MMA FREE WEEKLY COLUMN FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING DECEMBER 8, 2025

by Gianni Di Poce, MMA Analyst

REVIEW

A key inflation measure was lower than expected in September, the Commerce Department said Friday in a report delayed by the government shutdown that gives a further green light for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates.

— Jeff Cox, “Core Inflation Rate Watched By Fed Hit 2.8%, Delayed September Data Shows, Lower Than Expected,” CNBC, December 5, 2025.

Layoffs announced by employers declined on a monthly basis in November but still pushed the 2025 total to the highest level since the wave of pandemic-induced layoffs in 2020, new data from Challenger, Gray & Christmas shows.

— Eric Revell, “U.S. Layoffs Soar Past 1.1M In 2025, Highest Level Since the Pandemic,” Fox Business, December 4, 2025.

It was a very strong week for U.S. stocks, which saw the tech sector reassert leadership and the Nasdaq outperform again to the upside. We even saw the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average notch their highest weekly close in history. It sure looks like Santa Claus is about to be coming to town for U.S. equities this year.

European markets were mixed last week, with the FTSE pulling back, while the Amsterdam AEX, Zurich SMI, and German DAX saw solid bids. As 2025 nears its end, Europe is capping off one of its greatest annual performance runs in years. Time will tell whether it remains the hottest regional market in the world in 2026.

Over in Asia and Oceania, the Nikkei saw a modest bid and looks to have begun yet another bullish cycle. The Australian All-Ordinaries was marginally lower, while the Shanghai Composite was marginally higher. The Hang Seng Index also saw a nice rally.

Precious metals finished mixed, with Silver rallying to yet another new all-time high, while Gold remains in consolidation mode. The concern here is that Gold hasn’t made a new all-time high since October, but let’s see if it can rediscover its bull trend next week.

Cryptocurrencies are still struggling to emerge from their recent bear trends. We didn’t see new lows in either Bitcoin or Ethereum last week, but they finished lower, with Ethereum and Bitcoin both down (in futures). Perhaps the greater observation is that Ethereum is starting to outperform Bitcoin, which could be setting the stage for the future of crypto and Wall Street.

Commodity markets saw mixed price action too, with Crude Oil closing up on the week. However, grains saw some sell-side action, especially beans. It may take until the Saturn-Neptune conjunction next year for grains to find a clean new uptrend.

SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS

After a brief hiatus when it comes to geocosmic signatures, there’s a notable uptick in activity coming this week. It starts with a tough square between Mars and Saturn—this is worth keeping an eye on with respect to the ongoing negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine.

The most important signature to watch this week, however, is Neptune going stationary direct on Wednesday, December 10. The timing of this signature couldn’t be more auspicious, as the Federal Reserve is expected to lower interest rates by another 25 basis points, or a quarter percent.

This time around, it may not be the rate cut that moves markets the most, but what Fed Chair Jerome Powell has to say. Neptune changing direction emphasizes its themes on that day. Mercury will rule the day, however, as the Moon will be in Virgo. There’s also an opposition between Mercury and Uranus that day, so surprise announcements or a shocking admission are a real possibility.

The current market environment shares numerous similarities with the 1990s – new technologies that are revolutionizing the world, accommodative central banks, economic growth, and even some military conflicts.

But one of the most infamous quotes of the 1990s in financial markets came from former Fed Chair Alan Greenspan, who uttered the phrase “irrational exuberance,” which is a very Neptunian phrase.

Could Jerome Powell, who has been rather hawkish over the past year or so, suddenly say something that comes off as dovish? It’s possible with this geocosmic backdrop, but I’m not going to go so far as to say that he’s about to have his Neptunian Greenspan moment, especially because he’s only going to be the Fed chair for another six months or so. Either way, it looks like Kevin Hasset is going to be the next Fed chair, and I would look for him and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to collaborate closely with one another, and effectively end the illusion (here’s Neptune again) of Fed independence.

LONGER-TERM THOUGHTS (AND OPINION)

“U.S. retailers leaned heavily on discounts this holiday season to drive online demand. Competitive and persistent deals throughout Cyber Week pushed consumers to shop earlier, creating an environment where Black Friday now challenges the dominance of Cyber Monday,” said Vivek Pandya, lead analyst, Adobe Digital Insights. “Shoppers have also become increasingly savvy in finding the best deals and locating the right products, embracing generative AI-powered chat services and browser tools for the second season in a row.”

—”Cyber Monday Hits Record $14.25 Billion in Online Spending with Over $1 Billion Driven by Buy Now Pay Later,” Adobe Analytics, December 2025.

https://news.adobe.com/news/2025/12/adobe-cyber-monday-hits-record

“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” – Mark Twain

It’s no surprise that the holiday shopping season corresponds with Sagittarius season. Retailers do their best to paint the picture that consumers are getting even bigger deals on items in order to entice them to buy more. This type of exaggeration, coupled with the optimism and cheer of the holidays, is a great representation of Sagittarius season.

Despite record Black Friday sales, the reality on the ground for most American consumers is very different. The top 10% of income-earning households now account for half of the spending that takes place in the United States. This is especially significant considering that 70% of the U.S. economy is based on consumption.

It basically means that as long as these households continue to earn (and spend), it props up an illusion that the everyday economy is doing fine. Keep in mind that these are the very households that own the majority of equities, too. So, as long as the “top 10% economy” continues to hold up, we should expect economic data to keep showing growth.

This brings me to my next point – is there any economic reprieve for the other 90%? From a geocosmic standpoint, there very well may be – at least for a short period of time. But we must also prepare for a “new” type of consumer, too.

The geocosmic signatures being alluded to here unfold mostly in the middle of 2026. Jupiter moves into Leo on June 30, 2026, and then the central time band of Uranus trine Pluto begins on July 18, followed by a Jupiter-Neptune trine and Jupiter-Pluto opposition on July 20.

These aspects come after Saturn and Neptune begin to separate from their conjunction in February. The Saturn-Neptune conjunction has helped keep a lid on energy prices, and the potential for a downward drift in oil prices during the first half of 2026 is real. This means energy cost savings for consumers. But there’s also a refinancing boom looming too, as the Fed moves to lower rates again this upcoming week and into 2026. (As a quick side note, Powell’s term is up right around the time of those powerful signatures in summer 2026).

Simply put, the American consumer is being reloaded with more buying power going into 2026. “Buy now, pay later” schemes are more popular than ever, and credit cards are helping to keep the consumer spending like there’s no tomorrow.

Let’s also not forget that another round of stimulus checks is likely to be sent out in 2026, too. And then of course, there are the “Trump Accounts,” where all newborn children in the United States get $1,000 deposited into an investment account at birth. Billionaire Michael Dell also pledged to add an additional $250 to each account.

A few years ago, talks about Universal Basic Income (UBI) were popular. We’re not seeing it rolled out under the official title, but in practice, it seems to be making its way into the economy. In many ways, this reflects Pluto in Aquarius, where powerful individuals and tribes (companies) will seek to garner greater support, even through manipulative tactics, at the expense of national governments.

Now, back to the future evolution of the American consumer.

Think about the last time you watched anything on television. While a significant percentage of advertisements are for pharmaceuticals, there’s been a huge uptick in ads for gambling and sports betting in the more recent past.

Now, think about what Jupiter’s ingress into Leo in June of 2026 could mean for the consumer.

Leo is a sign that represents children (this ties into the Trump accounts and the Jupiter-Pluto opposition), fun, entertainment, speculation, and gambling. A large portion of the population already struggles to make ends meet, but that doesn’t mean they’ll stop spending entirely.

A shift towards less expensive ways of entertainment, but also ones that could lead to financial windfalls, is going to be increasingly popular. Everything is becoming gamified – elections, mundane events, wars, and even simple opinions themselves. Polymarket was just given the green light by the CFTC (Commodities Futures Trading Commission) to resume operating in the U.S. as well.

To be clear—this isn’t an endorsement from me to go gambling—on the contrary. The odds aren’t anywhere near as good as they can be made to be in the world of trading. Plus, the fact that people feel the need to gamble to improve their station speaks volumes about the state of society and the economy, and about how socioeconomic mobility is becoming more difficult. Even so, these developments present a potentially unique sector theme for 2026, especially going into Jupiter’s transit of Leo.

We know where we are in the longer-term cycles, and we also know what types of market moves can occur near their end. It’s even eloquently explained by Publilius Syrus, from all the way back in the first century BC, when he stated, “Fortuna vitrea est: tum cum splendet, frangitur.” This translates to, “Fortune is made of glass: just when it shines brightest, it shatters.”

It’s important to know how to have fun, as Jupiter’s transit through Leo will remind the world, but it’s even more important to know when the party is slowing down, and it’s time to go home. The public may not like what that particular reminder looks like when the time comes.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 NOTE 1: THE DECEMBER ISSUE OF THE MMA MONTHLY CYCLES REPORT WILL BE RELEASED THIS WEEK, DECEMBER 8-9. As mentioned last month, “Late November historically begins a bullish period in U.S. stocks (the ‘Santa Claus rally’). Will it do so again this year, with Venus forming a Grand Water Trine to the Saturn-Neptune conjunction and Jupiter?” It did, as the primary cycle in U.S. stocks bottomed on November 20, right on schedule. Now, what happens next? Each issue includes our outlook for the U.S. stock market (DJIA and S&P), Gold, Silver, Copper, Treasuries, the Euro currency, Crude Oil, and Soybeans. The MMA Monthly Cycles Report also provides MMA’s original geocosmic critical reversal dates (CRDs) and solar/lunar reversal dates for traders over the next several weeks, as well as trading strategies for both position and aggressive short-term traders.

If you would like to try a one-month subscription, you can sign up for the December report for only $35 — or save by ordering a three-report or twelve-report subscription.

 NOTE 2: FORECAST 2026 IS NOW AT THE PRINTER AND ON SCHEDULE TO BE MAILED OUT BY DECEMBER 15!!!

 MMA’s annual Forecast book is an astrological-themed almanac that has served students of cycles and markets since 1976. It provides a cyclical outlook on the collective world psychology, the national economy, a geopolitical overview, socio-cultural trends, weather and natural-calamity potential, as well as financial market projections for the U.S. stock market (DJIA and NASDAQ this year!), the U.S. Treasury market, interest rates, Gold and Silver, currencies (the Euro, U.S. Dollar, Swiss Franc, and Japanese Yen), Bitcoin, Crude Oil, and Grain markets. Additionally, it provides the three-star CRDs for each market for the year, which have maintained an 80+% accuracy rate over the years for trading-cycle highs and lows when given an orb of three trading days. The book is approximately 250 pages (our largest ever because it’s the special 50-year anniversary edition), 8.5″ × 11″. The price of the Forecast 2026 print edition is $66, and the eBook is $55.

To pre-order this year’s 50th-year edition, click here. It’s special! Not only are the market outlooks very valuable, with their own unique CRDs, but this year’s book will include a special long-term outlook based on the outer planets changing signs, written by MMA market analyst and master mundane astrologer Pouyan Zolfagharnia. His contribution to this year’s 50th anniversary edition is remarkable! As commented on by arguably the world’s top mundane astrologer, Claude Weiss of Zurich, Switzerland, who just read the proofs: “I want to congratulate you regarding the content of the 2026 Forecast book. It seems to me even more interesting than previous Forecast books and, in these unusual times, of special interest even to scholars of history and human society, even if they are not mainly interested in stocks and finances. Besides your articles, Pouyan’s chapters of the book are of outstanding quality.” 

The book is 240 pages (our longest and most in-depth ever), 8.5″ x 11″, with beautiful glossy four-color covers. The printed edition is limited. When they sell out, there will be no further printings.

Additional offers: MMA is also offering a special bundle discount for those who order both the eBook and printed editions of Forecast 2026 for $86. The eBook typically becomes available one to two weeks before the print edition and avoids delays caused by the postal system — especially for those living overseas.

There will be 50 autographed copies by Raymond Merriman (no autopen!) of our 50th-year print edition of the Forecast 2026 book available for $195. Orders must be placed by December 10 or until all 50 copies are requested, whichever comes first.

A Forecast 2026 audiobook is now available for only $30.00 if ordered before December 15. The Forecast 2026 audiobook includes all chapters from the Forecast 2026 book except the financial markets and the calendar/ephemeris pages in the back of the annual book. It provides an excellent overview of what’s in store for the coming year(s) for the world and the nation (USA, President Trump, the Federal Reserve Board, the economy, lunar nodal cycles, each outer planet in each sign, and the remarkable “Aries Vortex”). It makes for great listening, narrated by the silky-smooth voice of Thomas Miller. To order, click here.

NOTE 3: EACH FOREIGN EDITION OF THE FORECAST 2026 BOOK INCLUDES A STOCK MARKET SECTION SPECIFIC TO THAT NATION, WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE ENGLISH FORECAST BOOK OR IN THE OTHER INTERNATIONAL EDITIONS. However, we recognize that some readers and investors may be interested in these foreign stock markets without purchasing the entire edition in that nation’s language. Therefore, we make those stock market outlooks available in English as a separate service for $35 each or $95 for all three reports. The overseas market reports for 2026 that are available separately in English include Japan’s Nikkei, China’s Shanghai Composite, and the German DAX plus Zurich SMI indices. Readers who prefer to purchase these offerings together may also take advantage of our discounted bundle options, which can be accessed here. Each is available in PDF format. Each report contains its monthly charts as of December 1, 2025.

NOTE 4: THE NEW AUDIOBOOK OF EVOLUTIONARY ASTROLOGY: THE JOURNEY OF THE SOUL THROUGH STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS, by Raymond Merriman, written in 1993, is now available! It is narrated by Thomas Miller, who has a great voice and who also broadcasts MMA’s free weekly column. The first edition of Evolutionary Astrology, originally published in 1977, introduced this remarkable subject to the astrological community, where it has since become one of astrology’s major branches of study. Get ready to listen to the original work on Evolutionary Astrology that brought a spiritual perspective to the study of astrology from the late 1970s through today. To order the book (hardcover or eBook) or the audio recording, please click here.

 NOTE 5: SPECIAL ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SALE ON THE JUPITER REPORT — YOUR MOMENTS OF OPPORTUNITY! The Jupiter Report was first introduced one year ago, in late September 2024. If you were one of the first to order then, it’s now time to update your outlook for the year ahead. The cost of your 14-month Jupiter Report is $69. However, starting this week, we’re launching a special one-year anniversary sale at $55 (a 21.5% discount) for those who order their next 14-month Jupiter Report.

The Jupiter Report is written by Raymond Merriman. It is a 30- to 40-page report that all traders (and even non-traders) will find highly valuable. It identifies the times during the year when Jupiter transits are highlighted in your natal chart and explains the meaning of Jupiter’s transits to your natal planets and angles over a 14-month period (including one month before your order date and one month after the year ends). As an added bonus, each transit is ranked on a scale from –3 to +3 in terms of favorability for trading. Traders may find this especially valuable! Would you like to know when you are under a +3 transit and therefore most likely to experience trading success? Or a –3 transit, with a stronger-than-usual potential for misjudgments and losses?

The Jupiter Report also makes an excellent holiday or birthday gift.

 Here is a recent letter from our options expert, Derek Panaia, to the Options+ group, which closed out exceptional gains on five option trades presented in the July 13 webinar:

On a side note, I started using MMA’s Jupiter Report this year, so I only have a few months of history with it. But my first positive Jupiter aspects came in March/April this year. I was trading copper and had made a nice long trade, and started buying puts for a dip. The puts did nothing for a week or so, then copper prices collapsed, and my puts went up sharply in one week. This started exactly on the same day my Jupiter Report showed a positive aspect. Well, fast forward a few months, and I have copper put spreads (the same put spreads you guys bought), and yesterday copper prices collapsed, and the puts made a lot of money. And guess what? This was one day before my Jupiter aspects started positive again. For me, it is amazing how accurate this report has been. I just wanted to share this, FWIW. The Jupiter Report from MMA is not very expensive, so if you guys use astrology in your trading, you might want to check it out.

 NOTE 6: THE MMA SOLAR-LUNAR APP NOW OFFERS REVERSAL SIGNALS FOR THE DJIA, NASDAQ, GOLD, AND SILVER. It is an ideal tool to have in your back pocket if you are a short-term swing trader looking for high-probability dates that identify isolated lows and highs in these markets. The app is currently available only on Apple devices (iPhone and iPad). Plans are in progress to create an Android version of this app within the next 3-5 months, and a crypto app shortly thereafter. To learn more about the MMA app, click here. To order, go to the Apple App Store and search for Merriman Solar/Lunar Reversals.

 NOTE 7: RECORDINGS OF MMA’S SPECIAL SIX-WEEK COURSE ON “THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GEOCOSMIC STUDIES FOR FINANCIAL MARKET TIMING” ARE NOW AVAILABLE!!! Led by Gianni Di Poce and supported by Ray Merriman, this course is designed to teach students the basic principles of planets, signs, and aspects (including retrograde and direct stations) as used in MMA’s market-timing methodology — one of its most important tools. The course explains which planets and signs rule the various sectors of the economy and financial markets. In addition, it covers how to use an ephemeris and astrological software (Solar Fire) for important routines such as calculating charts, generating transit “hit lists,” and identifying signs, ingresses, planetary stations, and aspects — the essential cosmic features necessary for determining market reversal periods.

The course is especially useful for those interested in taking the MMTA4 program, which began on September 27, or for anyone wishing to deepen their astrological knowledge. The cost for these six introductory lessons, each lasting about two hours, is $300. This is a great opportunity to learn basic astrology from a master economic astrologer! Click here to order now!

 EVENTS

 FEBRUARY 22, 2026: MMA’S ANNUAL FORECAST 2026 WEBINAR WITH RAY MERRIMAN. Details to be announced soon. For now, SAVE THE DATE!!

 MAY 20-24, 2026: MMA’S NEXT INVESTMENT RETREAT, LAKE BLED, SLOVENIA. SAVE THE DATE!!

Registration will open sometime in December. The presentations will also be available via Zoom for those unable to attend in person. The theme will focus more on market timing and trading at this event. It’s going to be great!

SEPTEMBER 3, 2026: A PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP ON FINANCIAL ASTROLOGY BY RAYMOND MERRIMAN, 1:00–5:00 PM. This workshop will take place at the United Astrology Congress (UAC), the largest astrological conference in the world, which takes place every 4-8 years. More than 150 world-class astrologers will be presenting. The conference will be held at the Marriott Hotel in downtown Chicago. In addition to the workshop, Ray will present two lectures during the six-day event: one on mundane astrology (“What Is Happening in the World from an Astrological Viewpoint”) on September 5, and another on “The U.S. Stock Market: Timing Tools and Outlook” on September 7 (Labor Day). Discounts are available to those who register by January 20. For more information, visit www.uacastrology.com.

Disclaimer and Proper Use of This Information

Disclaimer and statement of purpose: The purpose of this column is not to forecast the future movement of various financial markets. However, that is the purpose of the MMA (Merriman Market Analyst) subscription services. This column is not a subscription service. It is a free service, except in those cases where a fee may be assessed to cover the cost of translating this column from English into a non-English language. This weekly report is written with the intent of educating the reader on the relationship between astrological factors and collective human activities as they occur. In this regard, this report will often cite what happened in various stock and financial markets throughout the world in the past week and discuss those movements 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, month, or even years, and the author’s understanding of how these signatures may affect human activity in the times to come. The author (Merriman) will do this from the perspective of a cycle 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 to the psychological climate we are in from an astrological perspective. The hope is that it will help the reader understand the psychological dynamics that underlie (or coincide with) the news events and their potential effect on financial markets.

 No guarantee as to the accuracy of this report is being made here. Any decisions in financial markets are solely the responsibility of the reader, and neither the author nor the publishers of this column assume any responsibility whatsoever for anyone’s trading or investment decisions. Readers of this report should understand that commodity futures and options trading are considered high-risk.