tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85306510611761876922024-03-08T00:22:41.058-08:00Astrology and Stock MarketAlexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-27918030404468735632008-04-27T15:14:00.000-07:002008-04-27T15:16:26.137-07:00Stock Market Comments For The Week Beginning April 28, 2008<table class="contentpaneopen"><tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" width="70%"> <span class="small"><span style="font-size:78%;"> Written by Raymond Merriman</span> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top"> <h2>Review and Preview</h2> <p> The majority of world stock markets were up again last week as we completed the first of three back-to-back critical reversal zones that extends through May 26. Many of these indices came down into the midpoint of this first reversal zone, which was on April 22, and then rallied into the end of the week. In many cases, this rally took the indices to their highest levels since the lows of January 22 or March 17. </p> <p> In Asia and the Pacific Rim, all four markets we track soared to their highest levels since March 17. Both the Japanese Nikkei and India’s NIFTY rallied all week, topping out at 13,886 and 5117 respectively on Friday. This represents gains of 18.7 and 14.5% respectively in the past month. The All Ordinaries of Australia topped out on Wednesday at 5712, up 11.3% from its 5130 low on March 17. But the stellar performer was the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong, which soared 25.7% from a low of 20,572 on March 18 to a high of 25,861 last Thursday. </p> <p> In Europe, the pattern was similar, but not so strong. Two of the four indices we track made new cycles highs on Friday. The London <acronym title="FTSE Group, the Index Company" lang="en_US">FTSE</acronym> index soared to 6098 on Friday, a gain of almost 9% in the past month. The German <acronym title="Deutsche Aktien Xchange" lang="en_US">DAX</acronym> was the strongest, gapping up on Friday to 6945 for a gain of 12.6% since the 6167 low of March 17. But neither the Netherlands <acronym title="Amsterdam Exchange index" lang="en_US">AEX</acronym> nor the Swiss Stock Index (SSI) were able to make new monthly highs on the last week’s rally, thus creating a possible case of intermarket bearish divergence in this reversal zone. </p> <p> The U.S. stock markets performed well too. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the <acronym title="National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations" lang="en_US">NASDAQ</acronym> Composite both made new cycle highs on Thursday. In the case of the <acronym title="Dow Jones Industrial Average" lang="en_US">DJIA</acronym>, the 12,942 high on Thursday represents an 11.24% gain from the lows of January 22. The 2447 high in the <acronym title="National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations" lang="en_US">NASDAQ</acronym> Composite is a 13.5% appreciation since its primary cycle low of March 17. </p> <p> But the greatest example of this part week’s reversal signature was noted in the currency market, especially the euro currency against the U.S. Dollar. On April 22, our exact reversal date, the euro currency topped out with yet another new all-time high at 1.6018. By Friday, it was in the mid-150’s. This may be the start of something big over the next month or so. In other markets, Crude Oil also made a new all-time on April 22 as it touched 119.90. It didn’t sell off much, however, but our time band remains in effect for the all-time high to be completed anytime before the end of May. Gold and Silver both sold off last week to their lowest level since April 1, with the appearance of falling lower as we approach the time band for Gold’s 11.33-month cycle trough, due before the end of July. </p> <h2>Short-Term Geocosmics</h2> <p> The only thing traders need to know about this coming week is that Saturn turns stationary direct on Friday, May 2 – the day the Employment reports come out. It will mark the end of the second reversal zone of this period that extends to May 26. Saturn direct is a Level 1 signature (highest correlation to primary type of cycles), with a 70% correlation to primary or greater cycles within 9 trading days. But in this case, we are not in the time band for a primary cycle – at least not a primary cycle trough. We are in a time band for a major (5-8 week) cycle trough. </p> <p> The most important thing to recognize about major Saturn signatures is this: any financial market that is declining into a period of one day before through one day afterwards, has a high potential of completing that decline and starting a rally. The fact that Saturn direct happens on the Employment reports day may mean the news is very gloomy (but we already expect it to be gloomy, so maybe it is more than gloomy – like maybe it is <em>frightening</em>). In this case, if the world stock markets (or any other markets) decline into May 1 +/- one trading day, then the rally that follows could be quite substantial, because the next geocosmic signatures are Jupiter turning retrograde on May 9, followed by the Sun-Jupiter trine of May 12. Just as Saturn correlates with the end of declines, Jupiter signatures can correlate with the end of rallies. They don’t always behave this way, but when they do, an ideal set up presents itself for trading. And of course we will monitor this development closely – and give our formal recommendations for various markets that unfold in this “ideal set up” formation - in our daily reports. </p> <h2>Longer-Term Thoughts</h2> <p> “Fear Sells.” It’s a mantra that I have written about for the past 7 years that would dominate public consciousness throughout this decade, and into the next. It is the mantra politicians will exhort more and more in their quest to get voters to vote <em>against</em> their opponent (and for them). It is the mantra of negativity that doesn’t really <em>win</em> elections, but rather <em>defeats</em> the other side by placing doubts into voter’s minds about the electability - or the ability to govern fairly in regards to the needs of all the people - by the opponent. In the study of astrology, the concept of “fear” is ruled by Saturn. And for only the fourth time in the past 200 years, Saturn is forming an opposition to all three of the planets outside of its orbit within only ten years. In the present decade, Saturn started this “triple opposition” period with its 32-37 year opposition to Pluto in 2001-2002. That is when the “fear sells’ mantra of modern-day politicians began. Or, at least it notched it up to an entirely new level. The second phase happened in 2006-2007, when Saturn entered its 36-year opposition cycle to Neptune. That was also the time of massive fraud and deception – in business and politics – which would take 1-3 years to be revealed. Those fraudulent and deceptive practices are just now coming out into the open. And the last Saturn opposition is the 45-year cycle to Uranus, which occurs 5 times between November 4, 2008 and July 26, 2010. Not only does “fear sell,” but also “fear defeats,” which means the person who instills the most “fear” usually ends up the victor when a vote is needed to decide the outcome in a election between two (or more) people. At least it is that way for most of this current “Triple Saturn opposition” period (2001-2010, or even longer). </p> <p> I bring this up because we are in the beginning stages of one of the most heated presidential races in the history of the United States. And the first passage if the Saturn-Uranus opposition – November 4, 2008 – is on the day of that Presidential Election. On Friday, April 25, the “What’s News” section on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, posted two pertinent snippets. The first stated that “The U.S. said it found Iranian arms caches in Iraq…. The charges mark a hardening of U.S. rhetoric on Iran, which it now calls the greatest long-term threat to Iraq.” Does it sound like the trumpet roll to… “Fear Sells,” as we approach the campaign season? </p> <p> The second article states, “U.S. Intelligence officials said there had been at least a decade of cooperation between North Korea and Syria to build a nuclear reactor.” This came out on the day that the Bush Administration released photos of a nuclear reactor in Syria that Israel destroyed last September 2007. According to these intelligence reports, the facility was built with the aid and cooperation of North Korea. In other words, the United States is in grave danger – still - from not only Iran, but also Syria and North Korea. But why release these photos and this intelligence report now, almost eight month after the fact? Why harden the rhetoric now with Iran, after the so-called “troop surge” was just reported as being successful? Isn’t violence down in Iraq since the White House approved the troop surge a year ago? Well, yes, but…. “Fear Sells.” And we have an election coming up. And if the polls don’t show a certain political party in the lead as the election gets closer and closers, then… well, wouldn’t current political leaders need a reason to start something that may really drive home the point that you really do need a president who can keep you safe? One who can protect you against your “Fears?” </p> <p> So let the posturing commence, and along with it, a lot of “new intelligence” suggesting the imminent danger Americans are in (as if we forgot). And if that doesn’t work, let’s look at the “fears” about the economy. After all, Friday’s Consumer Confidence numbers were at the lowest level in 26 years. That would mean 1982 – the year that ended a rather harsh recession (and under a Saturn-Pluto conjunction). Yes, people are afraid about the future of the economy. And yes, at recession bottoms, confidence is always at its lowest point in the cycle. These are the two big “fears” to be drilled into us in the coming months: the fear of war and the consequent loss of our freedom, and the fear of an economic collapse wiping out our financial security, probably exasperated by higher taxes. Friday’s Wall Street Journal also had an editorial about the economy, pointing out that the U.S. Corporate tax rate is currently the second highest in the world after Japan, and that is what is “… driving investment and jobs overseas.” </p> <p> Why is it that major elections – and leaders of political parties – seem to no longer inspire confidence and hope? Maybe, just maybe, with Saturn in opposition to Uranus, one candidate can emerge who will break this depressing pattern of 21st century America. After all, Saturn represents patterns, and Uranus represents change and the breaking of old ways. Saturn also represents the old guard, and Uranus represents youth. This election will likely be about those two opposite ends of the spectrum. There should be a real clear distinction between the candidates this time - about as clear as black and white, young and old, and maybe hope and fear. </p></td></tr></tbody></table>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-13572482555202412012008-04-25T21:11:00.000-07:002008-04-25T21:13:16.070-07:00COSMIC WEATHER REPORT<table border="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr align="center"><td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="518"> <tbody><tr><td height="1" width="37"><img src="http://www.thuntek.net/%7Esstars/images/spacer.gif" alt="" height="1" width="37" /></td><td height="1" width="481"><img src="http://www.thuntek.net/%7Esstars/images/spacer.gif" alt="" height="1" width="481" /></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" height="3" width="518"><img src="http://www.thuntek.net/%7Esstars/images/spacer.gif" alt="" height="3" width="518" /></td></tr> <tr align="left" valign="top"><td height="3311" width="37"><br /></td><!-- Text --> <td rowspan="1" colspan="1" height="3311" width="481"><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n">As April begins the Sun is in the fire sign Aries, the first sign of the zodiac. It's springtime, a time of energy, action, and new beginnings. This is a great time to take the initiative, start new projects, and assert your desires. Avoid displays of ego, selfishness or impulsiveness. The planet Pluto turns </span><span class="textstyle-n"><a href="http://www.thuntek.net/%7Esstars/Cosmic_Weather_Report.html#RETRO">retrograde</a></span><span class="textstyle-n">* on April 2. Each of the planets occasionally appears to stop its forward motion, become stationary, and then backtrack its orbit for a while. At the times when a planet is making an apparent change of direction, its energy seems to be magnified. Pluto is the planet of deep and powerful emotions and forces for change, and Pluto "stations" are often times of upheaval.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n">Mercury, Venus, Mars and Uranus are in sensitive water signs as April begins, though Mercury and Venus will enter fiery, impulsive Aries by Saturday night, April 5. The energy planet Mars, "ruling planet" for Aries, is in vulnerable, defensive, reactive Cancer. Many of us may feel the impulsiveness of the fire sign energies, but also feel vulnerable and defensive. Three planets are in the practical earth signs, supporting channeling our energy into practical projects leading to tangible results. By April 20 the Sun and four planets will be in earth, helping us be patient, practical, and steady, but also stubborn.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n">Two helpful planetary alignments affect us over much of the month. The sextile of Jupiter and Uranus, described in the March forecast, remains within 1 degree orb all month, supporting easy change and innovation. Saturn will be in positive trine alignment with Pluto from April 10 or so through the remainder of the month. Saturn represents stability, Pluto change. Their being in positive aspect means that we are more easily able to make steady efforts toward positive change and evolution. Both planets are in earth signs; we are able to use this opportunity in practical ways for tangible results.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n">New Moon comes on April 5. Not only are the Sun and Moon in fiery Aries, they are also square to Mars in Cancer. Many of us will feel quite a bit of volatility as this new lunar cycle begins. Full Moon two weeks later is also rather intense, as the Moon will be in Scorpio, and there is an energizing alignment between Venus, Mars and Jupiter. Normally we get a New Moon and a Full Moon in each sign. This year we have two Full Moons in Scorpio. The Moon is in the very first degree of Scorpio at the Full Moon on April 20, and it is in the last degree of Scorpio at Full Moon on May 19.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n"><b>WEEK BY WEEK:</b></span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n"><b>Week of March 30-April 5:</b> Be mindful on Sunday of the continued impulsiveness and sensitivity of the Sun square Mars. Pluto will turn </span><span class="textstyle-n"><a href="http://www.thuntek.net/%7Esstars/Cosmic_Weather_Report.html#RETRO">retrograde</a></span><span class="textstyle-n">* on Wednesday. Pluto stations are usually times of intensity, when our deep issues are being stirred. Even if you are not being strongly affected, others are going through transitions and crises. Also on Wednesday, Mercury enters Aries after its sojourn in dreamy Pisces. We're ready to state our views in clear but sometimes tactless terms, and let the chips fall where they may. This could add to the intensity of the Pluto station with its deep stirrings. Diplomacy and forethought will be handy tools at this point.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n">This is the quiet time before New Moon, which arrives Saturday evening. Use the end of the week to further any changes coming up with the Pluto station, and to clean up loose ends for a new start at New Moon. New Moon arrives at 9:55 p.m. MDT Saturday evening. Venus has been in the late degrees of dreamy Pisces all week and enters Aries a little before midnight on Saturday. We'll be more direct and assertive about our wants and needs over the coming few days.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n"><b>Week of April 6-12: </b>This Sunday might be a good day for relaxation. The Moon will be void of course** all day, from 9:02 a.m. until 7:20 p.m. MDT. If you have projects for the day, get them started before 9:02 a.m. Venus will be square Pluto on Sunday. Relationship issues will pop to the surface for some of us, and many of us will experience glitches in social occasions and arrangements. We'll be better able to get down to practical matters and achieve tangible results on Monday. </span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n">On Tuesday the Moon will be </span><span class="textstyle-n"><a href="http://www.thuntek.net/%7Esstars/Cosmic_Weather_Report.html#VOC">v.o.c.</a></span><span class="textstyle-n">** again, from 9:13 a.m. until 7:27 p.m. Important projects are best gotten under way early. Arguments, impulsiveness and exaggeration come up for some of us Wednesday and Thursday. The communication planet Mercury is in fiery Aries, in square to Mars, which is in the sensitive water sign Cancer. (Translation: People may express themselves in an impulsive or aggressive way, possibly as a result of feeling vulnerable and defensive.) At the same time, the Sun, also in Aries, is squaring Jupiter, planet of expansiveness, optimism, and exaggeration. You may feel inspired and enthusiastic and jump into a new project or endeavor. Do the feasibility check, including being sure you have time in your schedule for the follow through. Both aspects are exact Thursday morning. Thursday is the third day this week to have a long period during which the Moon is void of course, in this case from 10:11 a.m. until 8:43 p.m. MDT.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n">All day Friday and on Saturday until about 12:30 p.m. MDT, the Moon is "on course" in Cancer. Connect with your community, nurture your projects, spend time with family, take care of your home and garden. At 12:32 p.m. the Moon goes void again, until past midnight. Take the afternoon and evening off to simply relax and enjoy home, family and community, or to nurture yourself.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n"><b>Week of April 13-19: </b>It appears this week may be a bit less volatile than the one previous. Sunday is graced with a sextile of the Sun to gentle, empathetic Neptune; and a square of Mercury to Jupiter. That aspect, exact around noon, can indicate optimism, positive communication, and voluminous talk. There's a tendency to exaggerate, to be overly optimistic, and to talk a lot about all the wonderful inspirations, ideas and possibilities that seem to flow easily at this time. </span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n">On Monday Mercury is in positive sextile to Neptune, helping us be particularly insightful, inspired and subtle. Tuesday and Wednesday are good days for getting things done, as the Moon is in meticulous and practical Virgo, which helps us direct our energy for concrete results. On Wednesday the Sun and Mercury are conjunct. This is a day of high energy and lively communication. As these bodies are in Aries, we tend to be quite confident and sure of ourselves and our ideas. We may be long on conviction and short on objectivity.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n">Thursday begins with a long Moon v.o.c. period commencing right at midnight and running until 4:10 p.m. MDT. Mercury is at the end of Aries, which may mean that there is a lot of talk and ideas without concrete accomplishment. Mercury enters practical Taurus around 3 p.m. MDT, the Moon goes on course an hour later, and we're good to go, particularly since Mercury is coming into a "grand trine" alignment with Saturn and Pluto, which are trine one another. This alignment creates a synergy of thought, focus, and practicality that supports focused and disciplined mental work. Late afternoon and evening Thursday and all of Friday are great times for any type of planning, analysis, negotiation, or other work demanding careful concentration. </span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n">Saturday morning the Sun is at the very end of Aries, and this is rather similar to the Moon void of course, as the transit of the sign is just about spent. The Sun enters Taurus at 10:51 a.m. MDT. We are ready to settle in and be calm, patient, practical and productive for the coming thirty days. But first comes Full Moon, in the wee hours of Sunday morning.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n"><b>Week of April 20-26: </b>Full Moon comes early Sunday morning, 4:25 a.m. MDT. .Full Moon always presents us with Sun and Moon in signs opposite one another in the zodiac and very opposite in nature. At this Full Moon, the Sun is in steady Taurus; the Moon is in Scorpio, sign of deep emotion. You may be tempted to let go emotionally, but also want to remain composed and steady. You may be tempted to make changes or to confront the issues in your life, but hesitate to cause upset and loss of Taurean stability and comfort. The Sun and Mercury are in a beneficial "grand trine" alignment with Saturn and Pluto, meaning that changes can be made and deep transformation effected without undue upset. Also at Full Moon, Venus is in a "t-square" alignment with Mars and Jupiter, which are opposite one another. This combination can be quite ebullient and full of high spirits, optimism and good times. It may also show up as impulsiveness, bumptiousness, or emotional or financial extravagance, if it operates unchecked. Tempered with a bit of common sense and good timing, this energy might boost you to success in one arena or another. Size up the situation before you step out there.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n">On Sunday and Monday the Sun makes the beneficial grand trine to Pluto and Saturn, with Sun exactly aligning with Pluto around the noon hour on Sunday, and Sun trine Saturn exact around dawn on Monday. We should be capable of quite a bit of focus, discipline, and resourcefulness on these days. On Monday and Tuesday Mars is trine Uranus, supporting innovation and taking revolutionary steps in our lives. Venus is exactly square Mars and Jupiter on Wednesday, fueling boldness and confidence, which can manifest in our being demonstrative, enthusiastic, confident, and also potentially bumptious, extravagant, even arrogant. Be modest, and use a bit of judgment. This may be the perfect time to step out and live at a new level. Just be realistic.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n">Mars is opposite Jupiter all week, with the influence strongest on Wednesday and Thursday. This is an aspect of confidence, good timing, and successful action. There is the potential to overextend, overexert or be overbearing, but with a bit of common sense this alignment should work out well. We should be feeling optimistic, and physical energy levels should be good. (Watch a tendency to be a little accident prone, as in our confidence and enthusiasm we can get ahead of ourselves.)</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n">Friday and Saturday are a bit more sedate, with a gentle sextile of Venus to Neptune, exact Friday morning, enhancing empathy and consideration for others. On Friday and Saturday the Moon is in Capricorn, helping us stay grounded and steady in our efforts.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n"><b>Week of April 27-May 3: </b>This is the week Saturn turns direct, and many of us will be dealing with important issues that may seem very weighty. This is the time to take hold and work things through, though Saturn stations can feel very daunting as we step up to them. It may seem as if all our issues are coming up at once, and that may be the case. Just step right in, in any case. The only way around is through. Depending on Saturn's current influence in your chart, this may simply feel like a good time to get down to work. Saturn may be more noticeable in the lives of those around you.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n">Sunday begins with the Moon void of course** for several hours, from 8:18 a.m. until 3:27 p.m. MDT. The time is well used for rest, meditation, and contemplation. Mental activity is enhanced as Mercury makes positive alignments with innovative Uranus on Sunday, and with expansive Jupiter, which helps us see the big picture, on Monday. Confusion or miscommunication could enter the picture later on Monday and in the early hours Tuesday as Mercury squares nebulous Neptune. We're back on track by Tuesday afternoon, when Mercury sextiles energetic Mars. Venus is at the very end of Aries on Tuesday. We might feel rather impatient with relationships and social niceties. Venus will enter loving Taurus early Wednesday, restoring harmony.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n">Venus trines Pluto and Saturn on Wednesday and Thursday, making a "grand trine." We are able to evolve our relationships and interactions in constructive ways, without disruption. As Venus, Saturn and Pluto are in earth signs, some of this synergy may show up as progress in our material affairs. </span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n">Saturn turns direct Friday evening. You may be dealing with important issues, or simply working along and perhaps finding that progress is slow but steady. Mercury is at the end of slow, deliberate Taurus, further slowing the action, until 2:00 p.m. MDT on Friday, when it enters sprightly Gemini. But not so fast. Mercury is square to limiting Saturn on Saturday. Communications and transactions are slowed and require deliberate and conscious effort. We're right before New Moon, making this a time for resting and regrouping. Make it an easy weekend. Take time to finish projects, relax a bit, and plan for the new cycle that begins with New Moon on Monday.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px 6px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n"><b>May Preview: </b>For most of the month we will have at least four planets in the practical, down-to-earth earth signs. On May 2 Saturn will turn </span><span class="textstyle-n"><a href="http://www.thuntek.net/%7Esstars/Cosmic_Weather_Report.html#RETRO">direct</a></span><span class="textstyle-n">.* Saturn stations are typically times when we are dealing with the realities of life, facing the truth about our situations and doing something about them. Jupiter will turn retrograde* on the 9<sup>th</sup>, bringing our expansive energies to maximum flower before a time of regrouping over the next four months. On May 26, both Mercury and Neptune will turn retrograde. With Neptune at its turning point, or "station," you may notice that some situations are rather nebulous and open to multiple interpretations. The challenge is to see clearly rather than be lulled by illusion and rationalization. Mercury will be retrograde* until June 19, slowing down communications and daily affairs. The two turning retrograde at the same time may really lead to some confusion, miscommunication and general foul-ups. Both these events can signal a time for meditation or turning inward, and that might be the thing to do.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-n"></span><span class="textstyle-o"><br />*Regular readers of this column and others familiar with astrology know that all the planets occasionally appear to backtrack or "retrograde" in their orbits. A planet will slow down, appear stationary, and then appear to slip backward for a period of a few weeks or months before again appearing stationary and then resuming apparent forward motion. Of course the planet is not actually reversing direction but only appears to do so due to its motion relative to Earth's. Nonetheless, we do feel the effects of these shifts. When a planet is at its "station" or stationary point, the planet's energies are emphasized; when retrograde, its energies are more internalized. The cycle looks like this. The planet is going forward, and affairs of the planet are moving forward normally. As the planet slows and turns stationary, those matters related to the planet become emphasized in our lives, and significant developments may take place. Then those matters ebb in our outer lives for a while, as we internally digest those developments and realizations and integrate them into our lives during the retrograde. Later, the planet again goes stationary, coming back to the forefront of our awareness, and then "turns direct," resuming apparent forward motion as we again move forward with those matters related to the planet.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-o"><br />Mercury takes a little three-week retrograde cycle approximately every four months. Our daily affairs slow down and get complicated. Communications get tangled, computers flake out, automobiles break down and travel arrangements fall into disarray, a comedy of scheduling mishaps occur, and things pretty much slow to a crawl. It's really a great time to slow down and regroup, to finish projects and catch up on unfinished business. Just try not to launch your big project, or sign on the dotted line for a new contract, job, car, or whatever unless you really need to. Try to get those things moving before the retrograde, and shepherd things patiently along during the retro cycle, knowing that some things may not completely come together until Mercury turns direct. If you are making significant moves during the Mercury retrograde period, just know that some things will have to be straightened out after the direct. </span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-o"><br />**<a name="VOC">Moon void of course</a></span><span class="textstyle-o"> occurs when the Moon has made all the aspects or alignments it will make while in the sign it's in, and is just "marking time" without real momentum. The Moon goes through a sign in 2 to 2 ? days, so consequently it also goes v.o.c. every couple<a name="RETRO"> of days as wel</a></span><span class="textstyle-o">l, sometimes for only a few minutes or more likely hours, but sometimes for more than a day. Things initiated during a v.o.c. tend to meander off and arrive at a destination other than what was planned. Void of course periods are well used in completing tasks or doing routine chores, or in resting, meditating, and planning for future activities.</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-o"><br /><br /><br />I teach astrology classes in Albuquerque (available by tape if you're out of town) and will be starting a beginning class soon. I am available for personal consultations and forecasts, either in person or by telephone. I also offer comprehensive computer chart services, providing charts, transit calendars, and computer interpretations. I invite your feedback on this column and am available to answer simple astrology questions. Be in touch! </span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-o"><br />Please feel free to share this forecast with your friends. Just be sure to include my name and contact information:</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-o"><br />Sandy Bryan, Astrologer (505) 255-5001</span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-o">email: </span><span class="textstyle-o"><a href="mailto:sstars@thuntek.net">sstars@thuntek.net</a></span><span class="textstyle-o"> web: </span><span class="textstyle-o"><a href="http://www.thuntek.net/%7Esstars/sandy.html">www.thuntek.net/~sstars/sandy.htm</a></span><span class="textstyle-o"> </span></div><div class="br" style="padding: 0px 5px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="textstyle-o"><br />Happy Life! </span></div></td></tr> </tbody></table> </td></tr></tbody></table><!--<bgsound src="realm.mid"> <embed src="realm.mid" autostart="true" loop="true" volume="50" align="center"></embed>--> <h5> Copyright 1998-2006 Sandy Bryan</h5>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-28503309563334337632008-04-23T23:08:00.000-07:002008-04-23T23:09:07.076-07:00ASTROLOGY AND THE STOCK MARKETS<center><big><b>ASTROLOGY AND THE STOCK MARKETS</b></big></center> <p> Before detailing the methods to be employed it will be convenient to give a list of the commodities and other matters ruled by the planets, signs, and houses, together with their effect upon Markets. </p><p><a name="planets"></a> <big><b>1. PLANETS</b></big> </p><p> <a name="sun"></a> <b>SUN</b>--The Sun rules gold, gilt-edged stock and Government Securities, and the general tone of the Market. It does not materially affect the Market itself, except as it forms aspects to other planets, and its influence is exerted thru the sign in which it is placed. Favorable aspects increase the value of Government securities of the country ruled by the sign, and bad aspects depress it.</p><p> <a name="moon"></a> <b>MOON</b>--The Moon is not a particular significator of anything. Its passage thru a sign stimulates the commodities ruled by the sign, and often those of the opposite sign as well. Aspects to the Moon do not always act in accordance with their natures, but seem rather to mark turning points, and to denote the times of highest rise and lowest fall. The position of the Moon in its orbit, however, has a general influence on fluctuations, especially in regard to changes from an upward to a downward movement, and vica-versa. This is very marked in the case of the Moon's passage over its apogee and perigee.</p><p> <a name="mercury"></a> <b>MERCURY</b>--This planet rules with others wheat, corn and grain (partly), silver and quick-silver, as well as bonds, returns and publications, news, rumors, and public confidence. Its effect upon the Market is to cause nervousness, activity, instability, quick buying and selling, and rapid fluctuations. If afflicted it brings false or adverse news and rumors, and indicates lack of public confidence. Thus Jupiter afflicted by Mercury would cause quick fluctuations and selling of affairs ruled by Jupiter and the sign containing it, due to adverse rumors.</p><p> <a name="venus"></a> <b>VENUS</b>--Venus rules copper, silk, textiles, sugar, cotton, furnishing, money, corn, and the wheat market. It affects the market thru money, and its general influence is to cause a peaceful condition in the country in whose sign it is, with steady development, good crops, and a generally settled state. Its good aspects bring a steady, tho often not very lasting, rise in values, but with few fluctuations, while its bad aspects tend to cause dull periods.</p><p> <a name="mars"></a> <b>MARS</b>--Mars rules iron and steel, railways, motors, and machinery. Its effect is to cause great activity and enterprise,<!--end of page 4--><a name="page5"></a> with brisk buying and new flotations. It causes very sharp, but often unsustained, rises and falls according to its aspects.</p><p> <a name="jupiter"></a> <b>JUPITER</b>--Jupiter rules tin, zinc, rubber. It brings expansion, new industries, prosperity, and its good aspects bring very high rises. Its bad aspects show selling for profit taking, and a fall in values. It may also indicate over-capitalization and over-production. Jupiter indicates the direction of speculative interest according to the sign it is in.</p><p> <a name="saturn"></a> <b>SATURN</b>--Saturn rules lead, coal, mines, building, and conditions of labor. Its effect is to cause famines, <!--*added comma--> failure of crops, political troubles, want, and unemployment. Its bad aspects produce great depression in prices, while its good ones steady the market.</p><p> <a name="uranus"></a> <b>URANUS</b>--Uranus rules electrical concerns, aviation, telegraphs, and wireless. Its effect is to cause strikes, revolutions, and political upheavals, its aspects affect the Market thru political conditions. It causes sudden sharp fluctuations in accordance with its aspects.</p><p> <a name="neptune"></a> <b>NEPTUNE</b>--Neptune rules drugs, narcotics, tea, tobacco, oil, and institutions such as hospitals, asylums, and prisons, as well as large syndicates and combines. Its affect is to produce socialistic, democratic, and anarchistic activity, and a condition of confusion or chaos in the affairs signified. In good aspect it inflates prices, often thru the action of rings and combines, and in bad aspects it depresses them thru the same agency. </p><p><br /><a name="aspects"></a> </p><center><big><b>THE ASPECTS</b></big></center><br /> Al aspects have a certain Orb, this is the distance in degrees which seems to be most favorable or unfavorable. I have noticed that when two or more Planets are within 12 degrees, they begin to have some effect, scarcely noticeable for a time, but as the aspect comes closer than 12 degrees, the market gets more active in the direction that the aspect indicates.<br /><p> <a name="con"></a> The conjunction, when two planets are within orb of the same degree, but as a rule, a planet is a little the strongest about one degree from the aspect, at its best when coming to the aspect and within one degree, but very apparent several degrees, at least five degrees away. </p><p> <a name="par"></a> The Parallel aspect, when two planets are within One degree of the same Declination, is also about the same in strength as the conjunction.</p><p> <a name="opp"></a> The Opposition is the next strongest, when two or more planets are within orb of each other in opposite signs of the Zodiac.</p><p> <a name="squ"></a> The Square aspect next strongest when two or more planets are within orb of 90 degrees.</p><p> <a name="tri"></a> The Trine aspect, when two or more are within orb of 120 degrees.</p><p> <a name="sex"></a> The Sextile, when two or more are within orb of 60 degrees.</p><p> <a name="ssq"></a> The Semi-Square, when two or more are within 4 or 5 degrees from 45 degrees.</p><p> <a name="ssx"></a> The semi-sextile is a very weak aspect and not noticeable.<!--end of page 5--><a name="page6"></a></p><p> <a name="inc"></a> The 150 degree aspect also a somewhat weak aspect.</p><p> </p><p><br /> The conjunction of the Sun, Venus, Jupiter are good aspects.<br /> The conjunction of Moon, Venus and Jupiter are good aspects<br /> The Sextile and Trine are good between all planets.<br /> </p><p><br /> The Opposition is a bad aspect, and always bad, except when with Neutral planets, which have a good aspect.<br /> The Square is a bad aspect, except when it has also a good aspect combination with a Nuetral planet. </p><p><br /> Neptune, Uranus and Moon are Neutral, also Mercury at times. </p><p><br /> The Conjunction Square and Opposition are active aspects, the Square aspect the most active, the Opposition is a steady, slow at times, bad aspect. </p><p><br /><a name="effects"></a> </p><center><big><b>EFFECTS OF ASPECTS</b></big></center> <p> The Sun aspects are slightly good or bad according to the nature of them, but much depends on the aspects between the other planets. If the Sun comes to a good aspect of Jupiter, it favors slight advance, possibly one or two points, and a bad aspect a like effect downward, but if the planet aspected has a close good aspect to another, the advance may be several points, or a close bad aspect several points down.</p><p> The Moon aspects depend on the aspects of the Sun; If the Sun has close good aspect, the good aspects of the Moon, when within five or less degrees of the aspects will be quite strong for advances, and a bad aspect of the Moon to an unfavorable aspect is only slightly weak, but if the Sun be in a close bad aspect to Saturn, or Uranus, the good aspects of the Moon have little if any strength, and the bad aspects may be quite strong to cause breaks.</p><p> If the Sun be a good aspect to Jupiter and it closely aspected to Uranus by a Trine or Sextile, then any aspect of the Moon to Jupiter or Uranus, good or bad aspects may cause more or less advance, although there may be antagonism and the market scalpy.</p><p> Mars aspects are often slightly good, but if a good aspect of Mars and Jupiter or Mars and Saturn, then a good aspect to Mars by the Moon or Mercury advances the market, and bad aspects of the Moon to Mars not bad. </p>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-74321907082118895692008-04-20T21:13:00.000-07:002008-04-20T21:31:43.290-07:00Stock Market Comments for the Week Beginning April 21, 2008<span style="font-size:78%;"><span class="small"> Written by Raymond Merriman <br /><br /></span></span><p> The majority of world <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/">stock markets</a> ended their corrective decline early Monday, and then soared to their weekly highs on Friday. This was right in line with one of the two basic patterns described last week, based on the principles of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_astrology">Financial Astrology</a>. As stated in last week’s column, “There are no major geocosmic signatures in effect this coming week that have a high correlation to reversals in financial markets… This means one of two things: either the move down that started last week will continue into the following week, or the move down ended Friday (April 11) and the market will start another rally immediately this week, and continue rising into the following week.” It looks very much like this later pattern was –and is still - operative. </p> <p> In Asia and the Pacific Rim, the four markets we track made their weekly low on Monday. In the case of Australia’s All Ordinaries, <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/#market_summary_asia">Hong Kong’s Hang Seng</a>, and the <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=%5EN225">Japanese Nikkei </a>stock indices, each put in their high of the week on Thursday. But none sold off much on Friday. In India, the NIFTY stock index also made a weekly low on Monday, but continued rising into Friday. Of all these indices, India’s again looks the strongest headed into the new week. </p> <p> In Europe, the pattern was similar. Each of the four indices we track made weekly lows on Monday. In the case of the London <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=%5EFTSE"><acronym title="FTSE Group, the Index Company" lang="en_US">FTSE</acronym> index</a>, the weekly high unfolded Wednesday, but Friday was not that far off. In the other three indices – Netherlands <acronym title="Amsterdam Exchange index" lang="en_US">AEX</acronym>, Germany’s <acronym title="Deutsche Aktien Xchange" lang="en_US">DAX</acronym>, and Switzerland’s SMI index - the high of the week was not until Friday. They are all pointed up heading into next week’s powerful cluster of geocosmic signatures. </p> <p> The U.S. stock markets performed slightly different. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the <acronym title="National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations" lang="en_US">NASDAQ</acronym> Composite bottomed early Tuesday (instead of Monday), and then soared to their highest levels of the year on Friday’s huge up day. It is looking more and more like that low of January 22 in the <acronym title="Dow Jones Industrial Average" lang="en_US">DJIA</acronym> was the 4-year cycle trough. </p> <p> In other financial and commodity markets, the Euro currency made yet another new all-time high on Thursday, while Crude Oil closed well above $116/barrel for the first time ever on Friday. The Euro started a sell-off after that high on Thursday, and I still expect <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=%5EN225">Crude Oil </a>to top out by the end of May (Jupiter sextile Uranus), and then begin a decline that could surprise many people. If it doesn‘t, it will surprise me. And isn‘t Uranus known for surprises? In this case, the surprise would pertain to the greater number of people, and not to me, the individual. </p> <h2>Short-Term Geocosmics</h2> <p> This forthcoming week is one of the most intense weeks of geocosmic activity this year. </p> <p> After the Sun enters Taurus this Saturday, April 19, there are six major aspects between planets the following four days. It starts with the Sun making a grand trine to Saturn and Pluto on April 20-21, which could coincide with news that an agreement has been reached (or proposed) to resolve the sub-prime debt crisis. The feeling that “the worst is behind us” may be on the increase. Friday’s big up day in the stock market is a step in that direction, and it might continue to lead to higher equity levels as we start the new week. </p> <p> On Tuesday, April 22, Mars will form a waxing trine to Uranus. This is a powerful Level 1 signature, according to our work published in “The Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing, Volume 3: Geocosmic Correlations to Trading Cycles.” It has a 70% correlation to primary cycles within an orb of 12 trading days. And then on Wednesday and Thursday (April 23-24), Venus will form a cardinal T-square to the Mars-Jupiter opposition. On a personal level, this can correlate with big attractions and/or disputes in love. It is sort of like falling in – and then out – of love. On a Financial Astrology level, this can correlate with a big price swings in the equity markets. It is sort of like falling in – and then out – of love for your portfolio (or broker). </p> <p> On top of all that, we will go through another Sagittarius Factor period (Moon is Sagittarius) Tuesday-Thursday. This typically is a lunar phase that can correspond to be very large price swings as well, especially when Mars, Jupiter, or Uranus aspects are involved. And as you see, they are involved with one another in the middle of this week. Just watch out who <em>you</em> are involved with this week! Everything (or someone) looks good. But are you ready for the ride of your life? Use your brakes, your clutch, and whatever other means of support you have at your disposal if you don’t want to overshoot the “Cliff Up Ahead!” sign. Ah, spring. </p> <h2>Longer-Term Thoughts</h2> <p> There is another primary election taking place this week, on April 22, in Pennsylvania. The Moon is in Scorpio that day, which would seem to give an advantage to Hillary Clinton. But despite the results of that primary, Mundane Astrologers are going to have a difficult time successfully forecasting the victor of this year’s USA Presidential race. Oh, I am certain that after the election is over, many will loudly announce their correct call of this election. But I can honestly say that right now, I still can’t tell who will be the next President based on astrology alone. </p> <p> I look at the transits of that day, and like every other Mundane and Financial Astrologer, I see the first passage of the Saturn-Uranus opposition. But what does it <em>mean</em>? It certainly means a new course, a new direction of leadership with anything that is decided around that time. On the surface, that would seem to mean a Democrat will win, for isn’t John McCain (the Republican candidate) suppose to be the same direction as George W. Bush? Well, yes, and maybe no. </p> <p> If we think of Saturn and Uranus as the opposite ends of the spectrum between the old (Saturn) and the new (Uranus), the liberal (Uranus) and conservative (Saturn), experience (Saturn) versus someone who is perceived as original and not so experienced (Uranus), we can see a choice in which the candidates are truly different this time. There is a clear distinction between the two sides. But which one wins? Saturn or Uranus? </p> <p> There are five passages of this aspect between November 4, 2008 and July 26, 2010. On this first passage, the Moon and Jupiter will be in Capricorn, the sign that Saturn has dominion over. This would seem to suggest that the Saturn principles (old, conservative, and experienced) would prevail. But on the other hand, Saturn in opposition to Uranus also implies many surprises still be in store for the nation - for the world - going right into the election. Perhaps Saturn is highlighted because it is being “hit” in a candidate’s chart and (s)he has a change of status in life even nearby to the election. One might note that John McCain is a Virgo (August 29, 1936, 9:00 AM, Panama City, but this is not confirmed data). If he wins, he would be the oldest person ever to be elected to this office (72 years young). That certainly fits with Saturn being emphasized, especially with the Moon in Capricorn on Election Day. But Saturn is transiting through Virgo all year, and he is a Virgo. What can happen to someone who runs a grueling campaign, with Saturn on his Sun? It depends on his health and vitality of course, but Saturn on anyone’s Sun, let alone one who is already past 70 years of age, is not a time when one is advised to “push the limits” of what might be needed to conduct a successful campaign. I realize that some astrologers are reading this as a time when one takes on more responsibility in his/her life, and therefore he is the candidate to win because of this very condition of Saturn on his Sun. Perhaps. But he also has his natal Saturn at 20 Pisces, right where Uranus is passing back and forth all this year. And that natal Saturn is opposite his Venus-Neptune conjunct, with Venus ruling the probable ascendant (Libra). Transiting Saturn is there too, on his natal Venus-Neptune, opposite his natal Saturn). So this Saturn-Uranus opposition that is transiting in the heavens denotes sudden and unexpected changes along the way towards this election, towards the assumption of this office by next year. And it falls on very critical points to Senator McCain’s chart. </p> <p> Can he win on the basis of Astrology? Yes, of course he can. In fact, on the basis of astrology alone, I would say McCain has the advantage. The Moon – Jupiter conjunction on Election Day implies the country does not want to make a change, and that they do want someone in the office who has experience and represents the idea of “safety to the nation.” It favors the older man, the one with more experience, in my way of looking at things. </p> <p> But it could also be interpreted to favor Senators Clinton and Obama too, because they represent Uranus – especially Obama (youth). If the youth come out in large numbers, they could produce the classical theme of “change” (or upset) that goes with Uranus in opposition to Saturn. Or something else can happen along the way that derails the whole process, prior to January 20, when the new president is sworn in. And if that happens, you can be certain it would open up a whole new realm of conspiracy theories, especially if it means the current Administration has to stay in office beyond that date, which - after all – isn’t that what many conspiratorial theorists are suggesting anyway? It could happen, and it may not be the result of a dark conspiracy. Or, maybe it is. In any event, this signature promises one thing for certain: nothing is certain. Anything can happen with this election, and even right afterwards. </p>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-1491326395738525712008-04-20T21:11:00.000-07:002008-04-20T21:39:19.965-07:00Fall of the Roman Empire<div style="text-align: left;"><center><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.hermes-press.com/triumph_civ.htm<br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You have heard an expression that America is likes a Roman Empire.<br />Below you can read how connected the dots between what is going on now in our country and what reason Roman Empire had fallen.<br />It has a strong parallel between them. Read and THINK..</span>.</span><br /></span></center></div><h2> <p style="font-family: arial;"> In his famous history, <i>The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire</i>, Gibbons outlined the major reasons for the fall of Rome:</p><ul><li>The government became increasingly controlled by the rich and the military<br /><br /></li><li> Imperialistic militarism became the primary state policy, with increasing amounts of funds spent on armaments for foreign wars<br /><br /></li><li> <img src="http://www.hermes-press.com/rome2.jpg" alt="the fall of Rome" style="" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="15" width="400" /> Patriotism declined as people lost their allegiance to the state<br /><br /></li><li>The state imposed ever increasing taxes on the middle class<br /><br /></li><li> Moral decay was evident as depicted in its literature, amusements, and lifestyles that often portrayed gratuitous sex and violence; there was a mad craze for pleasure, with sports becoming progressively more brutal<br /><br /></li><li>As productivity declined, the Roman empire became more dependent on foreign products (globalism)<br /><br /></li><li>A break-down in the labor force occurred as the traditional work ethic declined<br /><br /></li><li>The infrastructure of the cities eroded and began a steady decay<br /><br /></li><li>A balance of trade deficit began to occur in increasing volume<br /><br /></li><li>The cost of government, including the military and welfare, became unbearably burdensome to the taxpayers<br /><br /></li><li>Class economic warfare broke out between the rich and poor<br /><br /></li><li>Parts of the empire were not taxed while others were overtaxed<br /><br /></li><li>Christianity challenged the traditional Roman character traits and caused people to neglect the state as they concentrated on personal salvation; religion degenerated into mere form, losing touch with life and becoming impotent to guide it</li></ul></h2>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-12019383452848529502008-04-08T00:34:00.000-07:002008-04-08T00:35:44.455-07:00<p align="center"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span style="color:#ffc82b;"> <img src="http://www.amanita.at/i/astrologie/pluto-charon.jpg" border="0" height="220" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="149" /> Pluto and its main moon Charon</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoBodyText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Thorndale;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p> <p align="left"> <span style="font-family:Arial;">The </span> <b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">beginning of 2008</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;"> was the poorest start of a year in a long time, the financial markets were shattered violently and the stock markets dropped sharply. This has not really been a surprise, the danger of a January weakness was also mentioned in press interviews, e.g. in the December issue of Germany's leading market magazine "Börse online". The 'malefic' responsible for the timing of the turbulences is without doubt the dwarf planet Pluto, at the top of the page it's depicted with its main moon Charon. In Roman mythology </span><b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">Pluto</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;"> is the lord of the realm of the dead and the lower world (Greek equivalent: Hades) and </span> <b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">Charon</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;"> the ferryman to the realm of the dead.</span></p> <p align="left"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Pluto symbolizes death, rebirth, karma, power, transformation, intensity, war, trauma, fanaticism, the occult, the crowd, the collective. In a nutshell, Pluto is the principle of </span></span> <b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">destruction</span></b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> and a </span> </span><b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">malefic</span></b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> comparable to Saturn. The impact of Pluto often triggers painful events and crises, it brings the suppressed and archaic to the surface. This symbolic death planet was activated several times the past months, and you wonder how many </span> </span><b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">skeletons are still hidden in the closet</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span lang="EN-US">... Relating to the financial markets, Pluto rules these two markets:</span></span></p> <p align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;">(1) </span> <b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">bonds, obligations</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;">: this is also the link to the subprime crisis</span></p> <p align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;">(2) </span> <b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">natural resources</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;"> in general but especially the strategic/ war-affine commodities </span> <b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">gold and oil</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;">: from a historical perspective, gold is the traditional 'metal of violence' being the cause for many wars; oil is the most important reason to start a war in newer history, already WW1 had a strong oil background as the excellent analyst and best-selling author William Engdahl writes (<a href="http://www.plutobooks.com/cgi-local/nplutobrows.pl?chkisbn=9780745323091&main=&second=&third=">http://www.plutobooks.com/cgi-local/nplutobrows.pl?chkisbn=9780745323091&main=&second=&third=</a>, see also <a href="http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=7529"> http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=7529</a>).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p> <p align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;">In general, there are </span> <b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">three times when a planet is very powerful</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;"> and dominating the world for some time, the window is +/- a few years:</span></p> <p align="left"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">(1)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt;"> </span>A planet is most dominant when it's </span></span> <b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">discovered</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span lang="EN-US">: this is a unique event, so it's most extra-ordinary.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">Pluto</span></b> was discovered in early 1930 when the world economy was at the beginning of the most severe depression in the history of capitalism. At the same time dictatorships and especially fascism were gaining ground very fast in the late 1920ies and 1930ies (dictatorships & fascism are Pluto's 'preferred' political systems). The US banning gold in 1933/34 (until 1975) also marked the victory of the conspiracy of the illuminati/ high finance over democracy, since that year one has to label the US rather a plutocracy than a democracy. Wikipedia offers the following definition for plutocracy: "<i>Plutocracy is a government controlled by that minuscule percentage of extremely wealthy individuals found in most societies</i>." On the scientific level the most destructive invention in human history was made in the 1930ies: the atomic bomb (the idea was born in 1933, Leó Szilárd's patent in 1934). So the Pluto principle of destruction can be easily found on all levels: economic, political, scientific.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">There is a special case that never happened before 2006: in August 2006 Pluto lost its status as a normal planet and was re-classified as a dwarf planet. <span lang="EN-US">This happened, by the way, almost exactly 76.6-years (37 x 108 weeks) after its discovery. In the spring of 2006 I found out that we are repeating history with a cycle of 76.6 years and this Pluto event did fit almost magically.<a name="_ftnref1" title="" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftn1"><span class="WW-Funotenzeichen" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-US">[1]</span></span></a></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">So what are the <span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>parallels between 1930ff and 2007ff?</b></span> Certainly more than you would guess (and probably wish). In both cases we are at the beginning of world-wide depression that evolved deflationary in the 1930ies (the natural outcome) but today's 100% fiat money system should end in a hyperinflation. In the past year we witnessed events and indicator readings that haven't recorded seen since the 1930ies (e.g. see <a href="http://www.shadowstats.com/article/265"> http://www.shadowstats.com/article/265</a>). Even very specific events are repeating, too, both the crisis in the 1930ies and today started with a collapse of an Austrian bank with the headquarters in Vienna, Austria (Vienna is considered to be the heart chakra of Europe, i.e. the subtle center of the continent, which explains its central role):</span></p> <ul><span style="font-family:Arial;"> <li> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">In May <u>1931</u> the <u>Creditanstalt</u> declared bankruptcy, the largest bank default by that time.<span class="WW-Funotenzeichen" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-US"><a name="_ftnref2" title="" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftn2">[2]</a></span></span></span><br /> ---</p></li> <li> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">In May <u>2006</u> (almost exactly 76.6 years after the stock market crash of October 1929) the Austrian BAWAG would have gone bankrupt without a government bail-out, after Refco (2nd largest corporate scandal in history) had filed for chapter 11. BAWAG and Refco had close ties.</span></p> </li> </span></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">On the political level both around 1930 and 2007 there was/ is a rapid increase of fascist sentiment trying to abolish civil rights, today mostly represented by the Bush regime since 2001. The usual strategy is that governments abuse inside jobs initiated by themselves (the Reichstag fire respectively 9/11) as an excuse to cut civil rights and abolish democratic rights. The warmongers call the shots, the propaganda (both on the economic and political level) is getting more and more ridiculous. Naomi Wolf describes the typical model how democracies are transformed into dictatorships: "</span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Fascist America, in 10 easy steps.<span lang="EN-US"><span class="WW-Funotenzeichen" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-US">"<a name="_ftnref3" title="" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftn3">[3]</a></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">In the 1930ies there was a racist Jew-baiting, today the agitation is mainly against the Muslims, which can be explained with the different sign placements of Pluto: in 1930 Pluto was in Cancer, the sign Cancer presents home (land) and the genetic roots while Pluto in Sagittarius the past years is the symbol for belief and religion. In the 1930ies the nuclear bomb was invented, today the US are threatening to nuke Iran. And as Warren Buffett already said: the US$ 516 trillion OTC derivatives (notional value) are today's weapons of financial mass destruction.<a name="_ftnref4" title="" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftn4"><span class="WW-Funotenzeichen" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-US">[4]</span></span></a></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>Uranus,</b></span> the planet of liberation, revolution and inventions, was discovered in 1781, what happened during this time if you give or take some years? The dollar was created in 1775, 1776 is usually accepted as the beginning of capitalism and in this year the US started their independence war.<span lang="EN-US"><a name="_ftnref6" title="" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftn6"><span class="WW-Funotenzeichen" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-US">[6]</span></span></a></span> As a matter of fact, Uranus is the principle of the free market economy because the only factor that creates real wealth over the long haul are innovations. The Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter coined the phrase "creative destruction by the free entrepreneur". The political orientation of Uranus is free democracy.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>Neptune</b></span> was discovered in 1846 during the time of romanticism. In 1848 Karl Marx published the "Communist Manifesto", the political ideology of Marxism based on nothing but illusions is very Neptunian indeed. Communism was/ is governed by the Saturn-Neptune cycle. The political system ("New World Order") aimed by the political elite (illuminati) is a combination of Neptune (communism) and Pluto (dictatorship, full control). For instance, the EU commission is but a copy of the structure of the Politburo of the Soviet era, which of course allows interesting conclusions...</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">(2)<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal;"> A</span> planet is also powerful when it's </span></span> <b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">aspecting the Galactic Center (GC) at 27° Sagittarius,</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span lang="EN-US"> the conjunction (0°) is the strongest activation: the transits of the slow planets (Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) over the Galactic Center in the past half century have always triggered a kind of a crisis.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The conjunction of <span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>Pluto</b></span> and the GC happens every 248 years, the last instance was in late 2007. As a matter of fact, the first time I wrote about this coming key event was 2001 (<a href="http://www.amanita.at/e/reading/01/e-0103-galactic.htm">http://www.amanita.at/e/reading/01/e-0103-galactic.htm</a>, <a href="http://www.amanita.at/e/reading/01/e-0104-galacticgold.htm"> http://www.amanita.at/e/reading/01/e-0104-galacticgold.htm</a>). Pluto rules gold and oil, both markets have done extremely well over the past year. This constellation was fine-tuned by Venus passing over the GC on January 21, 2008, on this day the market appeared to have no bottom. The 2nd most important angle after the conjunction (0°) is the opposition (180°): in the early 1910ies Pluto was in late Gemini opposite to the GC in late Sag. This marked the one of the most perfidious crimes in history and the final victory of Plutocracy: the formation of the Fed - which is an unconstitutional institution and as 'Federal' as 'Federal Express'. Needless to say, in 1914 WW1 started. <span lang="EN-US"> US president Woodrow Wilson who signed the Federal Reserve Act later admitted:</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><i> <span lang="EN-US">“I am a most unhappy man. I have unwittingly ruined my country. A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated governments in the civilized world. No longer a government by free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a government by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men.”</span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The founding fathers recognized the danger, e.g. president Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, warned:</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><i> <span lang="EN-US">"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issuance of their currency, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."</span></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The 3rd most important angle after conjunction and opposition is the square (90°), Pluto squared the Galactic Center in 1970. 1971 was the year of the most momentous decision since Bretton Woods (1944) as US president Nixon closed the gold window. Therefore, we have a 100% fiat money system since 1971 and as a consequence the past 37 years have been more inflationary than the previous two thousand years combined...! Unrecognized by the public, the closing of the gold window in 1971 was a hidden state default of the US.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">When the liquidity planet <b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">Neptune</span></b> (named after the sea god in mythology) went over the Galactic Center in the early 1980es, we saw the inflation high (and bonds low) of the 20th century and the low of the stock markets (inflation-adjusted) of the 2nd half of the 20th century.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">And when <span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>Uranus,</b></span> the planet of volatility, surprise and invention, passed over the GC in 1987-88 we experienced the sharpest crash in history. The previous conjunction coincided with Einstein publishing the relativity theory in 1905, probably the biggest scientific breakthrough of the 20th century (Newton science is Saturn but the new paradigm is Uranus, e.g. chaos theory). Another effect of this transit was the bear market in 1906-07 that almost halved the Dow.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">(3) And finally, a planet is potent when it's on the </span></span> <span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>ecliptic</b></span><span lang="EN-US"> which is the plane connecting sun and earth, then the planet is in conjunction with its own </span> <span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>planetary node</b></span><span lang="EN-US"> which happens twice each revolution (</span><a name="_ftnref9" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftn2">http://www.astrologyhoroscopes.info/planetnodes.htm</a><span class="WW-Funotenzeichen" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a name="_ftnref10" target="_self" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftn2">2]</a></span></span>).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Pluto's nodes are at 19° Cancer/ Capricorn, due to Pluto's orbital eccentricity this transit is not a regular event, it's approximately a 90/ 160 year alternation cycle. The last touch of the ecliptic were the early 1930ies around the discovery, so what was said above does apply here, too. The next conjunction of Pluto with its nodal axis is 2017-19, which can be expected to a time of maximum global destruction.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">Neptune</span></b> (node 11° Aquarius/ Leo) crosses the ecliptic every 82-83 years, the last time after WW1 when many countries suffered from a very high inflation and Germany even from an outright hyperinflation (ended in1923). Neptune is also ruling low immunity (it's the antagonist of Saturn that is ruling the immune system), the Spanish flu 1918-20 was the largest pandemic of the past centuries which killed 25-100 million people or about the same as the Black Death. In the past years Neptune also went over its node which explains why global inflation was never as high as in the 21st century (although the inflation numbers are heavily doctors in many countries, especially in the US).</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Interestingly, at the time of their discovery Uranus, Neptune and Pluto were all rather close to the ecliptic which could suggest that points 1 and 3 are usually connected.</span></span></p> <p align="left"> <span style="font-family:Arial;">In the night of <span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>January 25th/ 26th Pluto entered the sign Capricorn</b></span> where it stays until 2024. An interpretation rule independent from the sign is that the ingresses of the slow planets <b> <span style="color:#ffc82b;">Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto</span></b> frequently create instability in the 12-18 months before, i.e. when the planet is in the final degrees of a sign when it's often "void-of-course". Void-of-course periods do coincide with recessions and stock market lows. It's like manually changing gears when driving a car, you have to throttle when are in a 'void' for a short time. Without doubt, 2007 was characterized by a lot of instability, one of the many reasons being the ingress of Pluto into Capricorn in January 2008 - although this crisis window is now closed. Actually the remainder of the year 2008 is dominated by soft signatures suggesting the situation is calming down. 2008 should be very different than 2007 or 2009. 2009-11 is a double crisis window because both Uranus and Neptune are transiting the last degrees of a sign (then this window is closed until 2017-18). It's worth mentioning that the previous instability window was the 12-18 months before March 10, 2003, as on this day Uranus entered the sign Pisces. Needless to say that this window ushered in 9/11, a global recession and bear market and the start of the last war (Iraq war March 18, 2003).</span></p> <p align="left"> <span style="font-family:Arial;">The bottom line is that the last degrees of a sign require mankind to finish off with the past and this indeed was a dominant topic of the past year. A sign change as in late January 2008, however, brings in new energy, mankind is again able to focus on the future and new projects and not on the past. So it's no surprise that the first 1-3 years after a sign change (and partly longer) are commonly beneficial for the economy and politics.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">What do the signs Sagittarius and Capricorn represent? The table below offers a comparison.</span></span></p> <table id="table34" border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td bg valign="bottom" width="182" style="color:#9c6d6d;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"> <img src="http://www.amanita.at/i/astrologie/pluto.jpg" border="0" height="85" width="88" /><span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>Pluto</b></span></span><b><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:#ffc82b;"> in</span></b></td> <td bg valign="bottom" width="44%" style="color:#9c6d6d;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:#ffc82b;"><b> Sagittarius 1995-2007 <img src="http://www.amanita.at/i/astrologie/schuetze.JPG" border="0" height="88" width="88" /></b></span></p></td> <td bg valign="bottom" width="36%" style="color:#9c6d6d;"><b> <span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;color:#ffc82b;">Capricorn 2008-2024</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"> <img src="http://www.amanita.at/i/astrologie/steinbock.JPG" border="0" height="88" width="89" /></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td bg width="182" style="color:#9c6d6d;"><span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>basic sentiment</b></span></td> <td width="44%"> <p class="MsoNormal">happiness, hope, mania, optimism</p></td> <td width="36%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">cautious, fearful, defensive, pessimistic</span></span></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td bg width="182" style="color:#9c6d6d;"><span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>basic tendency</b></span></td> <td width="44%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">expansion, growth, abundance</span></span></p></td> <td width="36%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">contraction, scarcity</span></span></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td bg width="182" style="color:#9c6d6d;"><span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>symbolism</b></span></td> <td width="44%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">endowment (of life) with meaning, community, values, goal orientation, freedom, philosophy, religion</span></span></p></td> <td width="36%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">discipline, perseverance, steadiness, order, concentration, hard-nosed, karma, laws, norms, control, technology</span></span></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td bg width="182" style="color:#9c6d6d;"><span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>economic/ business</b></span></td> <td width="44%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">free trade, globalization, free enterprise, dismantling trade barriers</span></span></p></td> <td width="36%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">restriction of economic freedom, (re-) nationalizations, prices fixed by the state and not by the markets, centrally planned economy, re-erection of trade barriers</span></span></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td bg width="182" style="color:#9c6d6d;"><span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>economic confidence & tendency to take risks</b></span></td> <td width="44%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">high</span></span></p></td> <td width="36%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> <span lang="EN-US">low</span></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td bg width="182" style="color:#9c6d6d;"><span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>role of the state</b></span></td> <td width="44%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">rather irrelevant, capitalism</span></span></p></td> <td width="36%"> <p class="MsoNormal"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> <span lang="EN-US">dominant, decisive, planned economy</span></span></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td bg width="182" style="color:#9c6d6d;"><span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>stock markets</b></span></td> <td width="44%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">manias & overvaluation</span></span></p></td> <td width="36%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">realistic to low valuations</span></span></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td bg width="182" style="color:#9c6d6d;"><span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>political</b></span></td> <td width="44%"> <p class="MsoNormal">political correctness/ "do-gooders", religious-philosophical topics dominate, terror by fundamentalists</p></td> <td width="36%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">discussion focused on absolutely necessary topics, restriction of freedom</span></span></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td bg width="182" style="color:#9c6d6d;"><span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>challenge for companies</b></span></td> <td width="44%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">How can we sell into supersaturated markets?</span></span></p></td> <td width="36%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">How can we still produce in spite of the problems, limitations & bottlenecks (e.g. lack of commodities)?</span></span></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td bg width="182" style="color:#9c6d6d;"><span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>sectors</b></span></td> <td width="44%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">global & multinational companies, luxury goods, export – import, sports goods, gambling, clothing (for men), wholesale, ethical investment, travel and transport (tourism, airlines), growth companies, consumer, services</span></span></p></td> <td width="36%"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">blue chips, public administration & bureaucracy, industry (esp. heavy industry), construction, hardware, commodities, agriculture</span></span></p></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">In 1994 the stock markets experienced the longest correction of the 80ies and 90ies and with the <b> <span style="color:#ffc82b;">ingress of Pluto into Sag on 1/16/95</span></b> the real mania started: the Nasdaq 100 index rose from below 400 points in 1994 to almost 5000 points in 2000. Besides, the year 1995 marked the breakthrough of the internet as one key element of globalization.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">One of the characteristics of the Saturn-ruled sign <b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">Capricorn</span></b> is bureaucracy and planned economy. In 1989 the Eastern bloc collapsed under the very remarkable triple conjunction of Saturn, Uranus and Neptune in the sign Capricorn. Uranus and especially Neptune dissolved the Capricorn structures. For world politics, 1989 was without doubt the most important year in the 2<sup>nd</sup> half of the 20<sup>th</sup> century due to the extra-ordinary constellations the events were foreseen by some astrologers albeit almost no one did pay attention because the end of communism of the Soviet Union seemed surreal to political observers without the necessary astrological background.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The market that is currently almost the only mechanism to set prices and distribute goods should be partly replaced in the coming 15-20 years by other means, e.g. coupons. In the past years some states have started to re-nationalize key industries. The privatizations of the past 20+ years have been touted as a 'progressive' policy but reality looks different: from a historical perspective, privatizations have been a means to avoid or at least postpone an approaching state default!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Viewed from the sun (heliocentric), <b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">Pluto enters Capricorn on 7/19/08</span></b>, viewed from earth (geocentric) there are two ingresses due to the retrograde period, one at the beginning and one at the end of the year. The United States are for me a Sagittarius country while Capricorn is more associated with China which is the 2<sup>nd</sup> oldest state on the planet, after Egypt. So the transit of Pluto as the planet of power from Sag into Cap certainly paraphrases the ongoing power shift from the US to </span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="color:#ffc82b;"><b>China</b></span><span lang="EN-US">. There are numerous signs that the US empire is crumbling.<a name="_ftnref8" title="" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftn8"><span class="WW-Funotenzeichen" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-US">[8]</span></span></a> Interestingly, two symbolic events happen near the sign change of Pluto in July 08: first, in June 08 Bill Gates, the founder of one of the most valuable US companies and the symbol of the American dream, is (semi-) retiring. Second, in August 08 the Olympic Games take place in China. Another key event could be the withdrawal of the US army from Iraq in fall 2008. And last but not least it's a nice synchronicity that PetroChina is replacing Exxon as the company with the highest market capitalization, both being oil companies (= Pluto). </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The <b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">cycle of civilizations</span></b> (rise & fall) is typically 220-240 years long, which approximately equals one revolution of Pluto (247 years) and is also close to a higher vibration of one Venus cycle (225 years).<a name="_ftnref5" title="" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftn5"><span class="WW-Funotenzeichen" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-US">[5]</span></span></a> The scarcity of raw materials is clearly on the horizon, in particular of the commodity #1 for the capitalistic society: oil. Robert Gover expects the most serious depression in the history of the US 2008-19, and I concur.<a name="_ftnref7" title="" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftn7"><span class="WW-Funotenzeichen" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="EN-US">[7]</span></span></a> This should throw the nation back to the level of a 3<sup>rd</sup> world country, the country should also return to the isolationism policy of the 19<sup>th</sup> century. Politically you have to be prepared for an Orwellian police state during the Capricorn transit, this is a key element of the New World Order plans.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Saturn and the sign Capricorn have another traditional meaning: <b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">age</span></b>. The revolution of Saturn of about 30 years is about the length of one generation. Is it just a coincidence that according to Harry Dent the West reaches the top of the generation cycle in 2008-9 with the ingress of Pluto (= the mass) into the sign Capricorn (= age), a long-term growth top?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Analyzing the <b><span style="color:#ffc82b;">sectors</span></b> it's obvious that those industries that have profited most from globalization will also suffer the most. Tourism and transport (especially airlines) will have a hard time when oil is getting extremely expensive. Instead, the "dirty" sectors" (industry, commodities, agriculture) are favored by the global trends.</span></span></p> <div style=""> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><hr align="left" width="33%" style="font-size:78%;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><div style="" id="ftn1"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> <a name="_ftn1" title="" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftnref1"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="DE">[1]</span></span></a><span lang="DE"> </span> <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"> <span lang="EN-US"> <a href="http://www.amanita.at/e/reading/06/e-0610-766.htm"> http://www.amanita.at/e/reading/06/e-0610-766.htm</a> </span></span> </span></p></div> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><div style="" id="ftn2"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> <a name="_ftn2" title="" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftnref2"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="DE">[2]</span></span></a><span lang="DE"> </span> <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"> <span lang="DE"> <a href="http://archives.econ.utah.edu/archives/a-list/2005w04/msg00043.htm"> <span lang="EN-US"> http://archives.econ.utah.edu/archives/a-list/2005w04/msg00043.htm</span></a></span></span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></p></div> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><div style="" id="ftn3"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> <a name="_ftn3" title="" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftnref3"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="DE">[3]</span></span></a><span lang="DE"> </span> <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"> <span lang="DE"> <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2064157,00.html"> <span lang="EN-US"> http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2064157,00.html</span></a></span></span></span></p></div> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><div style="" id="ftn4"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> <a name="_ftn4" title="" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftnref4"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="DE">[4]</span></span></a><span lang="DE"> </span> <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"> <span lang="DE"> <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a58EF32GpHeg"> <span lang="EN-US"> http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a58EF32GpHeg</span></a></span></span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></p></div> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><div style="" id="ftn5"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> <a name="_ftn5" title="" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftnref5"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="DE">[5]</span></span></a><span lang="DE"> </span> <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"> <span lang="DE"> <a href="http://www.billmeridian.com/BillMeridianSarrubiStocksandCommodiites.pdf"> <span lang="EN-US"> http://www.billmeridian.com/BillMeridianSarrubiStocksandCommodiites.pdf</span></a></span></span></span></p></div> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><div style="" id="ftn6"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> <a name="_ftn6" title="" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftnref6"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="DE">[6]</span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations" published in 1776 is usually taken as the start of capitalism; moreover, the illuminati were founded in 1776 by Adam Weishaupt in Ingolstadt, Germany</span></span></p></div> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><div style="" id="ftn7"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> <a name="_ftn7" title="" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftnref7"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="DE">[7]</span></span></a><span lang="DE"> </span> <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"> <span lang="EN-US"> <a href="http://www.robertgover.com/artical-may.html"> http://www.robertgover.com/artical-may.html</a></span></span></span></p></div> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><div style="" id="ftn8"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> <span style="font-family:Arial;"> <a name="_ftn8" title="" href="http://www.amanita.at/e/e-new.htm#_ftnref8"> <span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="DE">[8]</span></span></a><span lang="DE"> </span> <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline;"> <span lang="DE"> <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views07/0202-26.htm"> <span lang="EN-US">http://www.commondreams.org:80/views07/0202-26.htm</span></a></span></span></span></p></div> </div>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-52150677425219430182008-04-08T00:02:00.001-07:002008-04-08T00:02:56.637-07:00Stock MArket Comments for the Week Beginning April 7, 2008<span style="font-size:78%;"><span class="small"> Written by Raymond Merriman </span> </span> <h2>Review and Preview</h2> <p> 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 following 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 column 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 <acronym title="Dow Jones Industrial Average" lang="en_US">DJIA</acronym> soared to close the week at 12,608, a gain of 391 points from the prior week’s close. The <acronym title="National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations" lang="en_US">NASDAQ</acronym> 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 <acronym title="National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations" lang="en_US">NASDAQ</acronym> is heavily weighted in tech stocks. For the week, this index was up 109 points. </p> <p> In Europe, the pattern was similar. These markets ended their corrective decline on Monday, and all soared sharply higher the next two days, with the London <acronym title="FTSE Group, the Index Company" lang="en_US">FTSE</acronym> and Netherlands <acronym title="Amsterdam Exchange index" lang="en_US">AEX</acronym> continuing their rallies right into the close on Friday, just like the <acronym title="National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations" lang="en_US">NASDAQ</acronym> Composite. But the German <acronym title="Deutsche Aktien Xchange" lang="en_US">DAX</acronym> and Swiss SMI indices topped out on Wednesday and then went sideways, just like the <acronym title="Dow Jones Industrial Average" lang="en_US">DJIA</acronym>. </p> <p> 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 a huge gap up day 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. </p> <p> Precious metals and grains ended their sharp declines on Tuesday, and then promptly started 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 “<acronym title="Merriman Market Analyst" lang="en_US">MMA</acronym> Cycles Report.” As anticipated, this announcement 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 stated in 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.’” </p> <h2>Short-Term Geocosmics</h2> <p> 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 at <a href="http://www.mmacycles.com/articles/articles/pluto-in-capricorn/">http://www.mmacycles.com/articles/articles/pluto-in-capricorn/</a>. Not surprisingly, the investment community reacted as if Paulsen’s plan was “dead in the water” already. </p> <p> The two aspects – Venus square Pluto and Sun square Jupiter - are rather powerful signatures. Both have a nearly 80% correlation to 4% or greater price 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 <acronym title="Dow Jones Industrial Average" lang="en_US">DJIA</acronym> 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 <acronym title="Dow Jones Industrial Average" lang="en_US">DJIA</acronym> falls back below the 11,634 low of January 22. </p> <h2>Longer-Term Thoughts</h2> <p> 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 further 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-three 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.” </p> <p> 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? What does Financial Astrology say? For this year, and especially the next two months, the long-term geocosmic signatures are favorable, according to 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. And, as mentioned last week, Jupiter has also now begun 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. </p> <p> 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 that 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 both these principles at work. The planet-sign relationships may coincide with the constriction we have experienced 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 right now, but they aren’t falling hard either. For the amount of fear witnessed in the world investment community in March, these economies and equity markets have held up pretty well. The fear was great, but the fear has yet to materialize into anything near the degree to which many analysts predicted. </p> <p> 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. (Virgo, by the way, represents "the work force," and Saturn represents "contraction"). The last time Saturn was in Virgo occurred from November 1977 through September 1980. You may remember in the United States, this 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, and 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? </p>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-32762155353630082192008-04-07T23:53:00.000-07:002008-04-07T23:54:33.803-07:00Huge Effects predicted within two weeks from Aries New Moon on April 5, 2008 @ 8:55 PM PDT.<b><b><b><b><b><b>Looking back on this study: <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080226144524.htm">Virtual Mega-quake Shows Earthquake Could Inflict Major Damage on Pacific Northwest</a></b></b></b></b></b></b>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-22070891147517059432008-04-07T23:35:00.000-07:002008-04-07T23:38:49.895-07:00The Next China-Taiwan Crisis: 2009-2012<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">This analysis was first done at the request of a client. It first appeared in print in <a href="http://www.considerations-mag.com/"> Considerations Magazine</a> in the August-October 2005 issue.<br /></span><p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Red China has vowed to take back the Republic of China, or Taiwan. In the May 2004 issue of the Boom, Doom, and Gloom Report, Dr. Marc Faber (website-boomdoomgloom.com) points to a report by Wendell Minnick, the Taiwan correspondent for Jane’s Defense Weekly. Mr. Minnick, in "The Year to Fear for Taiwan: 2006", wrote that a mainland invasion is unlikely to be a large-scale operation. Instead, it is more probable to take the following course. Special forces will land days prior to the attack. Assets that are already in place will assist in assassinations of officials and sabotage. The combination of air and missile strikes, rapid deployment forces, and airborne drops would capture key communication centers. The second phase would be the securing of an airport that would be used to ferry in additional elements that would spread out and complete the takeover. Sympathetic Taiwanese would assist the Chinese forces. This decapitation strategy would destroy command and control, likely leading to the loss of Taiwan in as little as 7 days. Taiwan is of strategic importance because the Taiwan Straits there control the flow of oil tankers to South Korea and to Japan. In addition, this is a base for the USA to watch China. The USA would have little time to respond, and if they did so, China could tie up US forces with small attacks on US forces in Japan, or even Hawaii and Alaska. I doubt that the USA would go to war in such an event.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">As one man once said, don’t tell me what is going to happen, tell me when. This is the province of astrology. By studying the 4 crisis periods during which Beijing threatened the island nation, we can glean some insight as to the future timing of such an action. The crisis periods were:</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">1- August 11, 1954 to May 1, 1955: Zhou En-Lai declared that Taiwan must be liberated. On 17 August 1954 the US warned China against action against Taiwan, but on September 3, 1954, the Communists began to bombard Quemoy. In November, Chinese planes bombed the Tachen Islands. On September 12, 1954, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff recommended the possibility of using nuclear weapons against China. On November 23, 1954, China sentenced 13 US airmen shot down over China in the Korean War to jail terms. President Eisenhower refused to bomb mainland China or use American troops to resolve the crisis. The United States signed the Mutual Defense Treaty with the Nationalist government on Taiwan on December 2, 1954. The shelling ended on May 1, and the US airmen were released.</span> </p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">2- August 23, 1958 to January 1, 1959: From 23 August through October of 1958, the Communists resumed an artillery bombardment of Quemoy and Matsu, threatening invasion. Chinese patrol boats blockaded the two islands against Nationalist re-supply efforts. This was accompanied by an aggressive propaganda assault on the United States, threats against American naval ships, and a declaration of intent to "liberate" Taiwan.</span> </p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">3- July 1, 1995 to March 23, 1996: On October 27, 1994, the aircraft carrier USS <i>Kitty Hawk</i> was involved in a three-day running encounter with a Chinese nuclear attack submarine in the Yellow Sea. On June 9-10, 1995, Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui concluded a private trip to a Cornell University reunion. His repeated use of the terminology "Republic of China on Taiwan" was taken by Beijing as a challenge to the "One China" formulation. In response, the PRC conducted tests of missiles from July 21 to 26 in an area near Taiwan's Pengchiayu Island. A series of missile tests and military maneuvers followed. One missile landed only 23 miles from a Taiwanese port. The crisis ended when Beijing said that they would not invade Taiwan but were still committed to one China.</span> </p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">The military exercises were meant to intimidate the people of Taiwan in the run-up to the presidential election. On March 23, 1996, the people of the Republic of China on Taiwan defied Beijing by electing Lee Teng-Hui as their first directly elected President.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">4- 1999: The 1999 Taiwan Confrontation began on July 9, 1999, when Lee Teng-Hui, President Republic of China responded to questions by saying "The Republic of China has been a sovereign state since it was founded in 1912. Moreover, in 1991, amendments to the Constitution designated cross-strait relations as a special state-to-state relationship. Consequently, there is no need to declare independence. The resolution of cross-strait issues hinges on the issue of different systems. We cannot look at issues related to the two sides simply from the perspective of unification or independence. The Chinese mainland's promise of a "one country, two systems" formula for Hong Kong and Macau is irrelevant to Taiwan ... the ROC is a sovereign, independent state."</span> </p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">The crisis ended in May 2000, when Taiwan's new president, Chen Shui-Bian, said he will not declare independence nor do anything else that China might consider provocative as long as Beijing does not use force against the island.</span></p><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><br />The crises were marked by solar eclipses in cardinal signs and strong Pluto influences. In 2009, the eclipses will return to the Cancer-Capricorn axis, and Pluto will cross into Capricorn. In 2011, an eclipse opposes the ROC Sun, and Pluto begins to move over the Sun in 2012. Regarding the PRC, Pluto begins to oppose Uranus, and the eclipse opposition to Pluto squares the communist Sun in the next year. In the following years, Pluto will oppose the USA Sun. The eclipse of January 2011 opposes the USA Sun, likely drawing America into the conflict.<br /><br /><br /></span>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-31597320872059415842008-04-07T23:29:00.000-07:002008-04-07T23:30:42.330-07:00PLUTO IN CAPRICORN 2008-2024<p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:180%;color:#400080;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Joyce Hoen DF Astrol S ©<br /></span> </span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#400080;"><span style="font-size:78%;">published in The International Astrologer in January 2006</span><a href="http://www.isarastrologytr.com/c/h.asp?id=4108"><br /></a></span></strong></p> <p align="center"><img src="http://www.astrologie.ws/logo/snake.gif" border="0" height="69" width="436" /></p> <blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><br /> </span></p> <span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;"><b>Pluto</b> was first discovered when it was in the sign of Cancer, where it started its journey in 1913, just before World War I (WWI). After WWI the power factions in for instance Russia were in complete disarray, first after the collective murder of the entire family of the Tsar, and the rebellion of the suppressed nation; the result was thorough and lasting, a true Pluto action. Pluto remained in the sign Cancer for 25 years while the European world, its countries' boundaries, its empires, were being ravaged. The power of the aristocracy and monarchies belonged to a previous zodiacal cycle of Pluto a completely new cycle of power had started the power of the "common people" (Cancer).</span> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">In a way, it's easy to compare the sign Cancer to the fourth house, especially when mundane astrology or the 'astrology of the world' is being discussed. Toward the end of Pluto's sojourn in Cancer, the forerunners of the Second World War (WWII) could be noticed, a time in which a dictatorial demagogue (Pluto) tried to control the masses (Cancer) who didn't shun collective murder of those who in past times were thought to have had power.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">In Western Europe the passage of Pluto through "the fourth house" of the mundane chart thus correlated with the rumbling of wars, although WWII did not truly start until Pluto entered Leo</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">In 1937/1938 Pluto began a 20-year period in the sign Leo. If we divide the horoscope circle in eight phases - like the Moon's eight phases- one can compare 0 degrees Cancer with a New Moon, a moment at which all is still unaware and the fundament of the entire following cycle needs to be build first - or shaken up as was the case with Pluto when it was in the lowest 'house' of the world's horoscope. The most dramatic period coincided with the point 0 degrees Cancer - 15 degrees Leo, for after that point, when Pluto had arrived in the next (waxing) phase of its total cycle - after WWII -, renewed building and a collective baby boom started. Of course 'children' also fall under the sign Leo.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">After Pluto's ravaging at the lowest point in this western "world's horoscope", when for instance weapons were discovered for mass destruction (the atom bomb), Pluto began to proceed upwards in the world's horoscope, rebuilding from the 15 degrees Leo point or, putting this differently, from the first semisquare of Pluto toward the turning point, the first square, at 0 degrees Libra.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">The second phase thus started at the first semi-square and finished when Pluto reached the point of the square.i.e. at 0 degrees Libra. Rebuilding was continued during this entire period; people worked very hard, and the nations (Cancer, with which it all started) achieved more and more power over their destinations. Power and money go together, and people continued to earn more to spend. Around the 1960s earnings became higher still, and slowly but surely the people who in a previous Pluto cycle were suppressed, began to earn enough money to obtain power and, ultimately, also status.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">Thus, while Pluto travelled through the first quadrant of the new cycle -which started at 0 degrees Cancer- a total turn-around of the powers that were took place. In Russia and Eastern Europe a new dictatorship had risen: that of the people's collectives with a lot of mutual espionaging going on. The time had arrived for the next phase, namely the one from 0 degrees Libra to 0 degrees Capricorn, from about 1971 - 2008. Halfway through this quarter-cycle this new dictatorship in Eastern Europe would start to fall as well, with Pluto in the 8th sign (Scorpio), midway in this second quadrant from 0 Libra to 0 Capricorn.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">Matters concerning Pluto often appear to be bloody events, but alltogether it seems that we are in a Pluto-cycle during which "the people" no longer are suppressed.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">Right now we have reached the end of this 'waxing' phase of Pluto, halfway through the horoscope's zodiacal circle. During the latter part of Sagittarius we notice that all over the world people hanker after safety, certainty and freedom, and wherever in the world people still are suppressed, they want to escape to the free West, which by now feels nearly inundated by the suppressed of other countries.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">What will happen when Pluto will reach yet another new quadrant? To stay with the Moon cycle terminology, this will start in 2008 when the waxing phase has finished and the waning phase starts, i.e. the Full Moon point.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">On January 26, 2008, Pluto will move into Capricorn for the first time, to then travel retrograde into the tail end of Sagittarius between June 14 and November 27 of that year. From November 27, 2008, Pluto will stay in Capricorn for 15/16 years 2008-2024.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">The increase of population is now at its peak, and if Cancer means birth and Pluto is -of course- the most important and collectively strong factor, we may presume that this increase will last until 2008 and will decrease thereafter! Because unfortunately, the populationgrowth creates tremendous problems in Western Europe, living space (Sagittarius) becomes smaller and smaller, with the result that collective migrations are now taking place, looking for space and individual possibilities to expand. The population growth keeps demanding more and more regulations for the simple reason that we, 'the people', can't always cope with the concept of freedom and misuse our planet and the still open spaces so badly because we're still fighting for our own safety, thereby endangering the safety of others and of nature itself. Pluto is now still in the quadrant of 'mutual relations' between people (Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius), but the planet will move into a more collective quadrant (Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces) - the quadrant which asks us 'how will we all find a space that keeps us individual yet together; how will the world work it out on a grander scale?'.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">A new kind of suppression is noticeable already the suppression by rules that are imposed upon us by outside forces, the authorities (Capricorn). It is also possible for us, individuals, to try if we can work with fewer rules by using our own disciplines better, by taking responsibility ourselves, as members of 'the people'.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">Action is always followed by reaction. Whenever we take too much freedom individually, without regard for others, there will be a reaction. This may be imposed upon us by the ruling powers. During the sign Cancer the people murdered these rulers in order to claim power for themselves.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">Now the people (that is, 'we') have gained power and occupy positions of political influence and authority. Will these same authorities this time be killed in a hostile manner, or will the people (we) show that we can handle individual freedom by actually accepting responsiblity?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">Responsibility or rule? Rules originate when people don't take personal reponsibility; where there is chaos rules need to be created in the interest of the collective safety. Whenever we accept personal resonsibility, we'll need far less rules. Will it become possible during the Pluto in Capricorn period to have global governments that are formed by us, i.e., governments we personally created - apart from a collective new global dictatorship (also created by us) which will impose all sorts of laws and rules? The promise Pluto in Capricorn gives us is not at all a bad one - but are people capable of listening to their inner voice, or will they only take liberties and permit themselves to do as they like, at the cost of others? That is the question. Can we, "the people" who wanted the power in fact handle power? That is the question. This is always the question when Pluto occupies the tenth house of an individual's chart; power and the lack of it in relation to our social status are the order of the day in such cases. This theme exists because Pluto tries to use power in a pure, clean way, NOT at others' expense. Will it become possible to observe that our global governments will show far more prudence? - that people will take reponsibility for their own actions? - (just listening to our inner voice and our conscience should be sufficient) - so that all the objectionable rules will no longer be necessary? We will be tested from 2008 onward, and to begin with we might experience lots of noise and violence before we finally understand and can put it in practice - for Pluto is not a surgeon who leaves festering wounds. On the contrary should wounds occur they will be noticeable and they will cry out to be cleaned.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">What can we do as individuals, when we are powerless and feel bullied by the collective powers? Just this: bring the power back to where it belongs - to ourselves. We, as people, have no power over circumstances beyond us, no matter how much we try to attain omnipotence to cover our fears. All we have is power over our own reactions and our inner life. Every individual is able to make a difference in this world. Our inner voice is far more important than any dictatorship - no matter whether this is a dictatorship of the times, of fashion, of status, or of entire global governments. Let's free ourselves of the dictatorship of status, of striving and distancing ourselves from ourselves. Take the power back and keep it with you; lead your life in harmony with your inner self, with nature and the people around you. Let's busy ourselves with all this rather than perish in the maelstrom of the collective force of social status, positions and powerful respectively powerless relations. We are in a prolonged Pluto cycle in which we must learn how to handle power, a cycle in which individuals ultimately need to be free to be their own self, without this happening at others' expense. Pluto in Capricorn appears to be the culmination of what was happening during Pluto in Cancer, when the planet was discovered and showed us that power belonged to the people. The people, that's us, you and me and all the others. Can we create a better world with Pluto in Capricorn by showing that we need fewer rules from the outside world and simply listen to our inner rules - the rules we all possess anyway?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">We haven't reached that point yet in the coming year Pluto will first be making a conjunction with the Galactic Centre (at 26 degrees Sagittarius). In 2008, times will have changed again, and personally I definitely feel I'm still in the Pluto-in- Sagittarius phase, so that I cannot do better than speculate what will occupy us in the future. Still, astrology shows us in theory which themes will become of importance. It is evident that from 1995, when Pluto began its journey through Sagittarius, a huge revival of near "obligatory success" in the world took place. Sagittarius is rather expansive, very enthusiastic and full of vision. The economy continued to exist by the grace of all sorts of slogans regarding visions of the future that, for a great deal, rested on pantomime and balderdash. All this took place in a world full of advertisements of succesful power brokers making telephone calls in the streets for instance. Reality will overtake them all from 2008 on. I will be breathing with considerable more ease when all this economic coaching and all the balderdash about huge sums of money will become more realistic. However, I will also sadly say farewell to that part of the period Pluto-in-Sagittarius that brought us a great stimulant for meeting other peoples, other cultures, much travel, and the adventures of new worlds.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">Living 'in the Now' is really better suited to Pluto in Capricorn than to Pluto in Sagittarius, for Now we live in the Future (Sagittarius). Capricorn is Time itself. Collectively we will be living in the Now more and more our future depends on it. The past and its abuse of power will certainly be brought to light and cleaned up, but unrealistic visions of the future will also belong to the past.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">We will handle the principle of living in the Now better; day after day we need to be aware of how we regard the world using our own reponsibility rather than someone else's, which is helpful to others. By the year 2008 I will start living in the Now, and I'll be discovering how this feels, this new period with Pluto in a new sign and in a new quadrant. My quess is that it won't be easy-going during the first few years as large 'tension aspects' will occur with Uranus, Saturn and Pluto in the cardinal signs in 2010. The world will change, that's a certainty.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">Hopefully we will witness large corporations, so powerful now and misusing these powers, (and made up from the people who took over the power at the beginning with Pluto in the "fourth" house) go under in favour of a better use of power. A better use which is not at the cost of others, and which will show more responsibility for the environment in which we live and which we share with each other, and this will not depend on outside factors, but on us. Our status might become ruined, but that is 'only' ego.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial Narrow;font-size:100%;">Our soul will want to express itself and will call for us to join our inner being so that we will be able to stand strong and whole in the outside world - not with a false status, not under the yoke of leaders or even boards and committees busy only with attaining status. Actually, 'status' will be out of fashion once Pluto will be in Capricorn ... ah, what a liberation!</span></p> </blockquote>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-40393863510788121222008-04-07T22:13:00.000-07:002008-04-07T22:13:50.677-07:00Market Patterns and Charts: Today is the Bradley turn date..<a href="http://marketmathematics.blogspot.com/2008/04/today-is-bradley-turn-date.html">Market Patterns and Charts: Today is the Bradley turn date..</a>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-33136971335027808212008-03-30T21:03:00.000-07:002008-03-30T21:04:25.908-07:00The Pisces New Moon<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="21" width="560"><tbody><tr><td width="403"><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span class="lgText"><strong>The Pisces New Moon </strong></span><br /><span class="astroinvestStyle"> by Kaye Shinker</span> <span class="lgText"><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#003300;">The Pisces New Moon is March 7, 2008 at 12:14 PM EST</span>, chart set for Washington DC.*</span></span></div></td> <td width="151"> <!-- // Begin Current Moon Phase HTML (c) CalculatorCat.com // --> <div style="width: 168px;"> <div style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 2px; background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <div style="border: 1px solid rgb(0, 153, 0); padding: 5.2px 7px 1px;" align="center"> <div style="padding-bottom: 2.6px; color: rgb(0, 204, 51); font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 8.8px; letter-spacing: 0.3em; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:78%;">CURRENT MOON</span></div> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">var ccm_cfg = { pth:'http://www.moonmodule.com/cs/', fn:'ccm_h1.swf', lg:'en', hs:1, tc:'00CC33', bg:'000000', mc:'', fw:146, fh:62.6, js:0, msp:0 }</script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://www.moonmodule.com/cs/ccm_fl.js"></script><embed allowscriptaccess="never" src="http://www.moonmodule.com/cs/ccm_h1.swf" flashvars="lg=en&hs=1&tf=undefined&scs=undefined&df=undefined&dfd=undefined&tc=00CC33&bgc=000000&mc=&js=0&msp=0&u=&tk=&hst=www.astrologicalinvesting.com&url=http://www.astrologicalinvesting.com/html/newsletter.html" quality="high" bgcolor="#000000" name="ccm_mph_mod" wmode="opaque" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="62" width="146"></embed> </div> </div> </div> <!-- // end moon phase HTML // --> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="astroinvestStyle" align="left">*The New Moon in Pisces occurs on March 7th 2008 at 12:14 PM EST. I'm using the coordinates for Washington D.C. but the New Moon has a double stellium in Aquarius and Pisces so make a chart for your part of the world. </p> <p class="lgText" align="center"><em>New Moon forecasts show general trends for the month, here is the overview of the month ahead.</em> </p> <p class="lgText">For Washington D.C. the planets do not appear in money houses, therefore the economic activity will attract little attention. Every sector of the economy is regrouping and trying to staff their businesses with dynamic leadership who know how to seize an opportunity.</p> <p class="lgText"><strong>Jupiter is at 16 degrees Capricorn</strong><br /> Jupiter at 15 degrees of any sign is an indicator of a change in economic emphasis. This is the point where you begin to consider sectors that relate to Taurus and Scorpio. One of the sectors attributed to Taurus is Financial stocks. The problem right now is that an investment in this sector would suggest that you could be catching a falling knife. This is when you look very carefully first at price history before you set up a chart. It isn't always true but patient stock holders will sell as the price returns to previous highs thus slowing the upward movement of price. Case in point, the Dow Industrials Index.</p> <p class="lgText"><strong>Service industry needs to retool</strong><br /> Police, fire and service workers have been very busy especially with the Northern Hemisphere snow cover setting record levels. Replacement parts for the equipment of military and police organizations will need to be ordered. Companies that supply parts will succeed.</p> <p class="lgText">Transportation issues including autos will insist on practical consideration. Transportation is experiencing a complete overhaul. People are curious about the changes, but reluctant to buy. They want to know that new fuels are available and convenient. Many are concerned about repairs. Saturn is in House 3</p> <p class="lgText"><strong>Colds and Flu continue to cut into worker productivity</strong><br /> The flu season continues with folks using every remedy available. Pharmaceuticals and the companies that sell them are exposed to critical research. Over the counter medicines, chicken soup, honey and tea will help. These remedies will attract media attention. Read the labels and invest in the companies with remedies that work.<span style="color:#ff0000;"><br /> </span><br /> <strong>Election prattle pauses</strong><br /> The challenge in this chart is the opposition of Mars to Pluto which starts several days before the New Moon. The opposition says that a conclusion has occurred. The markets will have a better idea about the ticket of each political party and how they will be impacted by each candidate.<br /> <br /> International trade agreements will occupy government. All are important, but those concerning the distribution of raw materials will bring controversy. What is amazing is the exchange of talent and inventions as we march into a new era of energy sustainability.</p> <p class="lgText"><strong>New Media wins</strong><br /> The New Media is taking over one click at a time. Even the local TV news led by weather is being displaced by the internet weather sites. People have given up schedules and waiting for the weather forecast is not an option. <span style="color:#ff0000;"><br /> </span><br /> Air, ships, and rail companies will probably demand most of the attention of investors. They need to offer efficiency and convenience to their customers and deal with the high costs of labor and fuel.<br /> <br /> Foreign money is moving in to pick up some bargains and spending time at the various resorts around the country. Those with unique properties will have a high occupancy rate especially if they can provide linguists. Mercury leads Neptune and Venus through the ninth house<br /> <br /> <strong>Musical Chairs</strong><br /> CEO's, CFO's, CIO's and their cadre of managers are playing musical chairs. As I discussed last month the changes throughout corporate landscape will be very newsworthy. There is a bounce in the price of equities where the leadership of the company is changing. Traders who carefully watch the insider trading lists as well as other corporate changes can make a quick profit. Stock buy backs, mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures are the games noticed by Wall Street. The New Moon and Uranus are in the 10th<br /> <br /> <strong>Goldilocks</strong> has dumped Santa and is playing the field with the Seven Dwarf's mining interests. There is a rumor that she is contemplating moving into the story of Ferdinand the Bull and divesting herself of an interest in the Three Bears.<br /> </p> <em><br /></em>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-28120791467147614502008-03-30T20:21:00.001-07:002008-03-30T20:54:29.857-07:00Stock Market Comments For The Week Beginning March 31,2008<a href="http://www.mmacycles.com/weekly-preview/mma-comments-for-the-week/comments-for-the-week-beginning-march-31,2008/"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span class="small"> Written by Raymond Merriman </span> </span></a> <h2>Review and Preview</h2> <p> After posting important lows the previous week on March 17, stocks markets around the world were all over the place last week. In the U.S.A., the Dow Jones Industrial Average and <acronym title="National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations" lang="en_US">NASDAQ</acronym> Composite topped out on Monday-Tuesday’s lunar reversal date, and then sold off considerably throughout the rest of the week, closing near their weekly lows on Friday. But in the Far East and Pacific Rim, the Japanese Nikkei, India NIFTY, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng indices all traded at their highest levels on Friday. The All Ordinaries of Australia topped out on Wednesday. In Europe, London’s <acronym title="FTSE Group, the Index Company" lang="en_US">FTSE</acronym> and Germany’s <acronym title="Deutsche Aktien Xchange" lang="en_US">DAX</acronym> indices each made their highest marks since March 17 on Friday, whereas the Swiss SMI and Netherlands <acronym title="Amsterdam Exchange index" lang="en_US">AEX</acronym> indices topped out a day earlier. It was most definitely a week of uncertainty and hesitation, but not at all out of character with the astrological and cyclical indicators that were in effect. </p> <p> Precious metals, currencies, crude oil and grains all attempted comebacks last week, but failed after peaking out in the Sagittarius Factor zone of last Wednesday-Friday. When the Moon is in Sagittarius, these markets frequently end sharp rallies and then give back a good portion of the gains they just made. That pattern happened again last week. </p> <h2>Short-Term Geocosmics</h2> <p> We are in a rather strange transition period right now. On the one hand we are just ending the time band when Venus is in translation to the forthcoming Saturn-Uranus opposition (March 15-28). As suggested during the past two weeks, this period corresponded more to a rally than a further decline in stock indices throughout the world, probably because Venus was in its exalted sign of Pisces this time. Two weeks ago, everyone on the planet was convinced the world economy was on the verge of collapse and depression, and stock markets were in a mini-panic. Most pundits expected that to continue. But instead, on March 17, the first trading day after this time band began, stocks around the world started a surprising rally (it was not surprising to financial astrologers, but to the rest of the world). Now, instead of predicting a global depression, world-wide stock market collapse, and the end of the financial world as we know it, many market analysts are suddenly forecasting a recovery and proclaiming that the worst is over. What a difference a fortnight makes! What a difference a transit to the Saturn-Uranus opposition makes. If I didn’t understand astrology, I would say the world is crazy. But because I do understand the subject to some extent, I am more of the opinion that these economic gurus are instead just fickle – at least when it comes to convictions in their beliefs espoused of the moment. </p> <p> During this period when the Venus translation is taking place, we also note that a translation of the Sun to a Mars-Pluto opposition is unfolding (March 21-30). With Pluto turning retrograde April 2, followed by Venus in a square aspect to Pluto on April 8, we have to be aware that the forecasts of a great and miraculous recovery may also be pre-mature. Pluto, after all, rules debt, and debt has been the big problem since last August. These aspects of the next two weeks indicate that the debt problem is not behind us. There is still more fallout likely to happen very shortly. But is it enough to send stock values to new yearly lows? That remains to be seen, and the answer determines whether or not the 4-year cycle trough is behind us or still ahead. </p> <p> 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. If it does not act like a reversal signature, it may instead unfold as a breakout signature, where once again the floor of the market gives way to an elevator ride south. With Uranus, you never know if it is a reversal or a breakout of important support and/or resistance. </p> <h2>Longer-Term Thoughts</h2> <p> 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. Anytime aspects form between Jupiter and planets outside of its orbit, it is considered a longer-term planetary signature. And the rule is: the longer the planetary cycle that is unfolding, the longer the stock market cycle that correlates nearby. Jupiter-Uranus has a periodicity of 14 years. It is not as long as aspects between Saturn and planets outside of its orbit, such as the Saturn-Uranus opposition that will take place November 2008 through July 2010. But it is long enough to be considered an intermediate-term correlate to market cycles, such as a 50-week or greater stock market cycle. </p> <p> In terms of Financial Astrology, Jupiter is considered a dynamic of growth and gains when in favorable aspect, or hysteria and large losses when in adverse relationship. The sextile is considered a favorable aspect. Uranus is the principle of surprises and the unexpected. When markets fall in price around the time of this signature, we look for sudden and powerful rallies to follow shortly afterwards. </p> <p> Of course any single signature has to be tempered with other planetary signatures that are happening at the same time. In this case, as Jupiter forms its favorable sextile to Uranus, other significant Pluto transits are taking place. The later are more worrisome. So it will be interesting to see how the drama plays out in the next two weeks between this favorable Jupiter-Uranus aspect, and the heavy transits involving Pluto. </p>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-59191577631084369082008-03-24T08:45:00.000-07:002008-03-24T08:46:07.784-07:00Stock MArket Comments For The Week Beginning March 24, 2008<span style="font-size:78%;">Written by Raymond Merriman</span> <br /><br />Last week was another classic example of how Financial Astrology works so well in tandem with classic technical studies and basic chart formations. On March 15, Venus made its opposition to Saturn, the first leg of its “translation phase” to the Saturn-Uranus opposition, March 15-28. As stated in last week’s column, “On the positive side, Financial Astrologers can point to the idea that Venus is at least now in Pisces, a sign in which it is exalted. They can also point to the fact that the first passage will be the opposition of Venus to Saturn, which takes place this weekend, March 15. Oftentimes when a market is falling into this aspect, it will bottom, and then stage a sudden recovery just as soon as it is over.”<br /><br />The collapse of stock markets around the world the prior week spilled over into Monday, March 17. The “mini-panic” plunge represented new yearly lows in many of these stock indices, while others held smartly above their lows of January 22. This is a chart pattern known as Intermarket Bullish Divergence,” and when it happens as close to an important geocosmic signature as Venus in opposition to Saturn, it can be followed by a healthy rally.<br /><br />We saw this phenomenon in effect in the Far East. The Japanese Nikkei, for example, had a free-fall all the way down to 11,691 last Monday, its lowest price since July 2005. In the next three trading days, it rallied over 800 points and closed near its weekly high. The Australian All Ordinaries also fell to a new yearly low, down to 5130 on March 17. But new yearly lows were not made in Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index, or in India’s Nifty Index. Both took out the lows of January 2008, but not the lows of last summer.<br /><br />In Europe, the Intermarket Bullish Divergence signature was in even more evidence last Monday. Germany’s DAX and Switzerland’s SMI indices fell to 6167 and 6769 respectively, their lowest levels since October 2006 and October 2005 respectively. But both the Netherlands AEX and London FTSE held well above their January 22 lows. Furthermore, each of these indices appears technically poised to rally more this coming week.<br /><br />The same divergence was present in the United States. Last Monday’s low in the Dow Jones Industrial Average was 11,756. This was even higher than the 11,731 low of the prior week, March 10, and well above the 11,634 low of January 22. But the NASDAQ Composite fell to 2155 last Monday, below its 2202 low of January 23, and in fact to its lowest level since September 2006.<br /><br />Although the action in the stock indices of the world continued to be erratic and surprising, they were rather tame compared to that in the commodities. Gold, for instance, made a new all-time at 1017.50 on Monday, March 17. But by Thursday, just three days later, the yellow metal was already back down to 914.50. And Silver was hit even harder. After posting a new 28-year high of 2094 just the previous Friday, March 14, it collapsed over 400 points by Thursday of this past week. This was right in line with what our weekly subscription reports had forecasted – a decline of at least 300-500 points after the CCI (Commodity Channel Index) reached one of its rare overbought levels discussed therein. A similar fate awaited the Crude Oil market. After posting another new all-time of 111.80 on this critical March 17th date, black gold fell all the way down to 98.95 intraday on Thursday, just three days later. The pattern it formed on this decline contains the possibility of more to come, suggesting that perhaps the all-time high is in. This would be consistent also with our call for a 50-90% drop to begin in crude oil from an all-time high achieved by the first half of 2008, per our Forecast for 2008 publication. And finally we are seeing similar breakdowns in the grain prices, especially Soybeans, which staged three limit down days during last week’s shortened 4-day trading week. This too is consistent with our analysis given in the Forecasts form 2008 book, in which we postulated that this would be an almost ideal growing season due to the Jupiter-Saturn trine, combined with overplanting of Soybeans by farmers, thus likely to yield a huge crop this year.<br />Short-Term Geocosmics<br /><br />The translation of transiting Venus to the forthcoming Saturn-Uranus opposition will end on this Friday, March 28. When the Sun made this translation February 27-March 10, we speculated that stock prices around the world might fall hard, much like what happened in January. And it did. But we suspected the pattern might reverse in this current translation period, because Venus was in Pisces, where it is exalted and thus much stronger. And typical of Uranus time bands, the market has a way of doing just the opposite as what one might expect. As we ended last week, everyone on the planet seemed to think that the financial fabric of the world was about to totally unravel. I don’t ever remember the “D” word (Depression) being bandied about so much as I saw in the European financial press last week. To say that the financial community was in a panic last Monday would be an understatement. The mood was utter despair and hopelessness, sort of like one might expect with planets in Pisces, with Venus in opposition to Saturn.<br /><br />But Financial Astrology teaches us that when the investment community’s mood is bleak, and markets are declining into these types of planetary periods, it is time to buy. Once aspects to Saturn leave in a declining market, prices tend to rise immediately afterwards.<br /><br />Still, we cannot say the market has confirmed that the worst is over. More bad news probably lies ahead in the next two weeks, as Pluto will turn retrograde on April 2, and the full moon of March 21 formed a T-square with Mars and Pluto. Whether stock markets fall again to new yearly lows remains to be seen. But with Pluto being highlighted so remarkably in the next two weeks, the problems with debts, defaults, and more financial write downs by major world financial institutions, is probably not over.<br />Longer-Term Thoughts<br /><br />The big news in Europe last week was the hysteria about a coming financial collapse. It seems that the financial media is not just focused on a recession anymore, but a full blown depression. The European market analysts seem convinced that nothing can save the USA banking system now. No matter how much money the FRB pours into the system or how low they lower the interest rates, the future of the USA – and hence world - economy is doomed. We are in for a serious washout unlike anything we have seen since the 1930’s. Upon returning back to the states on Wednesday night, it appears that pessimism in the USA is almost as serious. But not quite.<br /><br />If we look at long-term planetary signatures and their correlation to economic history, we can make a case for both a positive and negative viewpoint. First of all, I would suggest that Jupiter in Capricorn exaggerates (Jupiter) the fear of an economic downturn (Capricorn). The Federal Reserve Board is a Capricorn entity, and transiting Jupiter in its natal Sun and Jupiter sign (of Capricorn) leads me to believe they can still pull a "rabbit out of the hat" and prevent an immediate collapse. I believe they are acting quickly and boldly in exactly the way they have to act. Sure, it may seem like it is too late, and the hysteria can create a feeding frenzy leading to a collective self-fulfilling prophecy. If enough people lose confidence, then of course the markets and economies of the world will crumble, regardless of the planetary signatures. And we saw some of that last week. But with interest rates coming down quickly and with the U.S. Government about to send out $150+ billion dollars in tax rebates, and with a lot of money now in the hands of mutual funds as a result of retirement savings accounts contributions that are now due, it won’t take much to suddenly uplift this economy and the stock market. Once the market starts to rise, these money managers will yank all that cash and buy stocks in huge quantities. And once that happens, the headlines of the major financial publications around the world will be dumbfounded, and will probably proclaim something of a miracle just happened. Why not? Uranus is in Pisces all year (symbol of miracles), and about to be sextiled by Jupiter in its first of three passages this year, on March 28. The danger may not be that market is about to collapse, but rather that it is about to launch to a new round of some serious buying by the funds who are sitting on large cash positions.<br /><br />If this happens, the financial pundits will declare the problems are behind us. But they are not. Well, they may be temporarily behind us for a few months, for these geocosmic signatures may have an effect lasting a few months, and these stimulus packages perhaps about the same, like just enough to get us close to the election. Once they wear off, the possibility is strong that these same problems will resurrect once more when Saturn begins its square with Pluto (2009-2010). How appropriate to see all this unfolding on Easter weekend, a symbolic time of death and resurrection. Enjoy the respite while it lasts (if it lasts), and try to construct your future financial strategies while you have this opportunity.Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-5942267771089752172008-03-04T23:37:00.000-08:002008-03-04T23:38:15.770-08:00Stock Market Comments for the Week Beginning March 3, 2008<span style="font-size:78%;"><span class="small"> Written by Raymond Merriman </span> </span> <br /><br />Most stock indices around the world continued their previous week’s rally into Wednesday of this past week. And then the “Sagittarius Factor” hit Thursday and Friday, and prices begin a substantial decline to end the week on dangerous ground as we head into next week’s important geocosmic signatures. As stated previously, “But an important geocosmic period commences… February 25 through March 7, when the Sun will form an opposition to Saturn and end with a conjunction to Uranus. In essence, this is yet another period of a faster moving body translating the more important slower moving aspect. The Sun is translating the Saturn-Uranus opposition of later this year, and hence February 25-March 7 may offer a glimpse of what to expect from November 2008 through July 2010 when that Saturn-Uranus opposition is in effect.” In typical Uranian fashion, these financial markets either made a sudden and unexpected reversal, or in the case of currencies and commodities, they continued to skyrocket to new all-time highs. <p> Many stock indices soared to their highest levels in six weeks by Wednesday of last week, following the Sun-Saturn opposition of February 24-25. This was the case with the Netherlands <acronym title="Amsterdam Exchange index" lang="en_US">AEX</acronym> and London <acronym title="FTSE Group, the Index Company" lang="en_US">FTSE</acronym> in Europe. But it was not matched with new monthly highs in either the German <acronym title="Deutsche Aktien Xchange" lang="en_US">DAX</acronym> or Swiss Stock Index, for a case of regional intermarket bearish divergence. New 6-week highs were noted in the Nikkei of Japan, but not in the other stock indices of Asia and the Pacific Rim (Australia’s All Ordinaries, India’s Nifty Index or Hang Seng of Hong Kong) for yet another case of intermarket bearish divergence. In the U.S.A., last Wednesday’s high was a double top to the high in early February, but in the case of the <acronym title="National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations" lang="en_US">NASDAQ</acronym> Composite, it was far off, for yet a third case of this bearish divergent pattern. Thus it sets up a dangerous chart pattern for next week, especially as we move fully into this translation of the Sun to the forthcoming Saturn-Uranus opposition. </p> <p> But the big stories were again in commodities. Crude Oil made another slightly higher new all-time high at 103.05 on Friday. Gold soared to another a new all-time high of 977 on Friday. Silver soared close to 2000 ($20.00/ounce) for the first time in 27 years. Many currencies made new all-time against the U.S. Dollar, with Euro well above 1.5000 for the first time, and the Swiss Franc almost at par with the U.S. Dollar now. Soybeans and Wheat both soared to new all-time highs last week, topping out at $15.24/bushel and $13.00/bushel respectively. Who says prices aren’t rising? Yes, it is true in regards to home prices, and wages are staying fairly stable. But the cost of raw goods is soaring, and has been since 2001, when the Saturn-Pluto cycle topped out (opposition). As stated so many times before in this column, the opposition to the conjunction (2001-2020) is the time when commodities do well, and stocks go all over the place, but mostly down. The stocks haven’t really stayed down for long yet, because we still have the Saturn-Uranus opposition to go through, November 2008 through July 2010. Burt we are getting the picture of what to expect then with the transiting faster moving bodies when they translate by hard aspect to the Saturn-Uranus opposition, as we are seeing now, and as we saw in January when Venus did similar. As stated last week, “Of course there will be mini-bear and bull markets within this long-term 32-37 year cycle. But basically the cycles goes like this: economic prosperity and favorable investment environment from the conjunction to opposition (1982-2001), versus commodity inflation and economic struggles from opposition to conjunction (2001-2020). </p> <h2>Short-Term Geocosmics</h2> <p> This could be a very dangerous week for many markets. In addition to the Sun translating the opposition to Saturn and conjunction with Uranus there are other powerful forces at work that should be of interest to all Financial Astrologers. As stated last week, “Mars will also cross the 0 degree Cancer point on March 4. Historically that is a period when central banks make critical changes or announcements in their interest rate policies, which in turn affect Treasuries and currency prices, and by association, also precious metals and stock markets.” And then also, “On March 4, heliocentric Mercury will also enter Sagittarius through March 17. This is a period that has a very high correlation to sharp price swings in many markets, especially precious metals and currencies. With heliocentric Mercury in Sagittarius at the same time as the new moon in Pisces conjunct Uranus around March 7, it could be a very dramatic time coming up.” </p> <p> So here we are. Fasten your seat belts again. It could get very turbulent into next Friday, And that is also the day that the Federal Reserve will release its very important Unemployment and Payroll Reports. </p> <h2>Longer-Term Thoughts</h2> <p> The Saturn-Uranus opposition takes place for the first of five passages right on Election Day, November 4, 2008, in the United States. It is certainly shaping up into a classical representation of these two planets. On the Uranian side, you have the Democrats, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, who each rep[resent a “first” – either the first African American or first female potential president. That’s Uranian. On the other side, you have John McCain, who would be the oldest person to assume presidency if elected. That’s Saturn, which represents age and experience – and also the Establishment (but Hillary could be viewed as The Establishment too… she could be Saturn and Uranus). </p> <p> This election is particularly challenging to me – and I suspect most astrologers. The candidates to be selected fit just fine with the principles of Mundane Astrology. In fact, they fit exceeding well. It is easy to define who is who by planetary symbology. But it is not so easy to choose who will win, for with Uranus, anything can happen, and surprises are more than likely the order of the day. As an extreme, under this signature, there can be no certainty that the candidates selected to represent their parties even make it to election or inauguration day. Something disruptive is always a possibility, especially with Saturn and Uranus in hard aspect, complemented by Pluto about to move back into Capricorn at that time (November 26, which is between election day and inauguration). I am not predicting assassination, for these symbols can mean many things. But the last time Saturn and Uranus were in opposition, and Pluto was involved, was in the mid-1960’s. Both political and racially-motivated assassinations stung the USA deeply during that time. At the very least, we must at least hope that these candidates have adequate protection, and are not harmed. And that is why I state this possibility in this column. It is not with the wish to “be right,” but instead to diffuse the energy of this possibility, for in metaphysics, we know that if you want something to have power and grow, you keep it within yourself. If you want to diffuse the energy, you bring it out into the open. We have a very exciting and highly energized process taking place in the United States at this time. The youth – and representatives of several demographic groups – are more involved in this election than ever before. That too is consistent with Saturn in opposition to Uranus. And when you have such “new” involvement involving such “first-time” things, it can disrupt the status quo, and this become a very dangerous situation. Bit as we also learn in metaphysics, danger and opportunity go together. Let’s hope safety is not forsaken in this amazing time we are living, and circumstances (people) allow these cycles to unfold in a natural manner. </p>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-16693087310869071782008-03-04T23:35:00.000-08:002008-03-04T23:36:29.497-08:00Stock Market Comments for the Week Beginning February 25, 2008<span style="font-size:78%;"><span class="small"> Written by Raymond Merriman </span> </span> <p> Stock markets around the world traded in a rather narrow range last week, consistent with the principle of Mercury slowing down as it changed from a retrograde to a direct motion. On Wednesday evening, Thursday morning, there was a lunar eclipse conjunct Saturn. Many stock markets were making a modest rally into that time, and then sold off a bit to end the week. But the big stories were in commodities. Crude Oil made a slightly higher new all-time high at 101.32 on Wednesday. Prices then retreated back to 97.16 intraday on Friday before closing the week at 98.81. Gold also made a new all-time high last week, on Thursday, at 957.10. Silver soared above 1800 for the first time in 27 years. The currencies were also very strong against the U.S. Dollar, with Euro back up above 1.4800, and challenging its all-time high of 1.4966 recorded back in November. In the food sector, Soybeans also soared to a new all-time under the lunar eclipse factor, topping out last week at $14.22/bushel. Despite the data of economic reports, it is apparent that raw goods prices are in a state of inflation, and with the Dollar falling again, this trend is continuing. And as we know from previous discussions, this trend could continue until the Saturn-Pluto cycle ends and begins anew, which is not until January 2020 +/- 18 months. Of course there will be mini-bear and bull markets within this long-term 32-37 year cycle. But basically the cycles gores like this: economic prosperity and favorable investment environment from the conjunction to opposition (1982-2001), versus commodity inflation and economic struggles from opposition to conjunction (2001-2020). </p> <h2>Review and Preview</h2> <p> Stock markets around the world traded in a rather narrow range last week, consistent with the principle of Mercury slowing down as it changed from a retrograde to a direct motion. On Wednesday evening, Thursday morning, there was a lunar eclipse conjunct Saturn. Many stock markets were making a modest rally into that time, and then sold off a bit to end the week. But the big stories were in commodities. Crude Oil made a slightly higher new all-time high at 101.32 on Wednesday. Prices then retreated back to 97.16 intraday on Friday before closing the week at 98.81. Gold also made a new all-time high last week, on Thursday, at 957.10. Silver soared above 1800 for the first time in 27 years. The currencies were also very strong against the U.S. Dollar, with Euro back up above 1.4800, and challenging its all-time high of 1.4966 recorded back in November. In the food sector, Soybeans also soared to a new all-time under the lunar eclipse factor, topping out last week at $14.22/bushel. Despite the data of economic reports, it is apparent that raw goods prices are in a state of inflation, and with the Dollar falling again, this trend is continuing. And as we know from previous discussions, this trend could continue until the Saturn-Pluto cycle ends and begins anew, which is not until January 2020 +/- 18 months. Of course there will be mini-bear and bull markets within this long-term 32-37 year cycle. But basically the cycles gores like this: economic prosperity and favorable investment environment from the conjunction to opposition (1982-2001), versus commodity inflation and economic struggles from opposition to conjunction (2001-2020). </p> <h2>Short-Term Geocosmics</h2> <p> We are now coming into a potentially very interesting geocosmic period. As stated in last week’s report, “But an important geocosmic period commences the following week, February 25 through March 7, when the Sun will form an opposition to Saturn and end with a conjunction to Uranus. In essence, this is yet another period of a faster moving body translating the more important slower moving aspect. The Sun is translating the Saturn-Uranus opposition of later this year, and hence February 25-March 7 may offer a glimpse of what to expect from November 2008 through July 2010 when that Saturn-Uranus opposition is in effect. One might expect a very sudden turn of markets during that period, especially near the end, for Mars will also cross the 0 degree Cancer point on March 4. Historically that is a period when central banks make critical changes or announcements in their interest rate policies, which in turn affect Treasuries and currency prices, and by association, also precious metals and stock markets.” </p> <p> Within this highly charged geocosmic period, we may see the greatest level of volatility right near the end. On March 4, heliocentric Mercury will also enter Sagittarius through March 17. This is a period that has a very high correlation to sharp price swings in many markets, especially precious metals and currencies. With heliocentric Mercury in Sagittarius at the same time as the new moon in Pisces conjunct Uranus around March 7, it could be a very dramatic time coming up. Last week may have been relatively quiet in world stock indices, but I would expect that to change in the next two weeks. The question of course is whether that means a powerful rally starts at once and continues into that time, or if instead a powerful decline commences that ends around that time. With Uranus, you never know for sure. Oh, some pundits may think they know ahead of time, for under Uranus aspects, nearly everyone thinks they are psychic and/or knowledgeable. But Uranus has a way of defying logic and making dogmatic types look foolish. It also has a way of causing large losses to those who are grossly mistaken in their conviction as to how the market must behave. So the best way to handle this is to be flexible and nimble. </p> <h2>Longer-Term Thoughts</h2> <p> In lieu of our comments recently made in this column about how the U.S.A. election results will depend greatly on the turnout of the youth, a report out of the Detroit Free Press on Wednesday was most interesting. It stated, “The youth vote tripled and even quadrupled in some states on Super Tuesday. U.S. Senator Barack Obama, with his inspirational words about unity and new approaches to our nation’s challenges has struck a chord on college campuses around the country.” </p> <p> So it seems clear that Barack Obama represents the Uranus part of the Saturn-Uranus opposition that starts this year, in terms of the U.S.A. election. And it seems clear that John McCain will represent the Saturn part of this signature, since Saturn is conservative, and also pertains to older age (McCain, if elected, would be the oldest president to assume office). So where does this put Hillary Clinton? Well, she too is Uranus, for if elected, she would be the first female president, and the 45-year Saturn-Uranus opposition does have in common historical theme related to women’s rights. </p> <p> Right now Obama has the momentum and is in the lead. Can he pull it off? It is possible, of course, because of Uranus. But also because of Uranus, there are many expected things that can and probably will still happen that no one anticipates. My view remains that the geocosmic signatures on Election Day will point to the themes that will sway the votes of the population. And on Election Day, the Moon will be in Capricorn conjunct Jupiter, just as it was on the day of the New Hampshire primary and Super Tuesday. I don’t think you can count any of these three leading candidates out at this time. But on Election Day itself, it still appears that the American electorate will go for experience, tradition, and the candidate who makes them feel the most “safe.” Fear still sells. And as result, I am not so sure that Americans will change their stance that this country is headed in the wrong direction, a belief that appears to be shared by over 75% of the U.S.A. population. </p>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-10492191221987294192008-02-08T22:49:00.000-08:002008-02-08T22:50:30.393-08:00U.S. Election Only Part of the News In 2008<span style="font-size:78%;">Posted November 27th, 2007 by James R. Gregory</span> <div style="padding: 0px 0px 3px 8px; float: right;"> <script language="JavaScript"><!-- Hide from old browsers// Modify to reflect site specificsadserver = 'http://mediapst.adbureau.net';target = '/SITE=MEDIAPOST/AREA=ONLINEMEDIADAILY/AAMSZ=TOWER/QUAL=0;'; // Cache-busting and pageid valuesrandom = Math.round(Math.random() * 100000000);if (!pageNum) var pageNum = Math.round(Math.random() * 100000000);// End Hide --></script><script src="http://mediapst.adbureau.net/jserver/SITE=MEDIAPOST/AREA=ONLINEMEDIADAILY/AAMSZ=TOWER/QUAL=0;"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://2680.btrll.com/js/2680/213/300x250,149;VideoPop;%5Btimestamp%5D"></script><div id="btrll_dru_anchor"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,28,0" id="btrll_loader" height="250" width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://cache.btrll.com/jspop2/btrll_loader.swf?image_url=http://brightroll.vo.llnwd.net/o10/BR Campaign/balls.jpg&onAction=BTRLL_GIAO_loader_callback"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://cache.btrll.com/jspop2/btrll_loader.swf?image_url=http://brightroll.vo.llnwd.net/o10/BR%20Campaign/balls.jpg&onAction=BTRLL_GIAO_loader_callback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="opaque" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="250" width="300"></embed></object></div> <noscript><br /></noscript> </div> <p>While the presidential campaign of 2008 will dominate the media and advertising landscape for the next year, here are some issues you’ll be hearing more about in the upcoming year. </p> <p> 1. Energy Dependence deserves to be the hot issue for the 2008 presidential election. It is by far the most critical issue facing our nation. We’ve had decades to fix the problem, and have only made ourselves more dependent on foreign nations for our energy needs. We need to treat this issue as a national priority and mobilize our resources to get energy consumption under control while identifying and expanding renewable energy resources. The presidential politician who provides a workable solution gets my vote. </p><p>2. The dollar’s decline means the U.S. will no longer be “leader of the economic pack” on the world stage. It doesn’t mean that we will fade into oblivion, but we no longer have the economic clout to dictate outcomes. The decline of the U.S. dollar is the result of a long list of self-imposed economic ills including the impossibly large federal budget deficits, huge international trade deficit, weak savings practices by Americans and the cost of the Iraq War. As a consequence, Americans might have the ultimate hangover–the need to adjust to a lower standard of living. </p><p>3. The U.S. will gain a new sense of competitiveness over the next decade. The good news is that the historic decline of the U.S. dollar is finally having a positive impact on exports. Business and government leaders should be focusing on streamlining business processes to make it more rewarding for manufacturers to export products. Culturally we need to become more innovative, create lean manufacturing techniques, keep our labor costs under control and put our marketing expertise in gear around the world by identifying unmet global consumer needs. </p><p>4. Globalization vs. Protectionism is a question that many governments wrestle with around the world. On the one hand, globalization has created millions of jobs, brought technologies to third world countries and helped keep inflation under control in the U.S. The other edge of the sword is that it can wipe out entire industries when inefficient or outdated. There is a growing sentiment in this country that free trade isn’t fair when trading partners have all the advantages. Labor and environmental provisions are weak in most free trade agreements, which puts downward pressure on standards here. Sustainable development and the reduction of poverty are excellent reasons to promote fair trade, but this tool of economic growth needs to take into consideration the American industries and workers that are at risk. </p><p>5. The green revolution will continue to expand because it is now beginning to make economic sense, whether you are a manufacturer or a consumer, to think about eco-friendly products and sustaining the environment. In the past, consumers felt that it was important to have recyclable products, for example–but they were not willing to pay a premium to purchase them. That is changing with growing pressure from society to have more eco-friendly products and to live in a sustainable environment. The fact that the price of eco-friendly products is coming down presents a genuine business opportunity that will also improve the environment. It’s a win-win for everyone. </p><p>6. Social Networking is here to stay. When I get a question or survey from someone on LinkedIn, I usually respond. It just makes sense that I participate because I would also want them to respond to me. When my high school had a reunion, it communicated through Classmates. When my kids want to find out what their friends are up to, they visit Facebook or MySpace. Amazon knows what I like to read. I like it when they make suggestions of new books, and more often than not, I buy them. The way to think about communication in business is changing and it is not just about frontal assault of the past, it is much more about understanding how people think and where they think–on social networks. </p><p>7. The Cool War. Vladimir Putin is returning his country to his roots, which is a darker, mysterious Russia. This means it is possible that the days of the Cold War will return. This time, it may be welcomed by the U.S. leadership because it will give the U.S. a chance to be the good guys again. We need a visible world leader who is worthy of our anger, and clearly a bad guy to contrast against our self-perceived good guy image. In keeping with this scenario, Putin is aligning himself perfectly with other bad guys we love to hate like Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. This new hostility will unlikely devolve into anything remotely like The Cold War, but it will certainly remain in The Cool category for some time to come. </p><p> <em>Gregory is founder and CEO of CoreBrand, a global brand strategy and communications firm based in Stamford, Conn. With 30 years of experience in advertising and branding, Jim is credited with developing pioneering and innovative tools for measuring the power of brands and their impact on a corporation’s financial performance. He has written four books on creating value with brands.</em></p>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-46978176840207953502008-01-12T21:49:00.000-08:002008-01-12T21:50:29.311-08:00Stock Market Comments for the Week Beginning January 14, 2008<span style="font-size:78%;"><span class="small"> Written by Raymond Merriman </span> </span> <h2>Review and Preview</h2> <p> Welcome to the Saturn-Uranus opposition preview. </p> <p> Starting on Election Day, November 4, 2008, Saturn will make five passages of its 45-year opposition cycle to Uranus, lasting through July 26, 2010. Those who study Financial Astrology know that this is one of the most significant geocosmic correlations to long-term stock market cycles, per the studies done in “The Ultimate Book on Stock market Timing Volume 2: Geocosmic Correlations to Investment Cycles.” But this past week, we had a preview of what this longer-term planetary pair cycle might be like, as transiting Venus translated the midpoint of the developing opposition between Saturn and Uranus. </p> <p> For most of the world’s stock indices, the declines of the prior week continued this past week. However, these declines were not straight down. In fact there were sudden and sharp rallies. There were wide price swings. For instance, the Dow Jones Industrial Average made a new 9 month low on Wednesday, falling top 12,501. That was below the low of last August 16, which represented the steepest decline so far of the expanded 4-year cycle. Wednesday’s low exceeded that, suggesting that this expanded cycle is still unfolding, as suspected. But by the next day the <acronym title="Dow Jones Industrial Average" lang="en_US">DJIA</acronym> soared over 400 points, up to 12,931 during the day. Yet that rally quickly fizzled as the <acronym title="Dow Jones Industrial Average" lang="en_US">DJIA</acronym> gave back 400+ points into Friday’s low of 12,543. Wide prices swings lime these in such very short periods of time, is the nature of Saturn (depressed prices or news) and Uranus (sharp price swings). Last week’s Venus translation, as a T-square to that forthcoming Saturn-Uranus opposition, just gave us a preview what world stock indices may be like from November 2008 through July 2010. </p> <p> The price behavior was also similar in the <acronym title="National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations" lang="en_US">NASDAQ</acronym> Composite, which fell to a low of 2407.39 on Wednesday, just a little above its 2386 low of August 16, for a potential case of intermarket bullish divergence if those lows hold. By the next day, it was back above 2500, but only briefly, as it sold off to as low as 2428 during the day on Friday. </p> <p> There were no such rallies in Australia or Japan, where stock indices just fell the entire week. In fact the Japanese Nikkei is now testing the 14,000 mark, it lowest level since June 2006. The ASX All Ords index of Australia is now testing the 6000 mark, far off its all-time highs of 6873 posted on November 1. Even India’s NIFTY index fell a bit after posting a new all-time of 6357 on January 8. It closed the week at 6200. The Hang Seng of Hong Kong was relatively quiet all week, not making any new monthly highs or lows. </p> <p> Europe on the other hand was down all week too, but not too new multi-month lows in all indexes. The <acronym title="Amsterdam Exchange index" lang="en_US">AEX</acronym> of Netherlands is currently testing the 479 lows of last August. But the German <acronym title="Deutsche Aktien Xchange" lang="en_US">DAX</acronym> and London <acronym title="FTSE Group, the Index Company" lang="en_US">FTSE</acronym> are holding well above the lows of not only last August, but November too. The Swiss Index took out those lows on Monday, falling all the way to 8070. But, after a strong rally to 8385 the next day, the Swiss index also started a decline that lasted well into Friday, taking prices back down to 8156. Most of the indices of the world thus closed the week rather to their lows, giving a sense of more troubles ahead for stocks. </p> <p> Gold and Silver, on the other hand, soared sharply last week, with Gold poking above the 900 mark for the first time ever. March Silver closed right near its high of the week at 1637, a level not seen since 1980. Crude Oil did not fare so well, closing the week at 92.31, well off its all-time high of just over 1200 posted on January 3. Interestingly enough, Crude Oil made cycle lows within a week of the prior two passages of Jupiter trine Saturn in March and May 2007. It is coming up again January 21. Jupiter is a co-ruler of Crude Oil. </p> <h2>Short-Term Geocosmics </h2> <p> The Venus-Uranus square ends on Saturday, January 12. With Venus in Sagittarius and Uranus in Pisces – both mutable signs – it should not be surprising that the stocks markets of the world experienced such wild swings last week. Mutable signs are known for their “changeable” qualities. That may be even more understandable given that the Moon was in Aquarius, the sign ruled by Uranus, Wednesday through Friday, when the steepest price swings were in force. </p> <p> From here, the markets will head towards the third of five passages of the Jupiter-Saturn trine on January 21. The first two passes were in fire signs, back on March 16 and May 6. The March 16 date was just two days after the end of a very sharp 2-3 week stock market sell-off. May 6 was one day before a crest in the <acronym title="National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations" lang="en_US">NASDAQ</acronym> Composite, followed by a modest sell-off into May 16. But now we begin a series of three more of these passages, but in earth signs. From our studies reported in our Stock Market Timing series books, it is not unusual to see a 4-year cycle in U.S. stocks form within one month of one of these middle passes. That means any low forming now – or with the next passage, which is September 8 – could be the 4-year cycle trough (which is now stretched out to 6 years for the first time since 1932-38). </p> <p> It will also be interesting to observe the movement of Venus into Capricorn on January 24. For the following 8 days, it will cross the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction. You may remember that Jupiter and Pluto conjoined exactly on December 11, the day from which the current sell-off began. If the influence of that conjunction is still in force, we might see a significant rally into January 24-February 1, the time band in which Venus translates the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction. But we must keep in mind that in December, the two planets were in late Sagittarius., This time they will be in early Capricorn. We will have to wait and see if the results are the same, or perhaps opposite, what we saw in December. </p> <h2>Longer-Term Thoughts</h2> <p> The Venus translation to the Saturn-Uranus opposition was not only noticeable for its surprises and sudden changes in the stock markets of the world. It was also evident in last Tuesday’s primary election in New Hampshire. Going into that election, all the polls showed Barack Obama well ahead of Hillary Clinton, by 9-14%. Following his surprisingly large win in Iowa the prior week, Obama seemed to have a momentum that could not be stopped. Mike Huckabee also had great momentum following his victory in Iowa too. But both Huckabee and Obama fell far short of what they had hoped for, and what the polls had suggested, as Clinton (for the Democrats) and McCain (for the Republicans) executed remarkable comebacks to win. As last week’s column stated, “This coming week will also feature a new moon at 17 degrees of Capricorn on Tuesday. This is where transiting Jupiter will be on Election Day, November 4, 2008. In fact, the Moon will also return to this position at the start of Election Day too (a lunar return to this new moon). Consequently we are getting a preview of what this election holds in the next two weeks, during the waxing phase (new moon through the full moon), in effect January 8 through 22. Any candidate who gains momentum during this period has a good chance of being on the ballot in November. Based on this principle, it would seem that New Hampshire may be more reflective of what to expect in November than Iowa was this past week – unless of course, these primaries mirror the Iowa results. But I wouldn’t rest on those results if I were Obama or Huckabee.” </p> <p> As a Mundane Astrologer, it is tempting to predict that one of those two winners (Clinton or McCain) will be the next president of the United States, simply on the basis of the new moon position on last Tuesday’s primary being at the same degree as the Jupiter position on the national Election Day. Historically, New Hampshire has an 85% historical rate of accuracy for choosing the presidential candidates of each party in its primary. It is shaping up to be one of the most exciting elections in the United States in a very long time. Previously this column had also pointed to the importance of Saturn and Uranus in opposition as being a period when one must follow “the youth” in order to spot new trends emerging. That 45-year cyclical aspect makes its first of five passages right on Election Day. The turnout of the youth may very well decide who the next president of the Untied States is. They turned out in unexpectedly large numbers the previous week to deliver Obama the victory in Iowa. Will they do it again in November, thus kicking off this longer-term planetary cycle’s past history? Or will the geocosmic similarities between last Tuesday’s new moon and the position of the Moon-Jupiter on Election Day be the dominating astrological correlate? Or something else entirely? Any time Uranus is involved, there is bound to be “unexpected” developments that alter the most sophisticated forecasting tools – like polls, which were dead wrong for New Hampshire. Financial Astrology methods, on the other, were more accurate in this case. But which do you think the general public will follow most closely as this election unfolds? Astrology would suggest that the polls could be wrong again going into the voting on Election Day itself, based on both the New Moon in to Jupiter correlation, and the Saturn-Uranus opposition. It might be a good wager to task at the last minute. </p>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-32747639092680544472008-01-11T06:09:00.001-08:002008-01-11T06:09:45.075-08:00Stock Market Comments For The Week Beginning January 7, 2008<span class="small"><span style="font-size:78%;"> Written by Raymond Merriman</span> </span> <h2>Review and Preview</h2> <p> The New Year has started out with a thud. Typical of Venus moving towards a square with Saturn this weekend, many stock indices of the world ended the first week of 2008 with substantial declines. As stated in last week’s column, “… traders may want to concentrate on the Venus-Saturn square of Sunday, January 6. Any markets declining into that signature could complete a bottoming formation, and ready themselves for a rally. When Saturn coincides with a depression in values, that depression oftentimes lifts when the aspect separates. Venus rules values, such as stocks.” Almost as if on automatic pilot, stocks started selling off on the first trading day of the year, and continued their decline right into the end of the week. </p> <p> In the United States, the sell-off in equities was evident all week. Near the end of the prior week the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up to 13,563, and appearing on the verge of a thrust to new all-time highs. By the end of this week, the <acronym title="Dow Jones Industrial Average" lang="en_US">DJIA</acronym> was down to 12,800, flirting with the neckline of a “head and shoulders” chart formation, and about 75 points above its double bottom low of November 26. A break of that trendline may finally lead to the kind of a washout usually seen when 4-year cycle troughs unfold. The only problem is that we are now entering the 6th year, something we haven’t seen since 1938 when the <acronym title="Dow Jones Industrial Average" lang="en_US">DJIA</acronym> lost 50% of its value in an “expanded” 4-year cycle. In all cases since the early 1890’s, 4-year cycles happen in 3-5 year increments. And yes, one might say that in the case of all other world indices (Europe, Asia), the 4-year cycle bottomed in 2003 and not 2002, so it would still be “on time.” But I think this is a case of cycle distortion, which tells us something about the longer-term cycles yet that are soon to unfold. </p> <p> Severe sell-offs were also noted in Japan, where the Nikkei “gapped down” last week and fell to its lowest level since June 2006. In fact, it is now in the vicinity of challenging the 14,045 level recorded at that time, which was the last 18.5-month cycle trough. In Switzerland, the Swiss stock index fell to 8109 intraday on Friday, just barely above its yearly low of 8081 back on November 21. All other U.S. and European markets ended the week considerably above their lows of November. And in case of India, the NIFTY stock index actually made a new all-time on Friday, briefly touching 6300. </p> <p> What does this tell us? It suggests that as depressing as it seemed in some countries, the indices of other counties were not quite so bad. In fact, we may see some indices making new multi-month and maybe even yearly lows at this time, but they may not be confirmed by other indices, thus creating cases of bullish intermarket divergence. If these markets do in fact reverse upwards by early this coming week, it will show yet another instance where Financial Astrology and pattern recognition studies worked very well together. </p> <p> Last week was notable in other markets too. Crude Oil touched 100.00 for the first time ever, with a high of 100.09 in the nearby contract on Thursday. Gold also achieved a new all-time high on Thursday, with the February contract notching 872. And the Dollar fell hard again. By the end of the week, the Euro currency was approaching 1.4800, not far off its all-time high of 1.4966 recorded back in late November. </p> <h2>Short-Term Geocosmics</h2> <p> The Venus-Saturn square ends this Sunday, January 6. This offers hopes for the bulls. But the next aspect is another Venus square, this time to Uranus, on the following weekend, January 12. What is interesting here is that this is the first case of a faster moving planet translating the most significant aspect coming up this year: Saturn in opposition to Uranus. Thus this offers us a preview of what we might expect when this longer-term planetary signature unfolds five times between November 4, 2008 (Election Day) and July 26, 2010. By the looks of last week, it will not be pretty. For now, these two planets are about 7 degrees away from exactness, and they will widen that distance over the next few months. But come October and November, they will start their 45-year cyclical havoc on human affairs, and this will last nearly two years. </p> <p> This coming week will also feature a new moon at 17 degrees of Capricorn on Tuesday. This is where transiting Jupiter will be on Election Day, November 4, 2008. In fact, the Moon will also return to this position at the start of election day too (a lunar return to this new moon), Consequently we are getting a preview of what this election holds in the next two weeks, during the waxing phase (new moon through the full moon), in effect January 8 through 22. Any candidate who gains momentum during this period has a good chance of being on the ballot in November. Based on this principle, it would seem that New Hampshire (and other primaries taking place prior to January 22) may be more reflective of what to expect in November than Iowa was this past week – unless of course, these primaries mirror the Iowa results. But I wouldn’t rest on those results if I were Obama or Huckabee. </p> <h2>Longer-Term Thoughts</h2> <p> Jupiter and Saturn will commence the first of their three trine aspects in earth signs later this month (January 21). Not only that, but Saturn is now retrograde, and will move within one degree of a trine to Pluto in April-May. According to the studies I reported in “The Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing, Volume 2: Geocosmic Correlations to Investment Cycles,” there is a strong correlation to 4-year cycles in U.S. stocks within one month of the first or second passage of this transiting aspect. January 21 is actually the third of five passages, which is most unusual. But it is the first to happen in the earth signs, so traders and investors need to pay close attention to this and the next passage, which takes place September 8, just one day after the Jupiter retrograde ends. As we look at the stock market, it is apparent that there is no 4-year cycle crest happening right now. But if the <acronym title="Dow Jones Industrial Average" lang="en_US">DJIA</acronym> breaks below 12,500, a case can be made that a 4-year cycle trough may be forming. </p> <p> With Jupiter in Capricorn, home of Saturn and ruling sign of such things as real estate and government, it would seem that the economic leaders of this nation could resolve the sub-prime mortgage crisis that is currently spooking the markets. And with Saturn retrograding back to a trine to Pluto in April-May, when the second Jupiter-Saturn trine unfolds this year as well, it would seem like this could all soon be a distant memory, for Pluto rules debt and the trine is a favorable aspect in terms of Mundane Astrology. In other words, I think there is fear in the market place right now, and it may even lead to an expanded 4-year cycle trough in the next few weeks and even days. But I am not yet convinced that this is “the big one,” just yet. There is plenty of reason to still have faith in Bernanke and Paulsen, and their capacity to conjure up magic and pull the stock market out of these doldrums. In fact, I would not be surprised to see them announce some new effort designed to do just that within the next 1-3 weeks. As stated time and time again, this fire-sign duo doesn’t want a recession or stock market collapse on their watch. And I still believe they have the power and the will to do something to avoid it prior to the November elections. Of course, Jupiter is now in earth signs, and not the fire signs to which they belong, so perhaps their magic is leaving them. I wouldn’t bet on that, though. I think there are yet other ploys to try, and they could realize more successes yet this year. </p> <p> After the election, however, anything is possible. That’s when the 45-year Saturn-Uranus oppositions begin, and last through much of 2010. </p>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-32421086222937036492007-12-24T18:15:00.000-08:002007-12-24T18:16:58.216-08:00Stock Market Weekly Comments for the Week Beginning December 24, 2007<span style="font-size:78%;"><span class="small"> Written by Raymond Merriman </span> </span> <h2>Review and Preview</h2> <p> Financial Astrology doesn’t get much better than we witnessed last week. Saturn turning retrograde last Wednesday, followed by the beginning of the Moon’s transit in Taurus on Thursday, kept equity prices in check for most of the week. But by Friday, the restriction lifted, and stocks in the Western Hemisphere rallied swiftly. Not only stocks, but precious metals also rallied strongly following Saturn station last Wednesday. As stated in last week’s column, “One of the more important signatures in this cluster happens this Wednesday as Saturn turns retrograde. Saturn stations, along with Venus and Uranus stations, have the highest correlation of all planetary stations to important reversals in U.S. stock indices, as reported in “The Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing Volume 3: Geocosmic Correlations to Trading Cycles.” As demonstrated therein, Saturn retrograde has a 65% correlation to primary cycles within an orb of 11 trading days, and a 70% correlation to 4% or greater reversals within only 4 trading days. That’s the statistics. The astrological observation is that any financial markets that are declining into Saturn stations have a high probability of bottoming and turning right back up again within a couple of trading days. And as one can see, there are a number of financial markets that are declining right now, including precious metals, currencies, treasuries, and stocks.” The low in the Dow Jones Industrial Average last week was at 13,092 on Tuesday. Even as late as Thursday morning, the <acronym title="Dow Jones Industrial Average" lang="en_US">DJIA</acronym> was still trading around 13,150. But by Friday, the market closed over 300 points higher, at 13,470. On Friday alone, it was up 225 points. </p> <p> Gold and Silver also struggled into Thursday of last week. Ion the case of Gold, the February contract made a low last Monday at 792.50, and re-tested it at 797.70 on Thursday. By Friday, it was nearly $20.00 higher. March Silver fell to a new low for this primary cycle at 1382 on Monday. By Friday it was up to 1456. Even the Treasuries got into the act. A couple of weeks ago this column outlined a trading set up via historical financial astrology studies only. In this discussion, it was pointed out that transiting Jupiter would enter Capricorn on December 18, and immediately form an opposition to Pluto and conjunction to the Sun in the Federal Reserve Board horoscope December 18-23. In the past two cases on record of this transit, treasuries made a peak or secondary peak before commencing a decline. A top was anticipated in that time frame, and sure enough on Thursday, December 20, March T-Notes made secondary peak at 113/24, up two whole points from their trading cycle low of one week ago, and only about a half-point off their multi-year high of December 4. Now let’s see if history follows the same pattern as before, and interest rates start to rise for a few months and Treasuries start to decline in value. </p> <h2>Short-Term Geocosmics</h2> <p> Saturn’s influence is over as of Wednesday of last week, and now we commence a Jupiter period through this week. As outlined in last week’s column, “The following week will find the Sun and Jupiter conjunct, and both in a rare opposition to Mars during the same week. As indicated before, Jupiter has tendency to expand or exaggerate things whenever it is in force, especially with Mars. So, even with the holidays talking place then, we might see large price swings. These signatures indicate the potential for either euphoria or panic. And since Jupiter and Sun conjunct the Federal Reserve Board’s natal Sun (and opposite its natal Pluto), and since the stock market is clearly showing its displeasure with the FED by declining, we may see yet another surprise rate cut before the holiday season is over. That would make everyone euphoric and in the holiday mood. And wouldn’t Bernanke, the Sagittarian, be the perfect person to be cast in the role of Santa Clause – especially after what happened this week?” Well Bernanke didn't lower interest rates again, but Central Banks did inject plenty of liquidity into the system (which is just as welcomed), especially in Europe, and this led to the huge rally by the end of the week. It would not be surprising to see this rally continue now into next week as we come to the end of the year. </p> <p> One area of human activity that might be cause for concern is that Mars will also be quite active next two weeks, with its oppositions to the Sun, Jupiter, and then Pluto. This could coincide with an increase in hostilities, and perhaps even a military confrontation. </p> <h2>Longer-Term Thoughts</h2> <p> Last week I reported on the delayed effect the Saturn-Neptune opposition that was in effect August 2006 through June 2007. I mentioned how unethical and deceptive activities in business and government that took place then would probably not be fully revealed until 1-2 years afterwards, and how in fact some of those revelations are just coming to the surface now. So perhaps it was not too surprising to see a front page story on Friday’s “Wall Street Journal” titled: Fraud Seen as a Driver in Wave of Foreclosures. There were a lot interesting facts in that report that pertain the Neptune effect, including the following quotes: “Suspicious Activity Reports shot up nearly 700% between 2000 and 2006;” In 2006, losses from fraud could total a record $4.5 billion, a 100% increase from the previous year.” Arthur Prieston, chairman of the Prieston Group which provides mortgage fraud insurance, states “We’ve created a culture where a great many people know how to take advantage of the system.” The whole article is based on the idea that “Fraud goes a long way toward explaining why mortgage defaults and foreclosures are rocking financial institutions” today. But note how much fraud has increased since the Saturn-Neptune opposition was in effect. My point is that the fraud perpetrated then is coming to light now, and will continue to do so in the next 1-2 years. And it is not only in business that these revelations will take place, but also in governments. </p> <p> But there is a positive side to Saturn and Neptune too. Just as it can rule deceit and fraud, it can also open the pathway for greater honesty, and a desire to act with honor and virtue. Saturn and Neptune together pertain to the understanding of a greater law, a universal or spiritual awareness that provides an inner sense of right versus wrong. And with this understanding comes an even greater awareness that one is ultimately accountable for whatever actions they initiate in the mundane world. These actions commence a cycle whose consequences are entirely related to the intention that led to each action. And thus it is that those who sought to gain at the expense of others by behaving deceptively to others –especially during the Saturn-Neptune opposition period – now have to bear the consequences of those fraudulent actions. On the other hand, those who chose instead to behave with a sense of honor and virtue during that same period, are also now bearing the consequences of those decisions. The difference is this: those who violated these universal principles may now be suffering, outwardly or inwardly. If outwardly, their freedoms may be on the verge of being taken away. And those who chose right behavior during those times of temptation, are now able to find an inner peace, as well as a sense of gratitude, for all things and all people in their life. And it is especially at times like this, when we enter the end of the year and the most sacred of all periods for many cultures (the winter solstice), when it is so easy to concentrate on those things for which to be thankful – even little things, like treating respectfully those you live with, befriend, work with, or do business with. And knowing that by consciously choosing to behave in this fashion, you contribute to making this planet a better place in which to co-exist with other souls who inhabit this same planet, at this same incredible time in history, with you. </p> <p> Happy solstice, and happy holidays. </p>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-77736192191784350622007-12-15T07:56:00.000-08:002007-12-15T07:57:43.082-08:00Stock Market Comments For The week Beginning December 17, 2007<span style="font-size:78%;"><span class="small"> Written by Raymond Merriman </span> from http://www.mmacycles.com<br /><br /></span><h2>Review and Preview</h2> <p> The powerful rally that began in world equity markets within two trading days of the Uranus stationary direct point of November 24, reached its peak early last week as the 13-year Jupiter-Pluto conjunction unfolded on December 11. This was right into critical reversal zone as described in last week’s column, and in our recent subscription reports. It was also the day that the Federal Reserve Board did what we expected – it lowered the Fed Funds rate by a quarter point and tacked on a cut to the discount rate too. The Dow Jones Industrial Average promptly began a sell-off of nearly 300 points by the end of that day. Other world indices followed. Stock traders clearly were not impressed with only a quarter point cut, and showed their displeasure with Bernanke and company accordingly. In fact, it might be an indication of the street’s disappointment in Mr. Bernanke as of late. In the wording that followed, the FED seemed to indicate that the concern about inflation was moderating. The risks of inflation were now balanced against the risk of an economic slow-down. By Friday, that type of guidance by the FED proved about as useless as a stock tip from your neighborhood bar patrons. The CPI inflation report on Friday morning showed a much higher-than-expected rise of .8% for the month. Once again, the FED seemed to demonstrate that it is not interested in doing anything about preventing inflation, except to talk strong about it. All their actions in the past year have been pro-inflationary, or at least not anti-inflationary. It is clear their primary intent is to try to avoid a recession and continue fueling growth in the economy (and confidence in it), and hope that strong warnings and words alone will fight off inflation. But it appears the Street is getting wise to this game. I don’t think they like Bernanke and team much after this week. </p> <p>As the stock markets promptly started to give back a big chunk of their gains, many indices now find prices testing their 25-day moving average already. This week thus begins a critical juncture for world indices. Will they complete a corrective decline this week and resume their new up trends started in late November? Or is the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction such a powerful reversal force that these indices will continue falling even harder, and even past their lows of last August and November? </p> <p>Stocks indices weren’t the only markets to experience a pullback last week. All foreign currencies (vis-à-vis) the U.S. Dollar also declined. Most significant may be the fall in the Euro currency, which as explained in our recent newsletters, was due to make a top and begin a noteworthy decline into its 26-month cycle trough, due shortly. Silver also fell hard. After posting a multi-week high at 1497 on December 12, the March contract fell all the way down to 1389 the next two days, its lowest level in two months. </p> <h2>Short-Term Geocosmics</h2> <p> We just left one powerful geocosmic reversal zone of December 7 through December 11. And now we begin another that lasts much longer: December 18 through January 12. This reversal zone may be compromised a bit due to holiday markets. The volume is apt to be low during the central part of this reversal period, and in fact many days will find markets closed altogether. Still, some of the signatures have strong historical correspondence to primary or greater cycles in stocks and commodities, and deserve to be treated carefully. One of the more important signatures in this cluster happens this Wednesday as Saturn turns retrograde. Saturn stations, along with Venus and Uranus stations, have the highest correlation of all planetary stations to important reversals in U.S. stock indices, as reported in “The Ultimate Book on Stock Market Timing Volume 3: Geocosmic Correlations to Trading Cycles” (it makes a great holiday gift for that special trading friend). As demonstrated therein, Saturn retrograde has a 65% correlation to primary cycles within an orb of 11 trading days, and a 70% correlation to 4% or greater reversals within only 4 trading days. That’s the statistics. The astrological observation is that any financial markets that are declining into Saturn stations have a high probability of bottoming and turning right back up again within a couple of trading days. And as one can see, there are a number of financial markets that are declining right now, including precious metals, currencies, treasuries, and stocks. Yet as we know from our studies of astrology, Saturn and squares are not always bearish, nor are trines and Jupiter always bullish. And thus those markets that have been rising may peak out now too, like grains, which have been soaring again as of late. Wheat is again making new all-time highs, Soybeans are making new contract highs, and Corn is back at its ten-year high recorded last June. </p> <p>The following week will find the Sun and Jupiter conjunct, and both in a rare opposition to Mars during the same week. As indicated before, Jupiter has tendency to expand or exaggerate things whenever it is in force, especially with Mars. So, even with the holidays talking place then, we might see large price swings. These signatures indicate the potential for either euphoria or panic. And since Jupiter and Sun conjunct the Federal Reserve Board’s natal Sun (and opposite its natal Pluto), and since the stock market is clearly showing its displeasure with the FED by declining, we may see yet another surprise rate cut before the holiday season is over. That would make everyone euphoric and in the holiday mood. And wouldn’t Bernanke, the Sagittarian, be the perfect person to be cast in the role of Santa Clause – especially after what happened this week? </p> <h2>Longer-Term Thoughts</h2> <p>The last two weeks have not been good for President George W. Bush. This station of Saturn is taking place right on his natal Mars. Mars is the planet of action, of wanting to something and do it now – especially if it involves combat. His progressed Mars is conjoining his natal Moon and Jupiter in Libra, a signature I reported in last year’s Forecast Book would indicate expanding military involvement, and not withdrawing forces as the special Baker-Hamilton Commission he appointed suggested. For the past several months the White House has warned the world, and especially Americans, about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and the threat it was posing for the U.S. and Europe. And what happens now that the restrictive Saturn comes to sit right on his natal Mars? An intelligence report (NIE) comes out that states that in 2004, Iran stopped its nuclear development program that the White House was so concerned about. And it suggests that Mr. Bush may have known about this report as early as August 2007, and his Vice President knew about it even before Mr. Bush. Talk about being stopped right in the middle of your tracks… </p> <p> There are a lot of questions that are being asked about this matter and other matters of the past couple of years. You may remember that the most significant long-term planetary aspect in effect this past year was the Saturn-Neptune opposition. And you may remember that this aspect has a historical correlation of leaders being questioned (“special investigations”) as to “what they knew and when they knew it,” as the public becomes increasingly suspicious of whether or not it is being told the truth. Think of Watergate in 1971-72, the last time this aspect unfolded. But it wasn’t until 1973-74 that the matter was raised to the public’s awareness and the consequences took effect. Or even the quarter cycles that occurred in 1989 when the father was president and promised not raise taxes, but did just that after being elected. Or Bill Clinton in 1998 (another quarter cycle of Saturn-Neptune) saying right on television that “I never had sex with that woman,” only to find out a few weeks later that wasn’t exactly true (depends on what the meaning of “is” is). What happened in 2006-2007 may not be fully known right now. But chances are it will be coming out within the next two years, and maybe even few months. The thing is, American don’t like to be lied to by their leaders. They don’t like to be duped into entering wars either without verifiable intelligence that supports the threat their leader tells them is present. Is Iran a threat? Is the leader of a country who claims that Israel needs to be wiped off the earth a potential threat? I tend to think so. But the credibility of those who oppose this leader is severely hampered when their own words are found to be wanting in accuracy. And when that happens, it is not surprising that one’s desire to do what he wishes is severely curtailed by his opponents. And that is not uncommon when transiting Saturn sits right on your natal Mars for a few weeks. The good news for Mr. Bush is that this aspect leaves in about a month. The bad news it will return again before his term is over. The consequence of what is being learnd now is not over. </p>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-91216072621672796972007-12-15T07:53:00.000-08:002007-12-15T07:55:55.818-08:00The Sagittarius New Moon and Stock Market<span style="font-size:78%;"><span class="astroinvestStyle"> by Kaye Shinker from http://www.astrologicalinvesting.com/html/newsletter.html<br /><br /></span></span><p class="astroinvestStyle" align="center"><em>New Moon forecasts show general trends for the month, here is the overview of the month ahead.</em></p> <p class="lgText" align="left"><strong>Mars is retrograde from Nov 15-Jan 28, 2008 and all other planets are direct until Saturn goes retrograde on Dec 19th. </strong></p> <p class="lgText">Of the past 10 times that Saturn has stationed and turned retrograde it has marked the low for the month in the Dow 8 times. Jupiter changes signs the same day and when Jupiter changes signs it usually signals a low followed quickly by an up market.</p> <p class="lgText">The general effect of Mars Rx is that folks tend to get tired quickly. The population is overworked and overstressed and vulnerable to 'bugs". Take your vitamins and drink your fruit juice. Tired folks will shop the internet sales and many will send gift cards. Sales in carry out food as well as bakery items will increase. Avoid new romances. A monastic lifestyle is, ok, boring, but OK till the end of January.</p> <p class="lgText"> If you are starting a business during this week, it will be very powerful. Mars Rx tends to put a premium on the efficient use of energy. If your business idea will help people conserve electricity, sell labor saving devises, or offer items that help people relax and enjoy life, then you will have an extra edge on success. </p> <p class="lgText">All of the other planets are direct including Uranus and Neptune. The first big event astrologically speaking will take place Tuesday, December 11, when Jupiter and Pluto are conjunct the Galactic Center of the Milky Way. These planets will block some of the electro magnetic chatter emanating from this particular point in space. If you are looking for inspiration on any project, this is the day to take notes. Write in your notebook pages of everything that sneaks into your brain. </p> <p class="lgText">Of course be careful of day dreaming while operating vehicles! Even traders will be mesmerized and volume will slow. </p> <p class="lgText">This could be the week of the Santa Claus effect that everyone anticipates in December. CEO's will scoop up their bonus dollars and find gifts for everyone on their list. This, plus the European shoppers could put retail in the black.</p> <p class="lgText"><strong>Jupiter in Capricorn<br /> <br /> </strong>Next, Jupiter moves into Capricorn on December 19th. 75% of the time it is a one day drop of 300-400 points in the Dow. However, changing signs will effect world markets, and Jupiter does not like to change signs. The change has been building since Thanksgiving and traders have begun to notice the change in emphasis on various market sectors. The Markets hate change and since no one has an idea of what to do they all stop trading. The Santa Claus effect is over after the 21st. I expect it will be a long holiday with half the world out on the 24th and 25th, and the Brits out on the 26th. I would expect traders to close their positions on the 21st. The same will be true for New Years. It could be a very skinny week in the markets.</p> <p class="lgText">However Snow White is kissed by Prince Charming and the 7 Dwarfs go back to work after the holidays Whistling Hi Ho, Hi Ho, the market goes up you know.</p> <p class="lgText"><br /> <strong>Reality check</strong></p> <p class="lgText">Volume almost screeches to a halt. Everyone begins to check their bottom line. Dividend plays that looked safe are not. Reits are out, metals are in. Oil is over, and gems are desirable. Mutual funds are boring, individual funds are exciting. Senior citizens are a viable market, teens are too fickle.</p> <p class="lgText">Jupiter in Capricorn is all about managing your assets. Folks don't mind taking personal responsibility. Self directed asset management is in vogue. Sectors worthy of investigation and investments for the next six months are: metals, machinery, precision instruments, and eye care products.</p> <p class="lgText">The New Moon appears in the Ninth and many of you have scheduled a fantastic vacation. Others have found a collection of new books, others have added new CD's, DVD's and Video games to their collections. Self directed holidays are in order and escaping the snow seems to be an excellent idea. </p> <p class="lgText">Fortunately, Santa takes a deep breath and comes down the chimney and all of the children love their new safe toys. Dads unscramble the new electronic toys and mom surfs the net checking for a new sewing machine to let out all the seams in her New Year's Eve party outfits.</p> <p class="lgText">World wide peaceful coexistence is the rally cry. International trade agreements are discussed, and markets are confused as to how these treaties will increase their profits. </p> <p class="lgText">Labor is really in short supply and winter ailments are causing shortages even in the best staffed companies. Places that shut down through the holiday season will profit.</p> <p class="lgText">Hospitals and other institutions will have huge staffing problems. A few mysterious illnesses will invade their territory. Build up your own immune system and help others do the same. Communicate and research with your keyboard whenever possible. </p> <p class="lgText"><em>Rumors might spread through Wall street suggesting that Santa Claus and Goldilocks ran off together, and the Grinch stole Christmas.</em></p>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-68426963029112382942007-12-09T01:05:00.000-08:002007-12-09T01:17:55.501-08:00Stock Market Comments For The week Beginning December 10, 2007<table class="contentpaneopen"><tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" width="70%"> <span style="font-size:78%;"><span class="small"> Written by Raymond Merriman </span> </span> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top"> <h2><br /></h2> <p> This week’s a report is being issued before U.S. markets close, due to travel plans. </p> <p> Most world stock markets continued their powerful rally following our last critical reversal zone of November 24, +/- 3 trading days. This corresponded with Uranus changing directions, and within 2 days or less, most of these markets made their new cycle lows, and have rallied substantially in the past 7-10 trading sessions. In the Pacific Rim, for example, the Japanese Nikkei market has now rallied nearly 10%. After making a new yearly low of November 22 at 14,669, it traded as high as 16,107 on Friday, December 7. During this same two week-period, the Hang Seng of Hong Kong rallied from 25,861 to a high of 29,962, for a gain of nearly 16%. India’s Nifty soared from a low of 5394 on November 22 to a high of 6042 on December 7, for a gain of nearly 12%. Australia’s All Ordinaries index also rallied from a low of 6373 on November 22 to a high of 6727 on Friday of this past week. Similar strong gains were noted during this period of time in European and U.S. markets, which are still trading as this is being written. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, for instance, bottomed at 12,724 on November 27, and by early Friday (8 trading days later) was up nearly 1000 points to 13,650. </p> <h2>Short-Term Geocosmics</h2> <p>We are now in the middle of another potentially powerful geocosmic reversal zone. On Friday, December 7, the Sun formed a waning square Uranus. On Tuesday, December 11, Jupiter will make its 13-year conjunction to Pluto. As stated in last week’s column, “Jupiter and Pluto come together only every 13 years, and together they can coincide with a sense of urgency, even hysteria due to the nature of Jupiter (it exaggerates whatever it contacts). In this case, it contacts Pluto, ruler of debt and fear of the worst. The sub-prime mortgage tragedy is a perfect example of today’s Jupiter-Pluto crisis…. to read all the solicitations by the financial expects, you would think that this crisis will never end. The aspect soon comes to an end, and just as it has in the past, such crises will come to an end too.” In the past week, we have already begun to see the government forge a plan to deal with this crisis. </p> <p>Also starting this week, heliocentric Mercury (not geocentric) will starts its ingress of Sagittarius, December 8-19. Typically, at least the first 4-9 days of this ingress correspond with sharp moves in many markets, including precious metals. My observation is that about 65% of the time metals will be higher, 20% of the time sharply lower, and 15% of the time, just back and forth. It will be interesting to see what happens this time, for it is occurring during a Mars retrograde. </p> <p>But perhaps even more important than the signatures of this week will be the period of December 18-31 when transiting Jupiter, the Sun, and the Mars retrograde will ingress over the 0 Capricorn and 0 Cancer points. In the process, they will conjoin the Sun and Pluto opposition at 0-1 degrees of Capricorn-Cancer in the Federal Reserve Board chart (founded December 23, 1913). Theoretically, this will correspond to important movements in the interest-related markets, like Treasuries and currency rates. For more on this, see below. </p> <h2>Longer-Term Thoughts</h2> <p>Last week’s column stated the following: “But one thing to keep in mind: the market community is looking for the Federal Reserve to make another interest rate cut. I agree with this outlook, for after all, as Jupiter moves into Capricorn in mid-December, it will oppose the FRB Pluto and conjunct its natal Sun. This is a signature of accommodation, or lowering rates. We should have this gift in time for the holiday season. And so as long as that belief is out there, there is no reason for the stock market to go back down to the levels seen a week ago.” That statement has proved correct as the stock markets continued their torrid advance, following the November 24th episode of Uranus turning stationary direct. Stock indices around the world bottomed within 2 days before to two days after Uranus changed direction, as suggested And a FRB easing policy – lowering of interest rates - is something that shows up in the Treasury prices. As Treasury prices go up, interest rates come down, and vice-versa. </p> <p> The history of the only two times that this event has occurred since the first trade of the U.S. Treasury Bond market supports this astrological interpretation. The first occurrence of transiting Jupiter in conjunction to the FRB Sun-Pluto opposition took place January 19-24, 1984. On January 4, 15 days before the aspect occurred, T-Bonds made a significant low at 69/16 – its lowest level since August 1983. Between January 16 and February 2, T-Bonds topped out between 71/14-71/24, a new monthly high. It was the last high (low in interest rates) seen for quite awhile. By July 2, T-Bonds were near historic lows at 59/12. In other words, the FRB was accommodative, or at least not tightening, when Jupiter first went into Capricorn, as it conjoined the FRB Sun. This was reflected in the Treasury prices, which rallied during that period to important crests. But once it passed, Capricorn exerted its expected effect on T-Notes (and FED policy) as rates went up (or, as T-Bonds went down sharply). </p> <p>The second and only other occurrence of the 12-year cycle of Jupiter in Capricorn was its last passage of January 3-8, 1996. Once again, 2-3 weeks prior to this transit, T-Bonds were making a trading cycle low of 117/29 on December 19, 1995. Once again, T-Bonds rallied sharply right into the Jupiter transit of the FRB Sun-Pluto opposition, topping out at 122/08, on January 4. Price didn’t break down immediately (they still traded as high as 121 on February 13). But they did top out January 4, and once they started falling, they did not stop until July 8 of 1996. By that time they were all the way down to 105/28. Lest one believes that FRB easing should only show in shorter-term maturities, the same pattern was reflected in the 2-year notes as well. So here too, Jupiter entering Capricorn corresponded with a crest. After that, rates went up and T-Bonds fell sharply for nearly 6 months. </p> <p> Jupiter will conjoin the Sun-Pluto opposition December 19-23, 2007. Will a similar pattern happen again? Can the fact that the pattern was nearly identical in both prior cases, serve as useful trading or investment guide this time? Of course– as long as one knows how to use it as a guide. I would not bet against the street’s conventional wisdom that the FRB will lower interest rates this month. And if so, these studies suggest that this month may be the last chance to lock in these low rates of today for several months, for those thinking of re-financing. </p> <p> Previously I have stated that it is not the purpose of this free weekly column to make such predictions. The purpose of this column is to educate the reader on the astrological environment coming up. In making market forecasts, I – like most of you – use several tools. Astrology is one of the factors, and the least understood of the tools I use. Hence this free weekly column. But my forecasts and recommendations are reserved for subscribers of my reports, and they are based upon at least three other tools (cycles, technicals, and chart structure, and even fundamentals). It is very seldom that you get all of these studies pointing in the same direction, but when you do, it has a high probability of unfolding, and therefore warrants a forecast and a recommendation. Some (very few) readers may sometimes lament that market analysis is much about “… if the market does this, then expect that,” instead of “the market will do this and that.” The fact is that over 70% of the time, these studies are not complementing each other, and it is simply a case of waiting for “this or that” to unfold to get them in synch. No analyst can control that, and certainly an astrologer cannot. No one can, and experienced traders know this. 70% of the time the market is in congestion or giving mixed signals, according to different tools an analyst uses. Sometimes an analyst’s recommendation to stand aside and be patient until the majority of studies are in place is the best recommendation he/she can give to a trader. In the case of T-Bonds and other treasuries, you may be getting such a set up by the end of this month, the kind that warrants a firm recommendation. And we will keep subscribers posted on that per our daily, weekly, and monthly subscription reports. But for this free column, understand that it generally analyzes only the astrological factor, and therefore readers should not view these thoughts as recommendations, but rather as educational discussions. It is not a case of “You get what you pay for,” because an education in Financial Astrology can be a very valuable adjunct to one’s trading methodology, especially in terms of identifying high potential “reversal” zones in any market. In fact, nothing is better for that purpose, in my sincere opinion, which is based upon my own personal experience. </p> <p> By the way, I do not mind if readers send snippets of this free weekly report to their trader friends, as long as it is done in the spirit of good will and helpfulness, and proper credit is given. </p></td></tr></tbody></table>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-22004889962451712352007-12-08T23:48:00.000-08:002007-12-08T23:49:18.112-08:00Top Five Astro-Events for December 2007<span style="font-family:VERDANA, arial, helvetica;"><span style="font-family:VERDANA, arial, helvetica;"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;"><strong></strong><br />1. The New Moon in Sagittarius takes place on December 9, and features the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction at the Midheaven over Washington D.C. and New York City. Look for the wealthiest plutocrats to be making news as they shape politics, business, and the publishing world with their considerable influence. Expect major mergers and acquisitions.<br /><br />2. Jupiter and Pluto are conjunct on December 11 at 28 Sagittarius, but this combination is in effect all month. For many, Jupiter-Pluto brings an enhanced interest in the Big Picture and a feeling of faith, trust, and spiritual growth, while others go overboard with self-righteousness and smugness. Those with planets connected to this pairing may experience phenomenal personal growth.<br /><br />3. Jupiter enters Capricorn on the 18th, marking the beginning of a new age of social conservatism centered on national and economic security. The 19th and 20th feature a Sun-Mercury-Pluto triple conjunction, inspiring power plays by authority figures as they overcome vulnerable opponents. Expect big moves, important transitions, and major geopolitical events, especially in business and politics.<br /><br />4. The Full Moon (December 23) occurs as Mars opposes the Sun, Mercury and Jupiter from the 22nd through 26th. The strong Mars vibration over these five days can make some people edgy, moody, and hyper-defensive, while the more adventurous will enjoy plenty of playful competitiveness. Attack politics may make the holidays seem like a war zone.<br /><br />5. Mars opposes Pluto on January 2, but this astro-event is so powerful that it will be in effect for the last ten days of December. Expect major transportation snarls, and for many, an internalized sense of rage. Sports events will likely be intensely competitive, and bring an unusual number of severe injuries. Violence in global hotspots is likely. </span></span></span>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8530651061176187692.post-75387767195826998972007-12-03T20:49:00.001-08:002007-12-03T20:49:39.649-08:00Sunspots, GDP, and the Stock Market<div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoTitle"><span style="font-size: 16pt; font-weight: normal;">Sunspots, GDP, and the Stock Market<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: left;" align="left"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoTitle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Theodore Modis</span><a style="" href="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tmodis/Sunspots_GDP_Stock_Market.htm#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-weight: normal;"><span style="">*</span></span></span></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoTitle"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Growth-Dynamics, Via Selva 8, Massagno, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <h2>Abstract</h2> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>A correlation has been observed between the US GDP and the number of sunspots as well as between the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the number of sunspots. The data cover 80 years of history. The observed correlations permit forecasts for the GDP and for the stock market in America with a future horizon of 10 years. Both being above their long-term trend they are forecasted to go over a peak around Jun-2008.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i>Keywords: </i>Sunspots; Stock market forecast; GDP forecast</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>1. Introduction</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6pt; text-indent: 15pt;">There have been many claims and counterclaims for the existence of a correlation between sunspot activity (as measured by the number of sunspots) and the economy or stock-market movements. Interestingly, opponents of this notion, like astronomers J. V. Wall and C. R. Jenkins, claim that this correlation is well-known but mainly as folklore because trying to substantiate it is very difficult — and trying to find an underlying physical cause even more so. But they admit that this correlation may after all exist because global temperature is now known to correlate with sunspot number and long-term weather trends may have physical, social and economic effects [1]. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6pt; text-indent: 15pt;">At the same time, proponents of this notion, like “guru” Michael Wells Mandeville, claim, “it is easy to see that both political and economic affairs are profoundly caught up and influenced by the ‘waves’ of sunspot energy.” But he also admits that there is zero correlation between daily price movements and average daily sunspot numbers and there is only a weak connection between long-term historical trends in the prices and average monthly or annual trends in the numbers of the sunspots [2]. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">The work reported here presents hard-to-dispute evidence for the existence of a correlation between stock-market movements as measured by the DJIA (Dow Jones Industrial Average) and sunspot activity, as well as between GDP growth and sunspot activity. No causality arguments are made and there is no attempt to understand the mechanisms behind the observed correlation. The author would be satisfied with as little explanation as the possibility that sunspot activity may influence the climate on earth, which in turn may influence the economy.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">Still, given the correlation and the rather reliable forecasts for sunspot activity provided by NASA, the author ventures long-range forecasts for GDP growth and the stock market in the United States. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>2. Sunspots and the DJIA<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">Extensive detailed monthly data are available for both the DJIA [3] and for the number of sunspots [4]. Moreover, NASA provides a rather reliable forecast for the next 11 years of the latter [5]. The raw data are shown in Fig 1. The lower time limit 1-Oct-1928 is the earliest monthly reporting of the DJIA [3]. The most recent data point is at the end of Mar-2007.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">It is very difficult to search for evidence of correlation between the DJIA and sunspots in Figure 1. The endeavor becomes more realistic if one looks at deviations from the long-range trends. Long-range trends are traditionally extracted via moving averages. It this case it was reasonably expected (and subsequently observed) that an 11-year average wash out the ups and downs of the sunspot activity. On the DJIA data, the 11-year average outlined two well-defined S-shaped steps punctuated by the mid 1970s. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 15pt;" align="center"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'width:450pt;"> <v:imagedata src="./Sunspots_GDP_Stock_Market_files/image001.png" title="NEW-1"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tmodis/Sunspots_GDP_Stock_Market_files/image002.jpg" shapes="_x0000_i1027" height="418" width="600" /><!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoBodyText3">Fig. 1. Raw monthly data for the DJIA and the sunspot number. The dotted line is a forecast provided by NASA. The thin solid line is an 11-year moving average. The gray line shows two logistic fits, see text.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">Logistic fits were fitted on the two S-shaped steps of the DJIA trend, one for the range Mar-1934 to Dec-1979 and another one for the range Jan-1973 to Sep-2001, also shown in Fig. 1. The edge limits of Mar-1934 and Sep-2001 were dictated by the 11-year average, which becomes uncertain toward the edges of the range. The decision to fit logistic curves on these two segments of the overall range was arbitrary because there is no reason to believe that the growth of DJIA follows a logistic. The decision is justified to some extent <i>a posteriori</i> by the goodness of the fits: the correlation coefficients were 0.9976 for the former and 0.9996 for the latter. The slope of the trend has been slowing down for some time and presently is at 1.2% per year.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">Fig. 2 shows the percent deviations from the moving-average trends both for the DJIA and the number of sunspots. To minimize uncertainty the deviations are taken with respect to the fitted trends at the edges of the data range.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 15pt;" align="center"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1030" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'width:450pt;height:299.25pt'"> <v:imagedata src="./Sunspots_GDP_Stock_Market_files/image003.gif" title="NEW-2"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tmodis/Sunspots_GDP_Stock_Market_files/image003.gif" shapes="_x0000_i1030" height="399" width="600" /><!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 15pt;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Fig. 2. Percent deviations with respect to the long-term trends as calculated via 11-year moving averages. The arrows point at the “significant” DJIA peaks. The last arrow is a forecast (Jun-2008), see text.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">The fluctuations of the DJIA pattern are more irregular than those of the sunspots. The mathematically calculated correlation between the two patterns is not significant. But there is enough visual similarity between the two patterns to raise suspicion. Small arrows point out the tallest well-defined peaks of the DJIA pattern. They seem to regularly precede the peaks of the sunspot pattern. Table I gives the time difference between each arrow and the central time of following sunspot peak. The last arrow is positioned at the average distance ahead of the forecasted sunspot peaks.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <h4>Table I</h4> <p class="MsoNormal">All dates are in decimal fractions of a year.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <table style="width: 150.35pt; border-collapse: collapse;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; width: 48pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">DJIA peaks</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; width: 54.35pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="72"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Sunspot peaks</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; width: 48pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">Delta</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1937.17</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1938.25</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1.08</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1946.33</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1948.67</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">2.34</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1956.25</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1958.42</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">2.17</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1966.00</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1969.25</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">3.25</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1976.50</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1980.83</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">4.33</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1987.58</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1990.50</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">2.92</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1999.92</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">2001.17</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1.25</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><span style=""> </span>Ave. delta</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">=<span style=""> </span>2.48</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Forecast:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">2008.44<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style=""> </span>2010.92<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 15pt;" align="center"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>3. Sunspots and the GDP</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">The possibility that DJIA fluctuations may be synchronized with sunspot fluctuations prompted a search for a similar relationship between GDP and sunspots. Monthly data were not available for the GDP so Fig. 3 shows the yearly evolution of US GDP in constant dollars of 2000 up to the end of 2006 [6]. Once again the trend has been extracted via an 11-year moving overage, which gave a very good fit to a logistic, correlation coefficient 0.9996. Today the trend slope is 2.6% per year. The midpoint of this logistic is anticipated for mid-2028, at which time the US GDP will grow on the average at a maximum annual rate of 345 billion dollars of 2000.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 15pt;" align="center"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1033" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'width:450pt;height:286.5pt'"> <v:imagedata src="./Sunspots_GDP_Stock_Market_files/image004.png" title="NEW-3"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tmodis/Sunspots_GDP_Stock_Market_files/image005.jpg" shapes="_x0000_i1033" height="382" width="600" /><!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoBodyText2" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0pt;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Fig. 3. Yearly data for the long-term evolution of the US GDP in constant dollars of 2000. The light-gray line is a trend established by an 11-year moving average. The dark gray line is a logistic fit to the 11-year trend line.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">As with the DJIA the data must be de-trended before any correlation can show up. Percent deviations with respect to the 11-year moving average are calculated for both GDP and sunspots. Once again, the fluctuations for the edge points are calculated with respect to the fitted S-curve of Fig. 3 so as to avoid any uncertainties stemming from incomplete averages. For the sake of direct comparison Fig. 4 extends over the same chronological period as </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Fig. 2.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">The correlation between GDP and sunspot fluctuations is again not demonstrable mathematically but visually it is more striking than that between DJIA and sunspots. Here again the GDP peaks precede the sunspot peaks in a rather orderly manner; only one significant fluctuation around 1973 is not synchronized with the sunspot “clock” (it may be accidental but it is interesting to note that the irregularities of both DJIA and GDP patterns around this time are associated with the most irregular sunspot cycle).</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 15pt;" align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1037" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'width:450pt;height:284.25pt'"> <v:imagedata src="./Sunspots_GDP_Stock_Market_files/image006.png" title="NEW-4"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tmodis/Sunspots_GDP_Stock_Market_files/image007.gif" shapes="_x0000_i1037" height="379" width="600" /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 15pt;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Fig. 4. Percent deviations with respect to the long-term trends as calculated via 11-year moving averages. The arrows point at the “significant” GDP peaks. The last arrow is a forecast (Jun-2008), see text.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">The arrows in Fig. 4 point at the center of the upward excursions of the GDP pattern. The last arrow is positioned at the expected average distance ahead of the forecasted sunspot peak, see Table II.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <h4>Table II</h4> <p class="MsoNormal">All dates are in decimal fractions of a year.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p> <table style="width: 150.35pt; border-collapse: collapse;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; width: 48pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">DGP peaks</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; width: 54.35pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="72"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Sunspot peaks</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; width: 48pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom" width="64"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">Delta</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1927.92</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1928.92</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1936.50</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1938.92</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">2.42</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1944.92</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1948.33</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">3.38</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1954.92</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1958.92</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">4</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1967.20</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1969.92</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">2.72</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1978.70</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1980.92</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">2.22</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1987.50</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1990.10</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">2.6</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">1999.92<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">2001.92<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT">2<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><span style=""> </span>Ave. delta</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;" lang="IT"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">=<span style=""> </span>2.54</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 12.75pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Forecast:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;" align="right"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">2008.38<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><span style=""> </span>2010.92<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt 0.75pt 0pt; height: 12.75pt;" nowrap="nowrap" valign="bottom"> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>4. DJIA and GDP</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">The fact that both the DJIA and the GDP seem to be correlated with the sunspots suggests that there should also be some correlation between DJIA and GDP. Such correlation would be much easier to justify because both these variables reflect the state of the economy in some way. Superimposing the DJIA and GDP curves from Figs. 2 and 4, and plotting only yearly points, we obtain Fig. 5. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 15pt;" align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1039" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'width:450pt;height:235.5pt'"> <v:imagedata src="./Sunspots_GDP_Stock_Market_files/image008.png" title="NEW-5"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tmodis/Sunspots_GDP_Stock_Market_files/image009.jpg" shapes="_x0000_i1039" height="314" width="600" /><!--[endif]--></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 15pt;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Fig. 5. We see superimposed here the DJIA curve from Fig. 2 and the GDP curve from Fig. 4<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">Indeed the two patterns seem to overlap more than just accidentally. Nevertheless, once again the correlation coefficient mathematically calculated indicates no significant correlation (<i>r</i> = 0.5). </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>5. Forecasts</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">The correlations observed can be combined with the trends to produce long-range forecasts for the DJIA and the GDP. The present upward excursions of the DJIA and GDP should continue until Jun-2008. Considering the regularity of past upward excursions we can assume that the recent upward slopes will persist until the time of the climactic point indicated by the right-most arrow on Figs. 2 and 4. At that time — around Jun-2008 — the excursions will have reached 12.6% and 1.1% with respect to present levels for the DJIA and GDP respectively. But these excursions take place on top of the trends, established as 1.2% and 2.6% respectively. Therefore, the level forecasted for the DJIA in Jun-2008 is 13908, and that for the GDP is 11976.5 billion dollars of 2000.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">From mid-2008 onward both the stock market and the GDP should move downward toward their long-range trends. Invoking again the regularity of past fluctuations it is assumed that the downward movements will follow slopes equal to the negative of the upward ones and for the same duration. The calculations yield a rock-bottom level of 7919 for the DJIA in early 2014, and 12900 billion 2000$ for the GDP in late 2012. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><b><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>6. Conclusions</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">Science-based decision-making tools enjoy objectivity and are particularly useful in situations where human bias can play an important role. But defending the idea that stock-market growth correlates to GDP growth does not need scientific support; after all, they both reflect fundamental aspects of the same economy. On the contrary, one is surprised that the correlation between DJIA and GDP turns out to be scientifically insignificant. Are our scientific criteria too stringent in this case?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">If one accepts that there must be some correlation between GDP growth and stock-market growth as displayed in Fig. 5, then one cannot use the lack of scientific proof as an argument against the existence of correlation between the stock market and sunspots (Fig.2), or between GDP and sunspots (Fig.4). On the other hand, if these correlations are real, than we can venture long-range forecasts for the DJIA and the GDP. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">The forecasts thus obtained carry a considerable uncertainty stemming not only from the limited correlation with the sunspots. The NASA-issued forecast for the future cycle of sunspots also carries uncertainty, and more importantly, there is a significant uncertainty due to the assumption that the present upward excursions of the DJIA and the GDP will turn out to be symmetric. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;">But long-range stock-market forecasts, as much as they are sought after, remain scarce and speculative. The levels forecasted here for the DJIA of 13908 in mid 2008 and 7919 in early 2014, may be daring but they have been obtained with minimal speculation. As for the GDP forecasts, obtained in exactly the same manner, it is unlikely that they will provoke any vehement objections from economists.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 15pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>7. References</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6pt;">[1] J. V. Wall and C. R. Jenkins, Practical Statistics for Astronomers, Cambridge Observing Handbooks for Research Astronomers, Cambridge, 2003.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6pt;">[2] The <i>Coming Economic Collapse of 2006: Trends, Predictions, & Prognostications for 2004-2006 and Beyond</i> by Michael Wells Mandeville (Paperback - Jul 2003)</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6pt;"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -6pt;">[3] The monthly DJIA data since 1-OCT-1928 have been obtained from the website of Yahoo Finance at <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/q/hp?s=%5EDJI&a=09&b=1&c=1928&d=03&e=25&f=2007&g=m"><span style="">http://finance.yahoo.com/q/hp?s=%5EDJI&a=09&b=1&c=1928&d=03&e=25&f=2007&g=m</span></a><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">[4] The monthly mean sunspot numbers have been obtained from the National Geophysical Data Center at Boulder, CO, see <a href="ftp://ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/SOLAR_DATA/SUNSPOT_NUMBERS/MONTHLY"><span style="">ftp://ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/SOLAR_DATA/SUNSPOT_NUMBERS/MONTHLY</span></a>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">[5] The solar cycle prediction is provided by NASA at <a href="http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/predict.shtml"><span style="">http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/predict.shtml</span></a>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--> <!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">[6] The US GDP data have been obtained from U.S. Department of Commerce</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Bureau of Economic Analysis at <a href="http://www.bea.gov/index.htm"><span style="">http://www.bea.gov/index.htm</span></a>. </p> </div> <div style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br /> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%"> <!--[endif]--> <div style="" id="ftn1"> <p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a style="" href="http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tmodis/Sunspots_GDP_Stock_Market.htm#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="">*</span></span></span></a> Theodore Modis is the founder of Growth Dynamics, an organization specializing in strategic forecasting and management consulting. http://www.growth-dynamics.com</p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText">Address reprint requests to: Theodore Modis, Via Selva 8, 6900 Massagno, Lugano,</p> <p class="MsoFootnoteText">Switzerland. E-mail: tmodis@compuserve.com.</p> </div> </div>Alexander "The G.R.E.A.T." Alperovichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03259430228224352588noreply@blogger.com1