MMA FREE WEEKLY COLUMN FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING JANUARY 13, 2025

REVIEW

 Job growth was much stronger than expected in December, likely providing the Federal Reserve less incentive to cut interest rates this year. Nonfarm payrolls surged by 256,000 for the month, up from 212,000 in November and above the 155,000 forecast from the Dow Jones consensus. The unemployment rate edged down to 4.1%, one-tenth of a point below expectations. Stocks plunged after the report while Treasury yields soared as traders price in a lower probability of Fed rate cuts this year.

—Jeff Cox, “U.S. Payrolls Grew by 256,000 in December, Much More than Expected,” www.cnbc.com, January 10, 2025.

 The Federal Reserve meeting minutes reflect the rather chaotic swings of view that occur under Fed Chair Powell. After an emergency rate cut without an emergency in September, the Fed has moved to slowing the pace of rate cuts being “appropriate” in December. The basic idea is unchanged—follow inflation down. Concerns were raised about US President-elect Trump’s trade tax and deportation policies in discussions about inflation.

—Dr. Paul Donovan, UBS Chief Economist, UBS Morning Audio Comment, January 9, 2025.

It was another case of “good news on the economy being bad news for the stock market.” Reports of a stronger economy mean central banks will find it difficult to justify their plans to lower interest rates, and the stock market doesn’t like the idea of rising interest rates. Hence, due to the excellent jobs report data, U.S. stock markets fell hard, to their lowest point in two months.

The inflationary implications of the jobs report, however, were very good for Gold, Silver, Crude Oil, and other commodities. Gold soared to 2735 on Friday, which is well above the 2608 level of December 30 and an intermarket bullish divergence signal to Silver, which had fallen to a 3-month low then. We like it when Gold leads Silver from a major or primary cycle low.

Crude Oil also exploded last week, soaring to an intraday high of 77.86, a new 3-month high. This is also not surprising now that Saturn turned direction on November 15 in the middle of Pisces. Pisces rules Crude Oil, and Saturn in the middle of Pisces can indicate the reversal of low prices around that time. Everyone thinks oil prices will come down when Donald Trump takes office and initiates his “drill baby, drill” campaign promise. The idea is that increasing the supply of oil will bring down prices and, hence, also bring down inflation. However, cycle studies indicate that it may not work out quite that way for a while.

Bitcoin fell to 91,262 on Thursday, January 9, a retest of its  December 30 multi-week low. We now know where support is. But can it get back above 100,000 before breaking that new level of support? Under the retrograde chaos discussed in the next section, there will likely be more uncertainty and fake-outs than usual for a few more weeks yet. Just when you think it is safe to take a position, the conditions and the chart patterns change. Knowledge is a wonderful attribute to possess as a trader. Patience and/or the ability to act quickly may be more valuable in a retrograde climate. The “norm” is not the “norm” in a retrograde storm.

 SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS AND LONGER-TERM THOUGHTS

 Nothing is predetermined. Human effort can change things. You have agency; you were given a brain for a reason. Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.

—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust

 “Why are we so good at accumulating more information and power but far less successful at acquiring wisdom?”

—Yuval Noah Harari, Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI, Random House, 2024.

On January 12, 2025, Mars will be closest to Earth for its two-year period. https://earthsky.org

It is with great sorrow that we witness the devastating wildfires destroying so many homes, schools, businesses, and lives in southern California this past week. The cost to rebuild will be enormous for both insurance companies and individuals who could not afford (or even get) fire insurance on their homes prior to this outbreak.

In an effort to understand this from the cosmic point of view, let’s begin with the awareness that the study of astrology assigns Mars rulership over fires and heat. Mars has an orbit of nearly two years, and it will reach its closest distance to Earth in that 2-year orbit this week, January 12. Additionally, the Sun and Mars will be in opposition (with the Earth in between the two) on January 15-16.

This is truly a Martian beginning to the New Year. Furthermore, Mars is also retrograde (December 7-February 23), which behaves much like Mercury retrograde in terms of market activity and mundane matters. In fact, we are presently in a retrograde chaos period, where all the personal planets (Mercury, Mars, and Venus) will undergo their retrograde cycles back-to-back between November 25, 2024, and April 12, 2025. This is rare. It indicates a challenging time for investors and position traders as markets can fluctuate wildly in a short time, breaking support and resistance along the way, only to suddenly reverse again in a “fake-out.” Yet it can be very profitable for aggressive traders who are nimble and apply the axiom that all traders must follow: maximum profit potential with minimal market exposure.

So, how is one to approach a period when Mars and personal planetary retrograde cycles are so prominent? It is a time to cultivate strategies, but not to initiate them. It is a time to gather information and begin to make plans, but not the best of times to enact those plans or strategies. With Mars retrograde, the initiator of an aggressive act is usually the loser.

Mars is not only the god of fire, but also the god of war. When retrograde, people are easily offended and “triggered” to react, especially with Mars now in the emotional and protective sign of Cancer. This is not a time to be a bully or to allow oneself to be bullied. There will be several cases of bullies on the loose now, as well as those who are critical in nature, with no solutions to offer for what they perceive to be legitimate complaints. Ignore them. Don’t seek to challenge them.

On the investment side, Mars in Cancer may be bullish for precious metals and other commodities, which tend to rally when bullies are on the loose and given to saber-rattling and pointing out wrongs about you or about life. Rise above it. Don’t react, and try to explain with logic. The markets (and most people) may not be logical right now. They may be more emotional. Don’t trade by logic and with a view to the distant future. Instead, consider trading in 2-8-day increments or swing trades. Leave your core positions alone and perhaps consider writing calls against them for income after sharp rallies during this retrograde chaos.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 NOTE 1: THE JANUARY ISSUE OF THE MMA Monthly Cycles Report will be issued this week, January 13-14. It will be our first issue of the new year and will cover our outlook for the U.S. stock market, 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 over the next several weeks, as well as trading strategies for both position and aggressive traders. This should be an interesting period due to the consecutive occurrence of the personal retrograde planets through April 12. If you want to try out a one-month subscription to the MMA Monthly Cycles Report, you can sign up for the January Report for only $35! Or save by ordering the three-report or twelve-report subscription.

 NOTE 2: FORECAST 2025 IS NOW AVAILABLE in paperback, eBook, and audiobook!!!

 MMA’s annual Forecast book is the standard of astrological-themed almanacs that has served students of cycles and markets since 1976. It provides a cyclical outlook on the collective world psychology, the national economy, geopolitical overview, socio-cultural trends, weather and natural calamity potential, 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. Additionally, it provides the three-star critical reversal dates for each market for 2025, which have historically achieved over 80% accuracy for trading cycles within an orb of three trading days.

The printed book is 200 pages, 8.5″ x 11″, and costs $66, but copies are limited. There are no second printings. When they are out, they are out. The eBook version is available for $55 and has no limit. The Forecast 2025 Audiobook is also now available for $29.99, has no limit, and can be ordered by clicking here. This audio version will not include the financial markets nor the ephemeris and geocosmic calendar for each month, which are included in the print and eBook versions. It covers only the first part of the book. The audio version makes an excellent companion for workouts or driving, allowing you to listen at your convenience.

 MMA also offers a special “bundle” discount rate for those who wish to order both the eBook and printed editions of Forecast 2025 for $86.

To pre-order Forecast 2025 now, please click here.

 NOTE 3: GET READY! The new monthly MMA Technology Cycles report will launch on February 18!!! This new monthly report will be written by top MMTA graduate Wiebke Held of Cologne, Germany, whose excellent two-year research papers were based on extensive studies of long-, intermediate-, and short-term cycles in the NASDAQ spot index (not futures). This report will differ in style and substance from the other MMA monthly reports (more condensed, less technical). It will not only provide an outlook for the NASDAQ,  but also for the QQQ (ETF) and specific technology stocks, such as NVIDIA and Apple. It will also provide different CRDs (critical reversal dates) that are unique to the NASDAQ and based on Held’s meticulous research. Focusing on the NASDAQ is important because of the outsized role technology will play in financial markets, especially with Pluto already in Aquarius for the next 20 years, and Uranus about to enter Gemini for seven years starting in 2025. Additionally, much of this report will be generated by Wiebke’s own AI applications. Truly, this will be an exciting report highlighting many of the new features in our technology renaissance. This is the future of market timing applications in this “New Aira.”

The first edition of the report will be issued complimentary to anyone on the mailing list for this free weekly column or who signs up for the February 16 MMA annual webinar on Forecast 2025. If you want to receive the FREE first issue of this new report, sign up on this weekly distribution list now at the opening screen of www.mmacycles.com!

NOTE 4: Come join us at the March 7-9, 2025, “Convergence 2025” conference in Orlando, Florida, sponsored by Cosmic Patterns software. This will be one of the top astrological conferences of 2025 and will include a special track on Research and Financial Markets. It will feature MMA market analysts Ray Merriman, Gianni Di Poce, Pouyan Zolfagharnia, Ulric Aspegrén, and Wiebke Held, along with well-known financial astrologer Christeen Skinner of the U.K. For further information, please go to https://cosmicpatternsconference.com/. You can also hear and read about this exciting gathering on YouTube (click here). We look forward to seeing many of you there!

 NOTE 5: THE “JUPITER REPORT“ — YOUR MOMENTS OF OPPORTUNITY — IS ALSO NOW AVAILABLE. This newest product is written by Raymond Merriman. It is a 30-40 page report that all traders (and even non-traders) will find to be of great value. It identifies the times during the year when Jupiter transits are highlighted in your natal chart. It delineates the meaning of Jupiter’s transits to your natal planets and angles over a 14-month period (including one month before your order and one month after the year ends). Why is this valuable? Because transits of Jupiter identify special opportunities for financial gains, success in one’s career and social life, popularity, and good fortune (luck) when under harmonious aspects and used correctly. However, they can also indicate periods of misjudgments leading to losses if Jupiter is afflicted and one is not properly prepared. As an added bonus, each transit is ranked from –3 to +3 in terms of favorability for trading. Traders may find this most valuable! Would you like to know when you are under a +3 transit and, therefore, most likely to experience trading successes? Or a –3 transit with stronger-than-usual potential for misjudgments and losses? You betcha! The cost for your 14-month Jupiter Report is $69. Click here to order!!!

NOTE 6: THE MMA Solar-Lunar App now offers reversal signals on the NASDAQ to all subscribers! The app now provides daily weighted values for four markets: the DJIA, NASDAQ, Gold, and Silver.

This app 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 the DJIA, NASDAQ, Gold, and Silver markets. It is available only on Apple products (iPhone and iPad) at this time, although we are getting close to developing it for Android phones, too, possibly by the end of this year.

To learn more about the MMA App, click here. To order it, go to the Apple App Store and type in Merriman Solar/Lunar Reversals.

 SPECIAL ALERT: We are working on a Bitcoin and Ethereum Lunar App. The projected release date is now in April-May 2025. Stay tuned for information on how to order.

NOTE 7: 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 offers a preview of the geocosmic signatures in effect for the coming week and beyond.

NOTE 8: 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 9: INTERVIEW WITH ADAM SOMMER ON FINANCIAL ASTROLOGY. On November 25, I was interviewed by Adam Sommer of “The Dragon Hole.” Adam was the creator of the first astrology podcast several years ago, and he is an engaging interviewer who is also well-informed on Bitcoin. Many of you may be interested in listening to this lively podcast. To do so, click here.

EVENTS

 We have a big year lined up with several exciting events. Save the dates!

 February 16, 2025: MMA’s Annual Forecast 2025 Worldwide Webinar with Raymond Merriman. It starts at noon EST. In the comfort of your own home or office, you can tune in to Raymond Merriman’s annual worldwide Forecast 2025 Webinar. This broadcast will address the theme from this year’s Forecast 2025 book, with updates on financial markets since the book was written in November 2024. The presentation will include trading plans for various financial markets based on the possibility of big moves related to the powerful geocosmic signature of mid-June 2025. A special guest will be Wiebke Held of Cologne, Germany, a top MMTA graduate and editor of the new MMA Tech Cycles Report, who will give her outlook on the NASDAQ based on the MMA timing methodology. If you are unable to attend live, the video recording will be available the following day. The cost of this special 3-hour webinar is $60. Registration for the Forecast 2025 Webinar is now open. Save the date! Sign up now!

 March 7-9, 2025: Cosmic Patterns Inc. presents its “Convergence 2025” conference in Orlando, Florida. This will be one of the top astrological conferences of 2025 and will include a track on “Research and Financial Markets.” MMA market analysts Ray Merriman, Gianni Di Poce, Pouyan Zolfagharnia, Ulric Aspegrén, and Wiebke Held will speak, along with well-known financial astrologer Christeen Skinner of the U.K. There will also be several other well-known professional astrologers speaking, including Lynn Bell, Charlotte Benson, Georgia Stathis, Öner Döşer, Pam Gallagher, Demetra George, Aleksandar Imsiragic, Dr. Lea Imsiragic, Rick Levine, Darri Low Murphy, Anne Ortelee, Joni Patry, Kathy Rose, Gisele Terry, and Fei Cochrane. For further information, please go to https://cosmicpatternsconference.com/. You can also hear and read about this exciting gathering on YouTube (click here).

August-September 2025 (exact beginning dates to be decided shortly): MMTA4 will begin! This is the two-year training course in the unique, one-of-a-kind MMA market timing methodology. Many of the excellent analysts covering various markets in the annual Forecast Book, monthly MMA Cycles Reports, and weekly MMA market reports are graduates of the Merriman Market Timing Academy (MMTA). Readers of these reports know they are exceptional analysts (and traders, too!). There is no other educational training program to become an analyst or trader like MMTA’s two-year program — none anywhere that comes close to the interaction, depth, and understanding of market patterns and their correlation to cycles and geocosmic studies, whether short, intermediate, or long term. Registration for the fourth offering of MMTA (since 2013) will begin around the spring equinox. The cost for the full two-year program will be $24,000 and will include three software programs (retail value $3000+) for market charting, geocosmic timing indicators, and research studies correlating market behavior to MMA’s proprietary timing models, as created by Raymond Merriman. The course also includes Zoom recordings of each class, with PowerPoint slides and eight workbooks covering the material of each class. Plan now if you are interested in being a student in the next MMTA class! The live courses will take place in two-hour segments on approximately 20-24 Saturdays per year. If you can’t be there during the live class, recordings will be available the following Monday.

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 cycles 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 as 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.