MMA FREE WEEKLY COLUMN FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING JUNE 29, 2026

 Note: The NYSE and the Nasdaq will be closed for the full day on Friday, July 3, in observance of Independence Day, which falls on Saturday, July 4, 2026.

 REVIEW – by Pouyan Zolfagharnia, Guest Contributor

The U.S. war with Iran—and the economic war the latter waged in return—was supposed to be an apocalyptic moment for the oil market. Instead, oil prices are on the cusp of falling back to their prewar levels.

 The reprieve could be short-lived. Some oil analysts are warning that the sinking prices don’t fully reflect how tight the market remains after months of draws on global oil inventories, which are now flirting with operational limits.

— Collin Eaton and Benoît Morenne, “Oil Prices Make a Stunning Retreat to Prewar Levels. Where Do We Go From Here?” The Wall Street Journal, June 25, 2026.

With fears of a wider Middle East war easing, investors have turned their attention back to the global economy. Oil prices have fallen sharply from their recent highs, while markets are reassessing technology stocks, corporate earnings, and the outlook for interest rates. Yet, the sell-off in Crude Oil may be over-optimistic. With WTI down more than 40% from its March high during June’s geocosmic calm, are things about to change as we enter July?

In Forecast 2026, Ray wrote in his ‘Brief Note to Investors and Traders in 2026’ :

“I also have a specific period for traders to concentrate on in 2026. This would be in the latter half of July (July 15-25), when the transit of Jupiter will form a sextile to Uranus, trine to Neptune, and opposition to Pluto. Uranus will also form a sextile to Neptune and a trine to Pluto. These are intermediate- and long-term planetary cycles, so they require an orb of up to four months to manifest as an intermediate or long-term cycle in various financial markets. But in many cases, such a cycle could very well happen within three weeks of this period. Traders are advised to watch for reversals in markets that are making new yearly highs or lows, or double tops and/or double bottoms.”

As we head into this period, we can see the U.S. equity markets rallying to new all-time highs (ATHs). There is a case of bearish intermarket divergence starting to build with the DJIA making a new high, whilst the Nasdaq and S&P 500 failed to do so. This bearish divergence is also present geographically, with the Japanese Nikkei and Swiss SMI also rallying to new ATHs, whilst the rest of the Asian and European indices lag.

Commodity markets were weak as the U.S. Dollar rallied to test its April 2025 high. Precious metals sold off this week, hitting new multi-month lows along with Crude Oil, Copper, Corn, and the Crypto market. We are on a Critical Reversal Date (CRD) this weekend, followed by another in early July. As such, I’m looking for reversals in a number of these markets with bullish divergences as we approach the next CRD.

SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS

The past week brought several important events as the Sun crossed the cardinal axis at the summer solstice last Sunday. Early in the week, we saw the sudden resignation of yet another UK Prime Minister, and by Wednesday, heart-breaking images started to spread following the earthquakes in Venezuela. In fact, there were six major earthquakes in the past two weeks, which is a bit alarming as Jupiter plows ahead to its opposition to Pluto on July 20. Pluto is often highlighted when there are threats to human life (and crops) via natural calamities.

We are currently in the June 26-29 CRD zone, and Mercury is about to station retrograde on June 29. This appears to be a setup for reversals across several markets, which will be covered in our weekly subscription reports. On June 30, Jupiter will enter the fire sign of Leo, where it will stay for approximately one year. This is the final outer planetary ingress taking place this year. As Jupiter enters the fire sign of Leo, with Saturn and Neptune also in a fire sign (Aries), we are already seeing scorching temperatures with a heatwave encompassing most of Europe.

LONGER-TERM THOUGHTS AND OPINION

In Forecast 2026, this is what I wrote concerning the transit of Jupiter through Leo:

“Prior transits have shown a pattern of transitions in leadership as charismatic figures took the torch of power. Every transit has revealed the rise and fall of leaders, dynasties, and even empires. Therefore, this transit marks a changing of the guard—whether through elections, revolutions, war, or deaths—as leadership itself is in the spotlight…Post–World War II, the focus appears to be on the Middle East, with a strong correlation to geopolitical turmoil in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.”

Shortly after its ingress into Leo, Jupiter will form a hard aspect with Pluto. At the time of writing, this led me to believe that the U.S. would launch an offensive attack on Iran during this month. After all, regarding the ten previous transits that I looked at, the U.S. was always involved in some sort of military operation during the transit of Jupiter through Leo. Also relevant was the fact that the first Gulf War (1990) and the Iraq War (2003) both occurred during this transit.

 However, there appears to be a courageous effort towards achieving peace in the region as we head into the ingress. Will it hold? To be fair, there are a couple of instances of important peace treaties and agreements of note being signed during the transit of Jupiter through Leo. The Triple Entente of 1907 ended the long-standing rivalry between the British and Russian Empires. Following the First World War, the Treaty of Versailles was implemented through this transit in 1919-1920. The Bretton Woods agreement was signed during this transit in 1944.

 Yet I don’t see the change in leadership, a key Leo theme, having yet to take place in Iran. Prior transits resulted in the rise to power of colossal political figures such as Gandhi, Mandela, Atatürk, Roosevelt, Thatcher, Hitler, and Martin Luther King Jr. Perhaps this is yet to unfold, but this is the time for the next leader to ascend to the mantle of power, be it through evolutionary (democratic) or revolutionary (war, assassination, exile) means of change. Even Khomeini, the revolutionary figure who brought about the Islamic Revolution, came to power during the 1978-1979 Jupiter in Leo transit.

 Despite the decapitation of the top tier of Iranian leadership, the Islamic regime appears to be in full control of the country. The hardliners retain full control over the political system and are executing opponents at an alarming rate. To me, this does not feel like change, but the transit of Jupiter in Leo gives me hope.

 ANNOUNCEMENTS

 NOTE 1: THE ANNUAL MMA MID-YEAR MARKET WEBINAR WITH MMA MARKET ANALYSTS WAS GREAT — AND RECORDINGS ARE NOW AVAILABLE. This year’s webinar was conducted in an interview format hosted by Raymond Merriman. The feedback from attendees was very positive, with many saying they loved the new interactive format in which Ray presented his views and then invited each analyst to share their outlook for the second half of 2026. The analysts and markets covered this year included NASDAQ (Wiebke Held), DJIA (Gianni Di Poce), Euro (Ulric Aspegrén), Bitcoin (Ray Merriman), Silver and Crude Oil (Pouyan Zolfagharnia), and Gold and T-Notes (Wyatt Fellows). The webinar lasted just over three hours, with two five-minute breaks, yet no one seemed to get exhausted thanks to the lively exchanges. The cost of the recording is $66 (a super bargain for a workshop covering these markets), which includes the presentation slides. The markets discussed are still very relevant, and many of the setups described are indeed unfolding now! To order, click here. ~260629

Here are three of the several positive responses to the new format and the content:

Today’s webinar was fantastic. I loved the format. There’s a lot of talent in MMA. I listen, learn, and make a lot of money using MMA’s products. Your technical analysis schoolhouse mirrors what the CIA created 25 years ago for their analysts (Sherman Kent School for Intelligence Analysis). Students graduating from your program today will carry your legacy forward for the next 50 years.

— R.B., veteran trader

 That is great feedback! I really enjoyed it too and learned a lot from the team.

— Pouyan Zolfagharnia, MMA Crude Oil and Silver analyst

I also noticed a great improvement, as we showed a unified team (including the same slide background) and more of a discussion rather than a presentation. I think it helped viewers acquire greater clarity through a more active process during the webinar, where you tightened up possible outcomes across many markets.

— Ulric Aspegrén, MMA Euro analyst from the webinar

NOTE 2: A SIX-WEEK SUMMER SCHOOL COURSE ON ESOTERIC ECONOMICS: THE HIDDEN ARCHITECTURE OF WEALTH, BY GIANNI DI POCE, WILL BEGIN ON SUNDAY, JULY 12. This immersive, six-week online course is the complete companion to Esoteric Economics, the financial astrology textbook written by Gianni Di Poce. The course touches on conventional economics, but it also reveals the deeper, often invisible currents that truly govern wealth: archetypal forces, temporal rhythms, capital flows, and the ancient principles that have shaped civilizations for millennia. The course blends rigorous historical and technical analysis with esoteric insight, practical tools, and visionary thinking. You will not simply study economics — you will be initiated into its hidden language and learn to navigate it with clarity, confidence, and creative power. The cost of this six-week course is $300. Registration is now open! Click here to register.

NOTE 3: PRICE INCREASE FOR THE MMA DAILY OPTIONS REPORT WITH DEREK ON JULY 1. SIGN UP NOW TO LOCK IN CURRENT PRICES. This is currently MMA’s hottest subscription report, and for good reason: it has been incredibly successful since it was launched on January 15, 2026, at special introductory rates of $360/month or $3,600/year. Those prices will increase to $420/month and $4,200/year on July 1. However, for those who sign up for automatic renewal, the current rates will be honored (a loyalty offer) until the subscription is canceled, at which time the new rates will apply. Sign up now and lock in the introductory rates for the long term!

 This new daily options service focuses on the S&P, Gold, Copper, T-Notes, Soybeans, and Bitcoin, plus other markets when special situations arise that could benefit from options strategies. The service includes intraday updates as necessary, sometimes multiple times per day, depending on market conditions. Ray Merriman also provides commentary within this new daily service. In fact, this is where Ray has been spending most of his time developing trading strategies in 2026.

For those who also subscribe to the current MMA Daily Report, which is issued at the end of each trading day for the next trading day, the cost of adding Derek’s new Daily Options Report will be $600 per month or $6,000/year. For more information on this new service, or to pre-register, click here. Order now at the special introductory price to get in on the action of options trading if you are an active trader!

NOTE 4: COMING SOON: RAY MERRIMAN’S NEW BOOK, JUPITER AND SATURN TRANSITS: MASTERING THE CYCLES OF LIFE. This is NOT the book you would expect from Ray Merriman. But it is a book you will use and value for the rest of your life if you study astrology, and especially if you are also a trader. This 425-page book covers all the major transits of Jupiter to one’s natal planets and angles, including interpretations of the opening and closing sextile, square, and trine aspects. The Saturn section also includes the opening and closing semi-square and sesquiquadrate transits to all natal planets and angles, plus the “Business Cycle” of transiting Saturn. Each transiting aspect is ranked from –3 to +3 in terms of trading and investment potential, which alone is worth the price of the book.

Here are early reviews by two of the world’s leading astrologers after receiving an early draft of this book:

 Ray Merriman’s Jupiter and Saturn Transits: Mastering the Cycles of Life is beautifully and fluidly written, and we know from the first chapter that we are in the hands of a master with his experience of astrology honed over decades. I loved his descriptions of the Jupiter and Saturn cycles in our lives, detailing the transits to all of the personal planets in one’s birth chart. Even being an experienced astrologer myself, I learned a lot through these descriptions in terms of how these transits affect us personally. However, what is unique about this book is that Ray has also written it through the lens of financial market investment potential and timing for each aspect, also differentiating between waxing and waning aspects, which was fascinating. He has used a scale of positive and negative potential for each aspect, also drawing a distinction between that potential for traders and investors. This is invaluable advice. I highly recommend this book to all budding and more experienced astrologers. Thank you, Ray, for this unique contribution!

 — Pam Gregory, prominent British astrologer, bestselling author (How to Co-Create Using the Secret Language of the Universe and You Don’t Really Believe in Astrology, Do You?), and host of a widely followed YouTube channel

Jupiter and Saturn Transits: Mastering the Cycles of Life is a fabulous, comprehensive guidebook rich with humanistic wisdom for astrologers. This book is amazing…exceptional in every way!! Articulating the Saturn and Jupiter transits to natal planets and angles, Ray offers special emphasis on delineating the waxing and waning aspects. His house-by-house interpretation of these powerful astrological energies and influences brilliantly combines useful tips and insightful keywords. Ray also shares his valuable expertise in financial astrology by including the Financial Ranking for trading with the transits — which makes this book very special!

 — Kathy Rose, renowned full-time consulting astrologer and curator of Rose Astrology, with over 40 years of professional practice

The book JUPITER AND SATURN TRANSITS: MASTERING THE CYCLES OF LIFE is due for release in mid-August. The cost for this book is $39.99. However, those who order now, prior to the actual printing of the book in mid-August, will receive the special pre-publication price of $33.00 (plus postage for the printed edition; no postage is required for the eBook version). To order at the pre-publication price, click here.

 NOTE 5: THE JUPITER REPORT: YOUR MOMENTS OF OPPORTUNITY! 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 if 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 that can be costly? The price for a personal 14-month Jupiter Report based on your birth data is $69.

Coming soon! The Saturn Report: Mastering Your Life Cycles. Due out in late summer or early fall.

 NOTE 6: THE MMA SOLAR-LUNAR APP 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. Please note that this should not be used as a standalone system. It works best as an adjunct tool when cycle lows or highs are due, when a market is in a technically overbought or oversold condition, or when it is exhibiting intermarket bullish or bearish divergence relative to a related market. The app is currently available only on Apple devices (iPhone and iPad). HOWEVER, IT WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE BY SUBSCRIPTION ON THE NEW MMA WEBSITE TO EVERYONE, INCLUDING USERS OF ANDROID PHONES, AROUND JULY 4! To learn more about the MMA app, click here. To order on your iPhone, go to the Apple App Store and search for Merriman Solar/Lunar Reversals.

EVENTS

 JULY 12, 2026: “Esoteric Economics” course begins with Gianni Di Poce. The cost is $300 for the six-week course, running from July 12 to August 16. See above for further details. Click here to register.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2026: A UAC 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 is held every four to eight years. More than 150 world-class astrologers will be presenting, and over 1500 attendees will be present. The conference will be held at the Marriott Downtown Chicago Magnificent Mile Hotel. In addition to the workshop, Ray will present another lecture during the six-day event on mundane astrology, titled “What Is Happening in the World from an Astrological Viewpoint,” on September 5. For more information, visit www.uacastrology.com.

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 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) 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.