Market Preview for the week beginning December 13, 2021

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Inflation accelerated at its fastest pace since 1982 in November, the Labor Department said Friday, putting pressure on the economic recovery and raising the stakes for the Federal Reserve. The consumer price index, which measures the cost of a wide-ranging basket of goods and services, rose 0.8% for the month, good for a 6.8% pace on a year over year basis and the fastest rate since June 1982. ¬– Jeff Cox, “Inflation Surged 6.8% in November to Fastest Rate Since 1982,” www.cnbc.com, December 10, 2021.

Last April, economist thought inflation would be around 2.5% right now. Instead, it’s over 6%. Even by the forgiving standards of economic forecasting, that’s a miss of epic proportions…. Meanwhile, faster inflation could become self-perpetuating through price and wage-setting behavior. Then, the solution to this unfamiliar inflation becomes painfully familiar: higher interest rates and perhaps a recession. – Greg Ip, “A Bout of Inflation That Defies Old Models,” The Wall Street Journal, December 9, 2021.

Last week followed the powerful solar eclipse of December 4 and started with big bang. How else would one expect the exaggerative nature of Sagittarius to behave?

After several world indices suffered one of their steepest (and in some cases like the U.S.A., the steepest) and most prolonged declines of the year with the low of December 3, most embarked upon very strong rallies last week. For many, like the DJIA, the low of December 1-3 was the lowest price seen in 7-8 weeks. But on Monday, December 6, it was up 646 followed by another 462 points the following day. Friday was up another 216 points. It should be pointed out that the low of December 3 probably had more to do with transiting Mars making a T-square to the NYSE Mercury/Pluto square, a combination that has a reliable correlation to sharp selloffs and lows in U.S. stock indices. The sharp rally that followed was probably related to the solar eclipse in Sagittarius that immediately followed the Mars transit.

Also noteworthy was the Shanghai Composite. After making a low of 3526 the previous week on November 29, it soared to 3688 on December 9, getting very close to its multi-year high of 3731 made on February 18. This is important because the first Saturn/Uranus waning square passage took place on February 17. The third and final exact waning square of those two planets is approaching on December 24 and the SSE appears poised to make another important high. Then what? After the first high in February, it dropped sharply to its first leg of a double bottom low of the year on March 9. After the second Saturn/Uranus passage in June, when the SSE made its next primary cycle crest, it dropped to the second leg of its yearly low on July 28. It has the markings of a pattern here.

In other markets, Silver had a nasty week, falling to 21.81 on Friday. Just three weeks earlier, on MMA’s last 2-star critical reversal date, it was up to 25.49. The good news is that Gold did not follow the same plight as Silver. It held well above its low of the previous week at 1762.20 on December 2.

Short-term Geocosmics and Longer-term Thoughts

Earlier this week, the People’s Bank of China said it would ease banks’ reserve requirements, effectively making more cash available for bank lending. The move went against policy signals it had sent weeks earlier and came as central banks and other financial institutions came under scrutiny by Beijing in its effort to curb capital forces in the economy. – Lingling Wei, “China’s Central Bank Feels Reins Tighten in Shake-Up,” Wall Street Journal, December 9, 2021.

President Biden ruled out the unilateral use of U.S. force if Russia invades its neighbor (Ukraine). A Russian invasion of Ukraine would be one of the most significant military actions in Europe since the Cold War’s end, posing a security challenge for the European Union, Western European powers, and NATO. – Catherine Lucey, Ann M. Simmons, “Biden Rules Out U.S. Force if Russia Invades Ukraine,” Wall Street Journal, December 9, 2021.

The two quotes above play right into the history of geocosmic signatures arising in the next few days.

First, Venus will turn retrograde on December 19. This is one of the strongest geocosmic correlations to primary cycles. It is not 100%, but it has a rate of frequency exceeding 70% which is very high. It will also be in conjunction with Pluto, exact on December 11 and 25. Both of these geocosmic signatures have themes correlating with policy changes by some or several of the world’s central banks.

Venus retrograde, December 19 - January 29, is particularly affiliated with changes and surprises in central bank announcements. Venus rules Taurus, the sign of money and currencies. When any planet turns retrograde, there is a tendency for the matters ruled by that planet to change suddenly and surprisingly. Venus especially is known in astrology as a planet of indecisiveness and as a ruler also of the sign of indecisiveness, Libra. Therefore, a Venus retrograde signifies a time when people often change their mind about something in a relationship or finances. If the changes pertain to central bank policies, they can roil financial markets, especially the value of currencies, treasuries, and stock indices.

Pluto rules Scorpio, the sign opposite Taurus, and also pertains to money, and in particular, debt matters. When Pluto is highlighted with Venus, currency prices are once again highlighted. So too can be the price of Sugar and Soybeans. Not only can Pluto pertain to debt, but as an activity, it can coincide with periods of intrusion or intervention, forcing a change in market trends that are related to a change in policy. Thus, the announcement that the People’s Bank of China has to “walk back” its previous policy signals at the behest of the Chinese government is not surprising to those who understand this correlation, but it may be surprising to those who don’t.

It remains to be seen if other central banks in the world will announce sudden changes to their monetary policies in the coming weeks, and what effect these announcements will have upon financial markets. For instance, the Federal Reserve has stated many times now that it intends to pull back from its quantitative easing programs of buying treasuries every month, and that it will sooner than later begin raising rates. Do not be surprised if the FED changes that narrative in late December or early January when Jupiter transits in a favorable trine aspect to the FRB natal Pluto and sextile its Sun (accommodative). But soon afterwards, don’t be surprised if in fact they do decide to tighten, perhaps even more quickly than originally thought. With Jupiter in Pisces and Venus retrograde conjunct Pluto, the Fed may be giving some seriously mixed messages. I am not so sure the market will appreciate this level of uncertainty and inconsistency. And everyone knows that politicians in power aren’t going to applaud a raise in rates.

Our expectation is that Venus retrograde will correlate with the culmination of primary cycles and commence a counter-trend reversal of multiple weeks, maybe even months.

The second quote regarding the military buildup of Russian troops along the border of Ukraine ties into the history of Mars entering Sagittarius and Capricorn, December 13-March 6.

In a study I conducted several years ago on Crude Oil prices, I noted that large price moves and frequent reversals occurred most often when Mars was in Sagittarius-Capricorn and Gemini. Further research also revealed that these volatile fluctuations in Crude Oil prices coincided with an increase in military aggression, especially in the Middle East, and especially involving Israel. It leads one to wonder if the Russian build-up on the border of Ukraine will also coincide with a similar military advance of Iran or some other Middle Eastern country that complicates or distracts from the concern of a threat to Ukraine.

With Saturn entering its final exact waning square to Uranus on December 24, and with an orb of influence that lasts up to 10 months, and with Venus turning retrograde in conjunction with Pluto, there may be more than one crisis facing the world in the next 1-7 weeks. And given that the Venus/Pluto conjunction also conjoins the natal Moon/Pluto conjunction in the U.S. founding chart (July 2, 1776), one has to be concerned about America’s preparedness to handle multiple crises at once. Is America safe? This is the subject of one of the chapters in the Forecast 2022 Book. The eBook version was just released on Thursday, December 9, and the printed version will be sent out next week.

It is also worth noting that in 2022, Mars will turn retrograde in Gemini. It enters Gemini on August 20, turns retrograde at 25° Gemini on October 29, 2022, turns direct again at 8° Gemini on January 12, 2023, and finally departs Gemini on March 25, 2023. During the period it turns retrograde, it will form a conjunction to the U.S. natal Mars square Neptune. When it turns direct, it will conjoin the U.S. natal Uranus. Given that Saturn will also come within one degree of orb to the waning square of Uranus again in September-October 2022, just before the U.S. midterm elections, this escalation of military aggression may draw in the U.S., even against its will, to be involved unilaterally or otherwise.

The question on the minds of many Americans is now and will be for the next year, I think: Will the U.S. Commander-in-Chief be up to the task of protecting Americans and its allies better than he exhibited in August during the U.S. withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan? It is a relevant question to ask of astrologers given that the third and final exact Saturn/Uranus waning square on December 24 will form a T-square to President Biden’s natal Mars, the planet of aggression and/or military leadership.

On a final related note, I do not think that initiating a war on Ukraine will be in Russia’s best interest long-term. Every 36 years, when Saturn conjoins Neptune, Russia seems to implode. The last three times this cosmic event occurred were in 1989 (collapse of Communism), 1953 (death of Stalin), and 1917 (Bolshevik revolution and overthrow of the Czar). In this writer’s opinion, Russia would be better off trying to execute a diplomatic resolution in the long run and avoid the possibility of another cyclical 36-year uprising, overthrow, or forced transformation of its current government within one year of the next Saturn/Neptune conjunction that takes place on February 20, 2026.

In the meantime, get ready for December 11-25, when three powerful geocosmic signatures unfold that could change current market trends and political/banking policies. It may be a holiday season, but it could be a turbulent one. The cosmic drama starts to unfold this week and should be apparent through January.

Announcements

	THE DECEMBER ISSUE OF THE MMA CYCLES REPORT came out last week. With stock indices falling (as expected) as we head into the last Saturn/Uranus waning square and Venus retrograde this month, this becomes another important juncture for stocks. Every issue provides MMA’s intermediate-term and near-term outlook for the U.S. stock market, Gold, Silver, Treasuries, Euro Currency, Crude Oil, and Soybeans. Each issue also contains MMA’s original geocosmic critical reversal dates (CRDs) and Solar/Lunar reversal dates over the next several weeks for DJIA, Gold, and Silver, complete with trading strategies for position traders during the next month. If you are not a subscriber to the monthly MMA Cycles Report and would like a copy of MMA’s outlook for financial markets, consider trying this issue for only $35 /€ 32. And keep in mind that subscribers to this report will also receive a complimentary mid-term report of MMA Cycles (the “addendum”) written by MMTA student Pouyan Zolfagarnia 1-3 weeks later !). Read more about MMA Cycles Report>> and/or The Dutch, which inlcudes the AEX index, go to SMT Cyclus Nieuwsbrief >>
	The annual Forecast 2022 ebook will be mailed out this week, by December 14-15 ! In this year’s Forecast, you’ll discover:     The importance of the Pluto return in the United States’ chart and its conjunction to the U.S. natal Moon.   How Saturn in Aquarius square Uranus in Taurus will come close to an exact conjunction for the final time, and its relationship to protest movements urge for individual freedoms and equality, and fights between tech companies and government.   The New “Era of Moderation” begins (and the dangers of the opposite in 2022-2023)   The outlook for Financial and Commodity Markets in 2022, including The US Stock Market, T-Notes and Interest Rates, Gold and Silver, Bitcoin, Currency Markets, Grain Markets, and Crude Oil, Critical Reversal Dates for 2022…   Is the U.S. safe? PLUS! Much, much more. The Forecast 2022 Book makes for an excellent holiday gift for your favorite market follower, or astrologer/student/friend! Although 2021 is not yet over, several forecasts made in the 2021 book have already unfolded. For a review of the Forecast 2021 Book as of September 23, 2021, please visit our Scorecard.
	Forecast 2022 World markets Each foreign translation of Forecast 2022 has a section on that nation’s stock market that is not in the English or other nation’s Forecast Book. Yet we are aware that some readers and investors may be interested in the stock markets of these other nations, but do not wish those editions in the other nation’s language. Therefore, we make those stock market outlooks available in English and one in Dutch as a separate service for $35.00/ € 32 each. For our Dutch reading clients interested in the Netherlands' stock market and the Primal stock market exchange's (September 1, 1602, Amsterdam) horoscope , we will make available the 2022 stock market outlook for the Netherlands' AEX index, in Dutch language by MMA analyst Irma Schogt. The overseas market reports for 2022 that are available separately in English include: Japan’s Nikkei, China’s Shanghai Composite, and the German DAX plus Zurich SMI indices. Each is available in PDF format at $35.00/€32*-€ 33* each. Each is about 9-10 pages, with their monthly charts as of November 2021, and a list of their critical reversal dates for 2022.
	This year we are again pleased to announce the publication of our Trends for the Twelve Signs 2022 eBook, which will include the individual Sun Signs forecasts. Find out what lies ahead for your sign in 2022! This very popular book on the annual outlook for each sign is written by Antonia Langsdorf-Merriman and Raymond Merriman. It covers the health and relationships outlook for each sign (by Langsdorf) and the business, career and overall psychological outlook of each sign for the year (by Merriman). The cost of this book version is $25/€ 22. Save €11 by purchasing both Forecast 2022 and Trends for the Twelve Signs 2022 eBooks together, Forecast 2022 Ultimate Bundle for € 59*.
	The New Merriman on Market Cycles: The Basics is out! The print and eBook versions are available! This new edition (both printed and eBook) contains the most comprehensive and modern listing of 175 long-, intermediate-, and short-term financial cycles in over 40 financial, currency, and commodity markets available anywhere! The book is a clearly written text on the MMA methodology for determining cycles periodicities and recognizing patterns within those cycles. It is a 72-page basic book for those who want to improve their timing skills by integrating cycles analysis with technical studies. It is a glossy softcover, 8-1/2” x 11” with illustrations to demonstrate the correct way to count cycle lengths, identify their phases with instruction on the trading strategies used to successfully trade each phase. The cost of the new version is $35.00 Order your copy of the eBook here now>> or place your order forthe printed book here>>
	The best way to really learn Market Timing and Financial Astrology today!! This is a fantastic way to learn the unique market timing methodology of MMA! Each course (four courses in all in the first year) contained 7 classes. The first year focused on market timing tools and skills, via cycles and geocosmic studies applied to long-, intermediate- and short-term trading time bands. In addition to the 7 recordings of each of the four courses (28 in all), a workbook of 60-120 pages of each course is included to follow along with the video recordings. This is not for the casual student, but rather for the serious individual who wishes to become a market timing analyst or trader. These classes were lively and exciting with great interaction and questions from the students who were present live while the classes were given by Gianni di Poce and Raymond Merriman. The cost for each course is $1800 (7 classes in each course, approximately 15 hours of recordings per course). Or the entire 4-course recordings of this first year are available for a discounted price of $6600. Save $600 by ordering MMTA2: Year One Recordings (Courses 1-4). For more information on each class and each course, please click here>> “As you know, I started MMTA the first week of last September, I barely finished all videos, I would like to deeply thank you for sharing your knowledge. Recently I have been trading MMA Cycles methodology on every time frame, even a 1-minute chart. My success rate increased a lot, more than that now I have a deep understanding of market movement with peace of mind, Thank you again.” J.H, MMTA student after viewing “first-year videos” and joining for the last course. “Just wanted to say a big thank you as I really can't believe the power of the material you are teaching us. I was always a little wary of short-term trading, but the past few weeks have been eye-opening.” P.Z. First-year MMTA student during Course 4.

Disclaimer & State of Purpose

The purpose of this column is not to predict the future movement of various financial markets. However, that is the purpose of the Schogt Market Timing & MMA (Merriman Market Analyst) subscription services. This column is not a subscription service. It is a free service, except in those cases where a fee may be assessed to cover the cost of translating this column from English into a non-English language. 

This weekly report is written with the intent to educate the reader on the relationship between astrological factors and collective human activities as they are happening. In this regard, this report will oftentimes report what happened in various stock and financial markets throughout the world in the past week, and discuss that movement in light of the geocosmic signatures that were in effect. It will then identify the geocosmic factors that will be in effect in the next week, or even month, or even years, and the author's understanding of how these signatures will likely affect human activity in the times to come. 

The author (Merriman) will do this from a perspective of a cycle's analyst looking at the military, political, economic, and even financial markets of the world. It is possible that some forecasts will be made based on these factors. However, the primary goal is to both educate and alert the reader as to the psychological climate we are in, from an astrological perspective. The hope is that it will help the reader understand these psychological dynamics that underlie (or coincide with) the news events and hence financial markets of the day.

No guarantee as to the accuracy of this report is being made here. Any decisions in financial markets are solely the responsibility of the reader, and neither the author nor the publishers assume any responsibility at all for those individual decisions. Reader should understand that futures and options trading are considered high risk.