MMA FREE WEEKLY COLUMN FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING OCTOBER 26, 2026

REVIEW by Guest Contributor Thomas Miller

Government websites in Europe and elsewhere went offline on Wednesday after the disclosure of critical vulnerabilities in PHP sent website operators around the world scrambling to protect their systems.

—AJ Vicens, “PHP Developers Issue Updates to Fix Vulnerabilities, Says Flaw Was Found in 2024,” Reuters, October 21, 2026.

Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has been hit with its largest fine ever for its business practices. “The lies extend beyond Facebook’s data practices as well,” the judge said, adding they went to “the heart of Facebook’s core business practices.”

—Kali Hays, “Meta Fined $25bn for ‘Lies’ over User Data Privacy,” BBC, October 22, 2026.

It’s earnings and Mer#cur>=y retr0gr@dz season again, already.

It’s also Forecast 2027 season, as the early chapters of next year’s fifty-first annual markets and astrology almanac are morphing into physical form. Thus, Ray asked me to pitch in this week while the MMA analyst team burns up their keyboards on this very important edition, which begins looking beyond the “Aries Vortex” of the last three volumes. (The audiobook recording began this week as well.)

Or perhaps the team realized that Mercury turns retrograde in the fixed water sign of the Scorpion within hours of this column’s release, and Venus moves backward into its own airy turf of Libra Sunday morning, U.S. time. That is ahead of an approaching Full Moon in Taurus on Monday and month-end trading next Friday, all just before Halloween itself. As any worthy scorpion knows, hiding in a shoe is often better than unnecessary public exposure during such spooky times. (Be sure to shake your shoes out before you trade over the next three weeks!)

Whatever the real reason, this Scorpion (October 30) is happy to crawl out from under the rock for a look at the markets and the weeks ahead, however things may land. Carrying the retrograde theme throughout, we’ll include a “Scorpion’s Retrograde Survival Guide” in the third section of this week’s column. We’ll need it because news broke this week of a massive security scare involving PHP, a behind-the-scenes programming language that makes about 75% of the world’s websites interactive. The issue was discovered two years ago, but its disclosure this week prompted webmasters around the globe to scramble for an urgent fix. Perfect timing.

Mercury didn’t wait to stamp its retro-signature on the markets either, as odd divergences defined the week’s trade. Tech continued unwinding, and money moved into healthcare, energy, and real estate—the week’s top three sectors. Who would have ever picked that lineup six months ago?

The tech-heavy NASDAQ dropped −0.7% on the week while the odd bedfellows of the DJIA and the Russell 2000 were up 0.4% and 2.0%, respectively. Another divergence: the S&P 500 was off −0.46% while the S&P equal-weighted RSP ETF was up 1.23%.

In yet another pre-Trickster signature, U.S. Treasury yields tanked while Crude Oil rose on mounting Persian Gulf tensions, creating another positive/negative divergence. Metals and grains were lower, as were most Pacific Rim indexes, with the Japanese Nikkei losing 8,500 points since its October 6 high. Bitcoin also lost its mid-week bid, falling from $84,843 to near $81,175 Friday.

A sleeper to keep your eye on is the Triple-C credit spread. This is how much of a premium bond investors demand in order to hold the riskiest corporate debt. That index touched 13% this week, up from 8.5% a year ago. While well below Great Recession highs, it could suggest potential cracks in the credit system.

A non-sleeper was the $25 billion fine a New Mexico judge slapped on Meta for deceiving Facebook users (that’s most of us) about their data privacy practices. Meta plans to appeal. Shame on you, Zuck, but we’re not really surprised. Meta met instant karma Thursday with a 7% haircut.

SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS

But I am not responsible for the consequences.

—Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey), The Mask (1994)

Mercury and Venus retrogrades will dominate the short-term geocosmics next week, as Saturday’s pre-dawn Mercury station (technically 3:12 am EDT) has been approaching all week. Then, just as Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) magically transforms in The Mask, Mercury morphs into mythical Loki, “The Trickster,” for its final “backwardation” of 2026.

Come Monday, markets could get even more zany, so watch broadly for broken “rules,” unpredictable technical indicators, flip-flops every 1–4 days, and possible over-reactions—particularly as this Trickster cycle begins at the headwaters of the Q3 earnings-season waterfall. Nearly 700 companies are set to report next week. Then Venus, now halfway through its reverse trek, kisses Scorpio goodbye late Friday night, October 23, with the final Scorpio Venus Star Point (where Venus conjoins the Sun every eight years in a sign), ending a century-long cycle that began in 1926. The next Venus Star Point in Scorpio won’t occur again until 2181.

Then we have Monday’s Full Moon in Taurus (also Venus-ruled), and the November 3 midterm elections seemingly set to add to the volatility.

Ray’s Lunar Rhythm for Stocks and Gold could be a handy accompaniment during this time, as long as the Trickster doesn’t warp its time-tested rhythms. The MMA Cycles reports will help keep you updated, and Ray is also active on X (formerly Twitter) with excellent up-to-date comments as well.

LONGER-TERM THOUGHTS (AND OPINION)

A pressing question for any market-cycle student is when the anticipated crest of the 18-year cycle in the DJIA could occur. Each passing week gets us closer; that’s certain.

Speaking of Ray’s X posts, here’s a quote from a recent one addressing a reader’s question about the October–November 2026 and February–March 2027 periods. Ray said, “I find this interesting for many reasons. First, the 18-year cycle is now in its 17th year. So it’s old and a top is due, but exactly when is the question.”

 [Note: There is a three-year window, or “orb,” on either side of the 18-year period in MMA cycles work.]

“Second, since the low of March 9, 2009, the DJIA has appreciated 750%. The record appreciation from 18-year low to high has been 783.5%, so we are already in the second strongest bull market in history and nearing that record.”

Then later:

He went on to note that the October 3 Venus retrograde is an astrological signature that “correlates with 50-week cycles in about 50% of cases, which is high.”

And then:

 “So, in answer to your question of a possible crash this Oct-Nov, I would say a crash or top of importance followed by a steep decline is very possible Sep-Nov. It’s also the mid-term election period when emotional intensity will be at a high. You never know which primary cycle high will be the final one until it breaks hard. But this period has my attention as a strong possibility.”

In closing, as promised, a “Scorpion’s Retrograde Survival Guide” to help keep you on the straight and narrow through at least mid-November:

1. Watch a YouTube highlights loop from The Mask, with Mercury as the Trickster in mind. It will get you in the right mindset for this double-retrograde.

2. Be extra Scorpio-skeptical of what you (think you) see in the markets until at least November 13. False breakouts, misleading technical signals, and irrational reactions could become the order of the day. Both planets also have post-retrograde shadow periods that can keep things off-balance a few more weeks. And remember that even the Trickster occasionally tells the truth.

3. If you can’t stomach three full weeks without a trade, think short-term. Ray advises taking profits early, perhaps after 1–4 days, and avoiding complicated hedges that could compound losses or confuse the dickens out of you. Don’t let a green trade turn red while hoping for more.

4. Or, simply lie low at least until both planets turn direct on November 13. Use the time to build your Santa-rally shopping list rather than getting chopped up in the chaos.

Good luck out there! Stay close to all the MMA resources for guidance and get your Forecast 2027 ordered now…before Mercury spins backward on you, risking your copy getting lost in the mail. (The price goes up November 1, just one week away.) The direct link is below in the Announcements.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 NOTE 1: ONLY ONE MORE WEEK!!! THE “ANNUAL MMA FORECAST 2027 PRE-PUBLICATION SALE” IS UNDERWAY!!! But it will end very soon. The sale runs through October 31 and features our once-a-year discounts on both the annual Forecast book and MMA subscription reports.~ Order now and save big bucks! ~261026

During this pre-order period through October 31, the Forecast 2027 print edition will be available at the discounted price of $55 (the retail price will be $66 after October 31), and the eBook version will be available for $45. The book is approximately 200–225 pages (last year’s was 240 pages), measures 8.5″ × 11″, and has a glossy paperback cover. After 50 years in print, it has set the standard for all astrological almanacs written today.

The best deal on MMA subscription reports is also offered at this time! Save 10% on any subscription of $275 or more with the purchase of Forecast 2027. For instance, a one-year subscription to the MMA Daily Options Report will save you over $800 versus buying this popular report on a monthly basis! After the pre-order event ends, the retail price of the Forecast 2027 print edition will increase to $66, and the price of the eBook will increase to $55. Subscription reports will also return to their regular prices. ORDER NOW AND SAVE BIG BUCKS!

MMA will also offer a special bundle discount for those ordering both the eBook and print editions of Forecast 2027 for $75. The eBook typically becomes available one to two weeks before the print edition and allows readers, especially those who live overseas, to avoid delays caused by the postal system. However, many readers prefer the print edition, so ordering both through the Forecast 2027 Bundle makes sense. You will receive the Forecast 2027 eBook on December 15, and your print copy will be mailed as soon as it comes off the printing press (usually around December 15, but printer schedules are not completely in our control).

MMA’s annual Forecast book has served students of cycles and markets since 1976. It provides a cyclical outlook on collective world psychology, the economy, geopolitical developments, socio-cultural trends, and potential weather events and natural disasters—as well as financial market projections for the U.S. stock market (DJIA and NASDAQ), U.S. Treasury market, interest rates, Gold and Silver, currencies (the Euro, British Pound, Swiss Franc, and Japanese Yen), Bitcoin, Crude Oil, and Grain markets. For a more personal overview of the Forecast 2027 book, see the recent video featuring Ray and Pouyan in an interview with Alie Schneider on MMA’s YouTube channel by clicking here. To pre-order the Forecast 2027 book at the special rate, click here.

Now you can also view this week’s video with Ray, Wyatt, and Pouyan, in which they discuss the accuracy of the Forecast 2026 book and share some of their outlooks for the 2027 book. To view this new video on “Forecasts versus Reality,” click here.

NOTE 2: Want a very affordable way to begin learning MMA’s Market Timing Techniques? The recently conducted 3½-hour workshop, “MMA Market Timing Methodology Applied to the U.S. Stock Market,” is now available as a video recording and includes a copy of the PowerPoint slides. Learn about short-, intermediate-, and long-term cycles in the U.S. and British stock markets going back to the late 1600s and their geocosmic correlations. This workshop also projects these cycles through late 2026 and beyond. It is a great way to learn the basic principles of the finest market-timing methods available today. The cost is $145. To order this new product, which was just released this week, click here.

NOTE 3: THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF THE MMA MONTHLY CYCLES REPORT PLUS+, edited by Pouyan Zolfagharnia, will be issued this week. This market letter is a very popular addition to the MMA Cycles Report (it is less technical, more visual, and contains horoscopes of current importance, high-quality analysis, and updates on MMA Cycles Report markets). The mid-month addendum to the MMA Cycles Report covers Pouyan’s outlook on Gold, Silver, the NASDAQ, and Crude Oil. It has stunning graphics and charts (people love it!) and is very readable. It contains more illustrations and references to geocosmics than most MMA Cycles Reports and is only available by subscription to those who also subscribe to the MMA Monthly Cycles Report. If you wish to try this month’s addendum, along with the latest issue of the MMA Monthly Cycles Report, sign up online at the link above. A monthly subscription to both reports is $55. That will give you both the most recent October copy of the MMA Cycles Report and the monthly MMA Cycles Report Plus+ addendum coming out this week. For further information and ordering instructions, please click here.

NOTE 4: THE MONTHLY MMA GRAIN CYCLES REPORT BY WYATT FELLOWS WILL BE ISSUED THIS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28. With grain prices in their time band for a primary cycle trough, following the recent breakout to the upside in all grains while Saturn and Neptune are still within one year of their conjunction, which occurs approximately once every 36 years, this rally is expected to resume this month. Historically, Saturn–Neptune conjunctions and oppositions have correlated with large moves in grain prices, and Jupiter’s entry into the fire sign of Leo on June 30 reinforces this outlook, making this an excellent time to consider subscribing. Wyatt’s analysis has been very accurate, and his writing style is very clear. Truly, if you are a grain trader or producer, this is an exceptional monthly report for you to read. To order a copy of this excellent report, please 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.

NOTE 6: The MMA Weekly YouTube show, “Geocosmic Week in Review and Look Ahead,” with Gianni Di Poce, is conducted on Wednesday evenings! Each 5- to 20-minute FREE episode reviews the previous week’s market activity and the geocosmic signatures that will be in effect for the coming week and beyond.

NOTE 7: MMA’S FREE WEEKLY COLUMN PODCAST IS AVAILABLE ON SPOTIFY, APPLE, and AMAZON! Now you can listen to a podcast of this weekly column by Thomas Miller on Saturdays! Thomas has an excellent voice and brings the weekly column to life in a personable and, at times, humorous fashion. Just follow Merriman Market Analyst on Spotify or Apple to listen to all our episodes. A new podcast episode will be released every weekend. This is a FREE service and is available to everyone. Check out our podcasts on Apple, Spotify, and Amazon Music. It makes for great listening!

NOTE 8: 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 bullish or bearish intermarket 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! To learn more about the MMA app, click here. To download it to your iPhone, go to the Apple App Store and search for Merriman Solar/Lunar Reversals.

 NOTE 9: RAY MERRIMAN’S NEW BOOK, JUPITER AND SATURN TRANSITS: MASTERING THE CYCLES OF LIFE, IS NOW AVAILABLE! This is Book One, the first of five books that will be written over the next four years on the outer planets as they transit the natal chart. Nothing like this has ever been done before in the history of astrology.

This first book, covering the transits of Jupiter and Saturn, is 420 pages, measures 6″ × 9″, has a glossy cover, costs $39.99, and includes 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 interpretations of the opening and closing semi-square and sesquiquadrate transits to all natal planets and angles, plus the “Business Cycle” of transiting Saturn through the natal chart. Each transiting aspect is also ranked on a scale of –3 to +3 in terms of its trading and investment potential, which alone is worth the price of the book.

Ray Merriman’s ‘Transits of Jupiter and Saturn: 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.

 This book is excellent for the novice astrologer as well as for the seasoned practitioner and works as a reference book for either. 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 the difference in that potential whether you are a trader or an investor. This is invaluable advice and again comes from Ray’s mastery in this area over his many decades of practice.

 This book is a crowning achievement, sharing his expertise on investment potential as a gift to all those interested in investing using astrology. It undoubtedly forms an important part of his legacy to our world, and I highly recommend this book to all budding and more experienced astrologers. Thank you, Ray, for this unique contribution!

—Pam Gregory, prominent British astrologer, best-selling 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

To see other rave reviews by several leading professional astrologers, click here. To learn more about this new book, tune in to Ray’s recent podcast interview with Adam Sommer (click here) or his YouTube video interview with Thomas Miller (click here).

EVENTS

MAY 12–17, 2027: THE MMA INVESTMENT RETREAT IN LAKE BLED, SLOVENIA. Save the date and plan to attend! Yes, we are going back to beautiful Lake Bled one more time. If you have never seen this wonder of the world, this might be your last chance to experience it through an MMA retreat. Future MMA Investment Retreats are expected to alternate, beginning the following year, between the U.S. and Europe. More details and registration steps will be forthcoming by year-end, but plan to register early, as our room allotment has sold out in each of the past two years.

 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.