixed, with the Dow industrials logging a fourth straight day of declines. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq booked weekly gains; the Nasdaq managed its 18th record close of the year.

—Market Roundup, “Stock Market News, June 14, 2024:S&P 500 Slips, Ending Streak of Records” www.wsj.com, June 14, 2024.

Jupiter in Gemini continues to exhibit cases of global stock markets headed in opposite directions.

In Asia and the Pacific Rim, India’s NIFTY Index soared to another new all-time high on Friday following the prior week’s re-election of Narendra Modi as its Prime Minister. However, the other major indices in the regions are still below their all-time or multi-year highs made on our May 17-20 three-star geocosmic critical reversal dates.

The Netherlands AEX index in Europe made another new all-time high on Wednesday, June 14. But the German DAX and London FTSE fell to new monthly lows following their all-time highs of May 15. The Zurich SMI fell to a new 3-week low on Friday after briefly making a new 2-year high on Monday, June 10.

In the Americas, Brazil’s Bovespa fell to a new 7-month low. At the same time, both the S&P and NASDAQ made new all-time highs late last week, whereas the DJIA continued its fall since the all-time high on the May 20 three-star CRD (critical reversal date).

Bitcoin and Ethereum were both down last week and are starting to show signs of weakness as they tested their 116-day moving averages. Bitcoin is also going through a transit of Saturn in opposition to Uranus in its natal chart, a bearish geocosmic indicator pointed out by crypto analyst Robert Weinstein recently. The problem may linger a little because Saturn is approaching its stationary retrograde position over the next two weeks. Crude Oil was modestly positive last week as it approaches the 80.00 mark after probably making a primary cycle low the previous week at 72.48.

For us, however, the excitement was in precious metals, especially Gold. On Wednesday, June 12, we issued a “Special Alert on Gold” to MMA subscribers, stating: “A break below Wednesday’s low of 2327 will be a set up for a reversal (high weighted value score). Even better if it holds Friday’s (June 7) low of 2304 and thus becomes a “Lendahl Wiggle” as a low risk/high reward possibility…. The ideal setup would be a secondary low Thursday (maybe even Friday morning), below 2327 but not below 2304.” Bingo! At 12:25 PM, June 13 (EDT), Gold dropped to 2310. By Friday, the next day, it was over 2350. Copies of this “Special Alert” are available to anyone who subscribes to any MMA reports (monthly, weekly, or daily). Even a one-month trial of the MMA Monthly Cycles report will qualify for both the special alert on Gold as well as the June MMA Cycles Report that was issued last week.

Short-Term Geocosmics

For months, Yahya Sinwar has resisted pressure to cut a ceasefire-and-hostages deal with Israel. Behind his decision, messages the Hamas military leader in Gaza has sent to mediators show, is a calculation that more fighting—and more Palestinian civilian deaths—work to his advantage. “We have the Israelis right where we want them,” Sinwar said in a recent message to Hamas officials seeking to broker an agreement with Qatari and Egyptian officials.

—Summer Said and Rory Jones, “Gaza Chief’s Brutal Calculation: Civilian Bloodshed Will Help Hamas,” Wall Street Journal, June 10, 2024.

Trump floated the idea of an all-tariff federal revenue system, large enough to replace the income tax. An all-tariff approach would (reverse)more than 100 years of economic policy that encourages free trade and requires higher-income households to pay higher tax rates than the middle class. Such a return to 19^th-century fiscal policy could amount to a tax cut for high-income people and, effectively, a tax increase on consumers, who would pay tariffs passed along to them in prices. 

—Lindsay Wise, Katy Stech Ferek, and Alex Leary, “Trump Floats ‘All-Tariff’ Federal Revenue System,” www.wsj.com, June 13, 2024.

 Maybe I am missing something here, but aren’t tariffs inflationary and are, therefore, just another tax on consumers? Does the former president not know history—that tariffs were one of the main causes of the Great Depression? Or that the history of America’s greatness is intertwined with world trade? I mean, for someone whose supporters claim he is the smartest man in the world, this “All Tariff Federal Revenue System” strikes me as a dangerous idea for both the world and the national economy. It is hard to believe that the world would support American trade if this idea is enacted. The rest of the world will trade with one another and America will be isolated for its hubris for thinking that everyone wants what only America can offer. It seems so—un-American and anti-business.

On the other hand, other nations now think they can buy influence in America by bribing its political families. It’s unclear which path—which party—will lead to America’s downfall the fastest. It’s a race to the bottom disguised as a race to the top. But then again, Saturn is in Pisces. Truth is a commodity in great demand but with little supply.

And then there is the admission of the head of Hamas as to the real reason behind so many deaths of innocent civilians. After months of alleging that Israel was indiscriminately killing innocent children and civilians, we now hear of a “leaked message” from the leader of Hamas himself (reported by the Wall Street Journal) that this has been the strategy all along: use Palestinians as shields, let them be killed, and gamble that it will lead to world sympathy for their cause—which is basically to turn the world against Israel and eliminate all Jews from the planet.

When does this intentional misdirection and deceptive propaganda end? I think it could bottom with the “Aries Vortex” in 2026 +/- one year. This is a rare (as in “never happened before”) cosmic alignment when Saturn and Neptune (peak of propaganda) conjoin around 0° Aries (the “world degree”). This is also the midpoint of the Uranus/Pluto trine in early air signs. Humankind has something to look forward to if, collectively, we can avoid committing a colossal blunder before then.

Shorter-term and more market-related, we now leave our June 11 three-star geocosmic critical reversal date (CRD) time band. This included the Sun and Venus square Saturn and Neptune (June 9-20) as well as the dangerous Mars/Pluto square of June 11. We may have seen primary cycle lows in Gold and primary cycle highs in stocks (S&P and NASDAQ, but not the DJIA).

Next week, the Sun, Mercury, and Venus leave the unstable sign of Gemini for the more defensive and protective-minded sign of Cancer. Financial markets (investors) might become more emotional over the next month. But this could be a supportive combination for precious metals given that Silver is ruled by the Moon and its ruling sign of Cancer, plus the fact that both Gold and Silver are in a time band for their primary cycle troughs. Additionally, they exhibited intermarket bullish divergence last week, as one made a new multi-week low and the other did not. In stocks, it was the opposite, where a case of intermarket bearish divergence continues as the S&P and NASDAQ made new all-time highs last week, but the DJIA did not. As we were still in Gemini’s season last week, such divergences are probably more the norm. Gemini’s nature can be a bit divergent.

 ANNOUNCEMENTS

NOTE 1: The MMA SOLAR/LUNAR FORECASTING APP FOR IPHONE USERS IS NOW OFFICIALLY OUT!

Sign up now and automatically receive a FREE 3-day trial + $19.99/month rate until July 23rd. Search “Merriman Market Analyst” in the Apple App Store to take advantage of this introductory offer. After July 23^rd, the regular rate of $39.99/mo or a yearly rate of $299.00 will be available. You no longer need a QR code to get the free trial or introductory special offer now!

To learn more about the MMA App, click here.

This app is an ideal tool to have in your back pocket if you are a short-term swing trader looking for high-probability dates that identify isolated lows and highs in the DJIA, Gold, or Silver markets. And it was spot on identifying last week’s ideal buy setup in Gold!

Based on historical frequencies, the higher the weighted value, the greater the probability of a swing trade reversal for the next 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 reports (average of one trade per market every three weeks) or the MMA Weekly report (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 trading multiple times a week based on solar/lunar combinations, the MMA App is for you!

 NOTE 2: THE JUNE ISSUE OF THE MMA Monthly Cycles Report was released last week. With some stock markets still making new all-time highs (but not all) and precious metals ending a huge decline, what do our studies suggest now for financial markets as we enter the summer months? Each monthly MMA Cycles Report covers the outlook in the U.S. stock market, Gold, Silver, Copper, Treasuries, the Euro currency, Crude Oil, and Soybeans. The MMA Monthly Cycles Report also provides MMA’s original geocosmic critical reversal dates (CRDs) and solar/lunar reversal dates over the next several weeks, as well as trading strategies for position and aggressive traders. If you would like to try out one month of the MMA Monthly Cycles Report, you can sign up for the June Report for only $35! Or save by ordering a 3-month or one-year subscription. Subscribing to this report will also enable you to receive last week’s “Special Update on Gold,” issued on Wednesday at no extra cost!

 NOTE 3: The MMA 2024 Investment Retreat Is Now Open For Registration!!! This special event will take place 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! The cost is $3500, but only $3000 if you register before August 1, live in person or online. 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 4: 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 5: 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. Note the change from the original announcement of June 16. We had to move this back due to a conflict in our scheduling. However, this might be even more timely because it is right in the middle of the Saturn and Neptune retrogrades that occur on June 28 and July 2. Our market timing indicators still project major moves in several markets to start near those retrogrades. We want to be prepared with limited-risk option strategies on Gold, Silver, S&P, and possibly Crude Oil as primary cycle (or secondary) lows or highs may occur then. The cost will still be $95.00, and will include 1-3 additional follow-up adjustments via email from Derek this one-time only. In future options webinars, there will be an additional charge for special follow-ups if these prove to be as valuable as we expect. SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1:30 PM, EDT (that’s 7:30 PM in Zurich, Frankfort, Amsterdam, and Paris, and 10:30 AM in Los Angeles). 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. If not, MMA offers a webinar recording on option principles by Derek on its website.

 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. There is nothing quite like a life-altering MMA Investment Retreat! 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. Registration is now open! The event will be available in person or online, but registration is limited for those who want to attend in person. Sign up early if you wish to attend in person to secure your room at the fabulous Rikli Balance Hotel, which will be the site for this event. For a brochure of the event, click here.

March 7-9, 2025: Cosmic Patterns Inc. presents its “Convergence 2025 Conference,” 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 Astrologers Christeen Skinner of the UK. There will also be a number of well-known professional astrologers speaking, including Lynn Bell, Charlotte Benson, Oner Dosser, 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 (and others). For further information, please go to https://cosmicpatternsconference.com/ or click here. You can hear and read about this exciting gathering on Instagram (click here ), Facebook (click here), or YouTube (click here). This will be the premier astrology conference of 2025, with a dynamic track on Financial Astrology. 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.