MMA FREE WEEKLY COLUMN FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 29, 2025

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 President Trump on Tuesday suggested Ukraine could win back all the territory it has lost to Russia, in an extraordinary shift. “With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this war started, is very much an option. Why not? Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a war that should have taken a real military power less than a week to win. This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is very much making them look like ‘a paper tiger.’

—Robbie Gramer, “Trump Says Ukraine Can Take Back All Lost Territory,” Wall Street Journal, September 23, 2025, www.wsj.com.

 US President Donald Trump has announced a new wave of tariffs, including a 100% levy on branded or patented drug imports from 1 October unless a company is building a factory in the US. Washington will also impose a 25% import tax on all heavy-duty trucks and 50% levies on kitchen and bathroom cabinets, the president said as he unveiled the industry-focused measures…. The announcements come despite calls from US businesses for the White House to not impose further tariffs.

—Osmond Chia and Charlotte Edwards, “Trump Announces New Tariffs on Drugs, Trucks and Kitchen Cabinets,” www.bbc.com, September 26, 2025.

 Last week started out with a bang as several global stock indices rallied to new all-time or multi-year highs.

Given that last week also began with a solar eclipse that belongs to a powerful Saros cycle of eclipses, it wasn’t surprising to see global equity markets so strong. And with that eclipse in opposition to Saturn and Neptune, and in a grand trine to Uranus and Pluto, new highs were even supported by other cosmic factors. However, early last week also witnessed a square between Venus and Uranus, as well as Mars and Pluto. So, sudden surprise announcements regarding new tariffs by the U.S., and changes in policy regarding U.S involvement in the war between Russia and Ukraine, may have also played a role in the halt to these advances in world equity markets by mid-week.

In Asia and the Pacific Rim, a new all-time high was recorded in the Japanese Nikkei Index on the prior Friday, September 19. The Nikkei is right back up there in price with the DJIA, something we hadn’t seen in several years. Our three-star geocosmic critical reversal date (CRD) was over the weekend of September 19-22, which was right on time. September 18-19 also marked multi-year highs in China’s Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng indices. India’s NIFTY also rallied to a new 3-month high. Australia’s ASX, on the other hand, is currently testing its monthly low.

In Europe, it was a mixed bag. The Netherlands AEX rallied to a three-month high on September 23, then started to pull back. The Zurich SMI, however, fell all week, down to a 6-week low as the week ended on September 26. The German DAX started a rally from a possible primary cycle low of September 17, but the attempted rally seems to have run out of steam as last week ended. Like the DAX, the London FTSE spent most of last week in a congestion zone that has developed since its all-time high and double top of August 22 and September 12. The announcement of Trump’s support for Ukraine and NATO against Russian airspace drone violations may have caused renewed fears of war breaking out on the continent, thus causing investors to reconsider their outlooks on the economy and positioning of their portfolios.

In the Americas, both Brazil’s Bovespa and the U.S. major stock indices made new all-time highs between September 22 and 24, well within the allowable orb of our three-star CRD. Could this be the beginning of a new bear market? Anything is possible, but at the moment, it appears more like a corrective decline as all U.S. indices started to recover on Friday. If they revert back down on Monday, a decline to a half-primary cycle low may be underway, which can be sharp but brief, lasting perhaps 1-3 weeks.

In other markets, Bitcoin and Ethereum have dropped to new multi-week lows, but BTC still remains above its major cycle trough of September 1. Gold and Silver, on the other hand, continued their torrid rallies. Gold made a new all-time high of 3824.60 on Tuesday, September 23 (CRD period), a gain of 14% from its low around August 20. Silver was even more spectacular, rising to a high of $46.94 on Friday, up nearly 28% from its low around August 20. This is classical end-of-long-term-cycle behavior in metals, where Silver far outperforms Gold as both make new multi-year highs. It is also right in line with our preferred outlook regarding Mars entering Scorpio, as given in the September 14 micro webinar and our special update on Gold issued on Wednesday, September 24, to all subscribers. If you are a subscriber to any MMA subscription reports and have not received the special update, contact us at once. If you would like a copy of that special update, consider signing up for a trial subscription for only $35.00, which includes the recent MMA Cycles report covering other markets as well.

Short-Term Geocosmics and Longer-Term Thoughts

 The White House is raising the stakes of a potential government shutdown by drafting a request for federal agencies to prepare “reduction in force” plans in case Congress doesn’t pass a spending bill before Oct. 1.

—Monica Alba and Zoë Richards, “White House Lays Groundwork for Mass Government Firings if There’s a Shutdown,” NBC News, September 24, 2026.

 “By universal custom, your enemy is never more polite than when he is planning or has planned your destruction.”

—James Clavell, Shōgun (New York: Atheneum, 1975)

Following last week’s convergence of several key geocosmic reversal signatures, September 17-24, the celestial climate quiets down for the next two weeks. There will be solar-lunar activity, of course. But most of the world’s attention will be focused on reactions, with the emphasis on the events and announcements that just erupted. The one exception may be the shutdown of the U.S. government, which could take effect this week, on October 1. This might allow the administration to lay off—and even dismiss permanently—many government employees that the administration wants out. A shutdown plays into its hands in this instance.

President Trump did not let this TUMDI period pass by without his own unique contributions of unexpected policy changes and surprises. He announced new tariffs that caused the rally in equity markets to pause. He announced new support for Ukraine and NATO in their conflict with Russia, a complete reversal from his previous stand. He took aim at the United Nations in a speech to its General Assembly, whereby he sharply criticized its effectiveness and lack of adherence to its purpose, with a long list of complaints. He rebuked the EU for the refusal of two of its members, which he claims continue to buy oil from Russia, thus supporting their own defeat at the hands of Russia. TUMDI stands for “Trump Uranus Market Disruption Indicator,” and although it has not seriously disrupted financial markets yet, it did shock the world. And many stock markets did halt their run to new all-time highs last week, which could yet turn into a major market reversal within the orbit of that powerful CRD. We shall see.

Longer-term, as I write the annual Forecast 2026 , I noticed a hopeful sign for humankind as it spirals into the abyss of the Aries Vortex. The apex of this vortex is Saturn conjunct Neptune at 0° Aries. When looking back on the last 140 years of this aspect, I observed that major wars either broke out or were in effect during those times. However, they were all resolved within one year of the conjunction, and relative peace in the world lasted for at least the next decade. What does this tell us about today’s world and the prospect of a resolution to the great conflicts raging in Europe and the Middle East? The history of this aspect highlights a cycle of major changes in Russia’s governance, and the rise of restrictions on immigration and immigrants. It coincides with a period of witchhunts and scapegoating, such as the “Red Scare” of the early 1950s. This is a subject too broad to cover in this column, but one that I delve into with the 2026 almanac. It’s fascinating how it all repeats, or rather “rhymes,” with the Saturn-Neptune cycle of 2025-2026. The pendulum is about to reverse its direction in many areas of human activity.

“Always remember…that to think bad thoughts is really the easiest thing in the world. If you leave your mind to itself, it will spiral you down into ever-increasing unhappiness. To think good thoughts, however, requires effort. This is one of the things that discipline — training — is about. So, train your mind to dwell on sweet perfumes, the touch of this silk, tender raindrops against the shoji, the curve of the flower arrangement, the tranquility of dawn. Then, at length, you won’t have to make such a great effort and you will be of value to yourself.”

—Clavell, Shōgun

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND EVENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 NOTE 1: THE TWO-YEAR MERRIMAN MARKET TIMING ACADEMY (MMTA4) BEGINS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27!!!

 For anyone serious about learning the MMA Market Timing methodology for analysis, trading, or investing, now is the time to apply. The two-year MMTA program begins September 27 and will be only the fourth offering since 2013. It is a rigorous training program because exceptional market timing and trading skills are not as simple as many would like to think. But it is rewarding on so many levels — even beyond the financial.

Here is an inspirational quote received this week from one of the graduates of MMTA3 about how MMTA changed his life:

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your contribution to my journey of learning and for including me as a mentor in MMTA4. I’m excited for classes to begin and look forward to helping students through a life-changing experience. 2025 has been another year of compounding the great fortune of knowledge and guidance that began when I first came across Ray’s weekly newsletter in January 2021. At the time, I knew next to nothing about astrology or finance, but fast-forward 4.5 years, and I’ve now moved into a new chapter of life built on a strong foundation and thousands of hours and pages of data-driven analysis and testing. Shortly after Uranus conjoined my Ascendant in July, I left [brokerage house] to continue my research as a full-time investor and trader.

 Since the start of MMTA3 in January 2023, I’ve returned 190% on my portfolio, green all three years, despite some severe losses in 2023 and 2024. But with the understanding of cycles through MMA’s methodologies, the wins have been exceptional, and the losses have decreased in size with experience. MMA’s methods and foundation have granted me much clarity and success across several different markets, on both the long and short side.

 Here’s to a new class of MMTA students, Uranus in Gemini!

—W.H., MMTA3 graduate and now an MMTA4 mentor

If you have a passion for financial markets, trading, and investing, and wish to develop this skill — and if you love the “pattern-matching” challenges of geocosmic studies with market cycles and technicals — this training could meet and even exceed your goals. This highly valuable two-year educational program, created by Raymond Merriman (CTA), is an experience that will change your life and the way you view financial markets. There is nothing else as comprehensive in the field of market timing as MMTA’s two-year program!

Acceptance into MMTA requires a 20-minute interview prior to enrollment. If you are interested in exploring whether MMTA is right for you, contact us now and schedule your interview. Or sign up for the first course on “Cycles and Patterns,” and then decide after that if you wish to continue your MMTA education through the remaining seven courses. Course 1 itself is very valuable and worth the investment in your financial future.

 To register or inquire about the MMTA4 program, click here. To see our most recent informative and insightful interview given last week with MMTA4 Director Wiebke Held, click here.

NOTE 2: THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF THE MMA MONTHLY CYCLES REPORT PLUS+, EDITED BY POUYAN ZOLFAGHARNIA, WILL BE RELEASED THIS WEEK. The mid-month addendum to the MMA Monthly Cycles Report regularly features Pouyan’s outlook on Gold, Silver, NASDAQ, and Crude Oil. It includes visual graphics and charts (people love it, and this month’s graphics were especially stunning!). The report contains more illustrations and references to geocosmics than most MMA Cycles Reports and is available only to subscribers of the MMA Monthly Cycles Report. If you would like 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 subscription for a monthly copy of both reports is $55. This includes the most recent August issue of the MMA Monthly Cycles Report and this week’s MMA Monthly Cycles Report Plus+ addendum. For further information and ordering instructions, please click here.

 NOTE 3: THE MMA MONTHLY GRAIN CYCLES REPORT BY WYATT FELLOWS WILL BE RELEASED THIS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1. Wyatt’s analysis has been very accurate, and his writing style is exceptionally clear. If you are a trader of grains (Corn, Wheat, and Soybeans) or a producer, this is a wonderful report to read every month — especially now, with the very important long-term Saturn-Neptune cycle of 2025-2026 in effect, which has historically correlated with large moves in grain prices. To order a copy of this excellent report, please click here.

 NOTE 4: IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN! The ANNUAL MMA FORECAST 2026 PRE-PUBLICATION SALE is now underway through October 31 and features our once-a-year discounts on both the annual Forecast Book and MMA subscription reports. Become a subscriber today for as little as $35 to secure the best price available. Check out this video to learn how to lock in the lowest price on Forecast 2026 by becoming a subscriber this month!

During this pre-order period, the Forecast 2026 print edition is available at the discounted price of $55, and the eBook version at $45. And 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 2026. After the pre-publication period ends on November 1, the retail price of the Forecast 2026 print edition will increase to $66, and the eBook to $55. Subscription reports will also return to their regular prices. Order now and save big bucks!

MMA is also offering a special bundle discount for those who wish to order both the eBook and printed editions of Forecast 2026 for $75. 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. However, many readers prefer the print edition, so ordering both through the Forecast 2026 Bundle makes sense. You will receive the Forecast 2026 eBook on December 15, and your print copy will be mailed in mid-December.

MMA’s annual Forecast 2026 book is a cycles- and astrology-themed almanac that has served students of cycles and markets since 1976. It provides a cyclical outlook on collective world psychology, the national economy, geopolitical developments, sociocultural trends, and timing of potential weather and natural disasters — as well as financial market projections for the U.S. stock market, 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 (Corn, Wheat, and Soybeans). A scorecard of the 2025 forecasts is posted on the MMA website as of August 27. Of note is that the eight critical reversal dates (CRDs) for the U.S. stock market, and nine CRDs for the Soybean market, have all been accurate within three trading days — most within just one day!

The print version of the book is approximately 225 pages, 8.5″ × 11″, including several charts, and has set the standard for all astrological almanacs over the past 50 years.

The pre-publication ordering period just began mid-August, and one of the first orders we received came with this note of gratitude:

I ordered the Forecast 2026 book — this time in print — as I would like to have this 50th edition as a souvenir to remind me of the great insights I’ve received since reading your analysis and, more importantly for me, your view on life. — R.D., Netherlands

To pre-order this year’s special 50th-year edition, click here.

NOTE 5: 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 begins 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!

 NOTE 6: THE JUPITER REPORT — YOUR MOMENTS OF OPPORTUNITY — IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR UPDATES. This 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 was first introduced one year ago, in September 2024. If you were one of the first to order then, it may be time to update your outlook for the next year. The cost for your 14-month Jupiter Report remains $69. Click here to order!!!

 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 7: 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). To learn more about the MMA App, click here. To order, go to the Apple App Store and search for Merriman Solar/Lunar Reversals.

 EVENTS

 SEPTEMBER 27, 2025: CYCLES AND PATTERNS IN FINANCIAL MARKETS. This is a comprehensive eight-week course on cycles and how they work in financial markets, taught by Wiebke Held and Ray Merriman, with special presentations from various MMA market analysts. It also serves as Course 1 of the 2025-2026 MMTA market timing program, but it is a valuable standalone course in its own right and will be open to a limited number of non-MMTA students as well. The course will be conducted live via Zoom every Saturday at noon Eastern Time for eight weeks, and each class will last approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. All sessions will be recorded and made available by the following Monday for those unable to attend live. The cost is $3600, which may be applied toward registration (with further discounts) for Courses 2-8 of the MMTA program that will follow.

Cycle studies are the foundation upon which MMA’s market timing methodology is built. Once you know where a market is within its primary or longer-term cycles, you will also know which investment and trading strategies to apply. Understanding when a cycle (or one of its phases) is due is essential for recognizing both the strength and narrowing of a cycle time band, especially when correlated with geocosmic signatures. However, without first understanding cycles and their patterns, the effective use of geocosmics is limited. Together, these tools offer a powerful method for timing significant tradable lows and highs in financial markets. If you are truly interested in becoming proficient in market timing skills for the purpose of trading or investing success, this course is essential to begin that journey.

Registration details for signing up for this course will only be available shortly. You may also contact us at customerservice@mmacycles.com or call 248-626-3034.

 SEPTEMBER 27, 2025: MMTA4 BEGINS!! Click here for details.

 NOVEMBER 23, 2025: OPTIONS WEBINAR WITH DEREK PANAIA AND GUESTS, NOON EST. Stay tuned for details coming in mid-October. For now, save the date! A new subscription service to Derek’s “Options Plus” group will begin right after that webinar for those who are serious about options trading.

Disclaimer and proper use of this information: Futures and options trading involve the risk of large losses as well as large gains.

 The information provided herein is offered with sincere intent and is based on MMA’s original research studies and methodologies. These reports are provided primarily for “speculators.” By its very nature, “speculation” means “willingness to accept the risk of loss.” Speculators must recognize that losing trades are inevitable—often more frequent than for “investors.” That is why they are called “speculators.”

 Profitability in speculation is achieved less through a high percentage of winning trades and more through managing risk. By controlling the size of losses on any given trade, a speculator ensures that the average gain on winning trades significantly outweighs the average loss on losing trades.

 MMA’s comments, strategies, and data are provided as guidelines for traders for each day and/or week. These comments and strategies are based on intraday and intraweek highs, lows, and closing prices at the end of the day or week. Traders are advised to use them only as guidelines and to rely on intraday analysis to establish positions in the directions indicated, provided those support and resistance (entry) areas also appear favorable according to intraday analysis. Support and resistance are areas for day traders to consider when buying or selling intraday. No guarantees of accuracy are made.

 Support may represent favorable risk/reward levels for buying if the trend is up. If prices trade below support but then close back above it, this is considered a bullish “trigger” and often signals a good buying opportunity. If prices trade above resistance but then have a weekly close back below it, this is considered a bearish “trigger” and often signals a good selling opportunity.

 By signing up for these reports, the reader agrees that he or she is solely responsible for any actions taken in the markets, and that neither the author, publisher, analyst, nor any person associated with MMA assumes any responsibility whatsoever for the reader’s decisions.