Book Reviews
Zip Dobyns
THE ULTIMATE BOOK ON STOCK MARKET TIMING
by Raymond Merriman
MMA/Seek-It-Publications, October 1997
Ray is the current president of ISAR, the International Society for Astrological Research, and has worked for many years applying astrological principles to stock market and commodity timing. He offers two newsletters on a variety of world markets, and has published several previous book on the use of astrology in economic cycles.
His new book provides a wide overview of many cycles, ranging from as short as 17 months in Japanese stocks to an 80 to 90 year cycle in U.S. stocks. Ray shows how to subdivide the longer cycles into “phases,” compares investing versus trading, discusses using market timing versus the policy of “buy and hold,” and many other specialized areas in investing. The book has sections on the Dow Jones index and the S & P (Standard and Poors) Futures plus numerous tables, graphs, charts, figures, and diagrams. The book is an impressive technical manual for any investor, even one with a minimal knowledge of astrology.
For additional information, write to MMA/Seek-It Publications, P.O. Box 250012, West Bloomfield, MI 48325. Phone: 1 (248) 626-3034. FAX: 1 (248) 626-5674. E-Mail: mmacycles@msn.com Internet: http://www.mmacycles.com
I had intended to discuss the Japanese Stock Market in this issue of The Mutable Dilemma, but have run out of space so will postpone it. In light of the current problems in the Asian economies, many experts are wondering whether Japan will follow Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, and Hong Kong in catching the “Asian flu.” The economic excesses of Asia started catching up to them in July 1997 when currency speculators made a run on the Thai currency and started the dominos falling. The stated problem, excessive investments and imports, does not mean that the factories, office buildings, hotels, etc. which were being built could not be used. The actual problem is that the people who could use them do not have enough money to pay for them or for the products being imported or slated to be produced by the new factories. The depreciation of the Asian currencies and major job losses mean that the U.S. will have reduced exports to Asia and increased imports, so the U.S. stock market is doing nip ups (being volatile, to use the proper term).
Ray sent me a personal communication outlining his accurate past predictions and his expectations for the immediate future. To condense a very long report, Ray suggests that the August 7, 1997 top on the DOW marked the start of the bear market phase of a 4 year cycle in the U.S. stock market. He will make more detailed forecasts as time continues, but as of the fall of 1997, he thinks the bottom of the cycle could come anywhere from March to December 1998. Past declines have produced losses ranging from 12 to 52% of the value of the market at its top, but the more recent declines have been on the small end of this range. It will be time to buy more stocks when we approach the bottom, hopefully, some time next year. Unlike the depression of the 1930s, at this time the major countries of the world are working together, trying to avoid a worldwide depression. We will see whether they can tame the tiger of total competition.
Forecasts 1998
by Raymond Merriman, Seek-It Publications
Ray has been writing annual books of forecasts for years, and his current offering is packed with information. He includes an amazing amount of material ranging from the Kondratieff cycle to many other economic cycles, correlations of coming astrological patterns with historical events during past periods with similar patterns, forecasts for stocks, commodities, precious metals, and much more. There is a chapter on the coming ECU, the European Currency Unit, including important dates in the process of establishing it. Ray suggests that after a difficult start during 1998 to 2000, Europe may lead the world economically for several years in the next century. He expects a downturn in the U.S. during 1998-9. He also covers Japan in some depth, describing their economy as still in the downward part of the Kondratieff cycle, with the bottom likely around 1999. The U.S., in contrast, had its Kondratieff bottom (centering in agriculture and mining) in 1986 and the coming decline during 1998-9 is seen as a temporary pause in a fairly long upswing. Our next and greater challenge period is timed for 2014-2018, though it too is a pause in an overall expansion which is mostly credited to new technology.
I can’t begin to cover everything in the book in a brief review, and recommend it for anyone interested in how astrology can offer insight into the world. For his forecasts on the U.S., Ray prefers the Declaration of Independence chart which I used for some years, calculated for 9:36 A.M. EST on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia. As our readers know, I still see that as a useful chart though I am also using a late afternoon chart on July 4 as well as one for July 2 when the delegates voted to issue the Declaration. Countries, like all institutions or businesses, are born in stages, and more than one chart can be useful. Ray does give more credit to Aquarius for its humanitarian potential than I am inclined to do. I see the resistance to limits, the insistence on personal freedom, as more urgent than equality. Uranus, Aquarius, and the eleventh house can be rather indifferent to the needs of others when those needs threaten personal liberty. The Libertarian political Party exemplifies that side of Uranus. Neptune in Aquarius MAY soften the sign’s potential for indifference, but the potential empathy and compassion of Neptune depend on one’s subconscious faith. Without faith in a LOVING God, religion can produce inquisitions.
Ray sees Clinton as under continued attacks during the next two years, and is doubtful that Gore can be elected president in 2000. He provides lists of days when the stock markets may reverse and days when they may be especially volatile, though the whole next two years are subject to dramatic ups and downs. He suggests that the price of silver may have reached its bottom and turned while gold is probably going lower before it hits its lowest price. There are even forecasts for people based on their individual Sun signs. As already indicated, I can’t possible cover everything in the book, but I found it fascinating and valuable.