MMA FREE WEEKLY COLUMN FOR THE WEEK BEGINNING JANUARY 20, 2025

NOTE 1: Due to my cross-country move from Arizona to Miami, Florida, taking place right now, I have asked MMA Analyst Pouyan Zolfagharnia to write this week’s column. Pouyan has a very keen interest in Mundane Astrology, which is the study of world nations, their politics, and their leadership. His talents have always provided  me great insight, and I am certain you will see why. I will be back with this column next week, and I will also give a Zoom lecture What the &%#@?! is Happening next Saturday, January 25, on just what is going on in the world today. See Announcements and Events at the end of this column.

 NOTE 2: Markets will be closed on Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

 REVIEW

 Investors homed in on the core prices, sending stocks and bonds higher. But the data aren’t significant enough to change Fed officials’ plan to hold interest rates steady while they await the tariffs, tax cuts and immigration crackdown that Trump has promised to deliver. The Fed meets in two weeks and has widely telegraphed that it is taking a break from rate cuts.

—Paul Kiernan, “Inflation Ticks Up to 2.9%, but Underlying Price Gains Are Muted,” Wall Street Journal, January 15, 2025.

Last week, we had several powerful Level 1 signatures, which corresponded to trading reversals within 4 trading days. We started the week with the Sun trine Uranus, which usually corresponds to breakouts of support or resistance zones. This was most evident in the US and Chinese equity markets as prices broke below support zones. With Uranus corresponding to the tech-heavy NASDAQ and Cryptocurrencies, we saw a trough of significance forming, followed by a disruptive and sharp reversal in a matter of hours.

This was followed by the Venus-Jupiter waning square on January 14. Venus tends to correspond to currency, bond markets, and grains, whilst Jupiter is a co-ruler of Crude Oil and Gold. We saw the US Dollar DXY index forming a crest at 110.18, levels not seen since November 2022, and signs of a crest of significance having formed. It is worth remembering that the US Dollar does not generally fare well under a Republican presidency. We also saw the bond market form a potential primary trough on Tuesday. Soybeans also reached a crest on Tuesday.

Wednesday’s CPI Report sent all the markets rallying as it eased concerns that inflation may be re-accelerating. This eased fears that rates may not come down and, therefore, boosted higher-risk assets, precious metals, and Crude Oil. The CPI results were announced at the Sun-Mars opposition, which is a Level 1.5 Signature. It’s worth noting that the effect of all three signatures is still active and will be present at the January 24-27 critical reversal date.

 Equity markets globally closed the week up. In the US the equity markets had a good bounce off the CPI data on Wednesday. However, this week, excluding DJIA, the SP500 and NASDAQ failed to break out of the bearish price channel. In Europe, the Euro Stoxx 50, Germany’s DAX, and the UK’s FTSE had a stellar week, rallying to new all-time highs (ATH). However, there is a case of bearish intermarket divergence with the Swiss SMI, which has still not taken out its high of Aug 2024. The Nikkei bucked the trend in Asia, trading down all week as the Bank of Japan indicated a potential rate rise at its next meeting (Jan 23-24). China’s SSE, Hang Seng, and Hong Kong indices all appear to have found a multi-month low on Monday, closing the week with a small gain following the release of 2024 economic growth results in line with government targets of 5% growth. In Australia, the December 20 low has held, and the rally continues, despite not having taken out the December 2 high. Brazil’s Bovespa index also appears to have found a multi-month low, as a double bottom to the June 2024 low, which is indicative of a new cycle. Let’s see if it is able to take out the Aug 2024 ATH.

 Gold and Silver, both in the early bullish stages of their respective primary cycles, responded well to the CPI report, which released the bullish potential forecasted in our weekly and monthly MMA reports. Gold rallied to 2759.10 on Friday and Silver to 3199 on Thursday. Crude Oil is also on a breakout, having reached $80.77 on the nearby contract, hitting some of our upside targets within our weekly report. Subscribers will recall we were looking for a low of significance to form around the Dec 6-9 CRD as Neptune, the co-ruler of Crude Oil, turned direct. We have seen a 20% rally since then, which could be troubling for future CPI reports.

Cryptos are bullish with the incoming administration, with Bitcoin having rallied over 62% since the November 5 elections. With the inauguration around the corner, Bitcoin is back up above the 100k mark, and the star of the crypto world this week was XRP, which managed to form a new ATH at 3.40, having rallied 578% since November 5!

 SHORT-TERM GEOCOSMICS AND LONGER-TERM THOUGHTS

 Israel’s security cabinet approved an agreement on a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip that would free Israeli hostages, ending two days of debate that had underscored the pact’s fragility. “Frankly, it better be done before I take the oath of office,” Trump said in a radio interview.

—Summer Said, Jared Malsin, and Anat Peled, Wall Street Journal, January 16, 2025.

 Donald Trump is set to push a range of policies that could affect your finances…He wants to bring cryptocurrency into the mainstream. He is expected to do away with Biden-era student-loan relief efforts. His allies want to fundamentally alter two mortgage giants, which could lift rates. And that is aside from the tariffs and deficit-reduction policies that could have an impact on grocery prices and investments.

—Ashlea Ebeling, Joe Pinsker, and Oyin Adedoyin, Wall Street Journal, January 16, 2025.

Mars, the planet of aggression, fire, confrontation, and war, is retrograde and in the sign of its fall (Cancer). This crafts the planet to be weak and depleted. On the other hand, Venus, the planet of love, harmony, and peace, is in its sign of exaltation (Pisces). Therefore, with the Sun’s opposition to Mars, we heard news of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Over the coming week, we will have the Venus-Saturn conjunction taking place on January 18. We generally like to buy any markets making a low as this aspect is forming. The Sun will ingress into Aquarius on January 19, forming a conjunction with Pluto on January 21. These dates are important as they mark the active degree of the December 2020 great conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn, commencing the “New Aira.” We would expect a sudden shift in mass psychology as the Sun changes signs, which will be marked by the important US presidential inauguration on Monday.

The January 20, 2025, inauguration chart for Donald Trump suggests a presidency marked by deep transformation, conflicts, and unexpected developments. Central to the chart is the Sun-Pluto conjunction on the midheaven in opposition to Mars, Uranus in Taurus in the first house, and a Grand Square, indicating themes of disruption, emotional tensions, and challenges in leadership, both domestically and internationally. From our cycle studies, we know that the next four years will be extremely eventful for the financial markets, as we anticipate the 18-year crest and trough to form in the equity markets. However, the US Presidential Inauguration Chart provides a richer picture of a nation and world in turmoil and undergoing dramatic change.

In reviewing prior inauguration charts, there are strong similarities to the inauguration chart of Franklin D. Roosevelt on January 20, 1941, who had to deal with the attack on Pearl Harbor and the US getting dragged into World War II. This chart also had Uranus, the planet of sudden disruptions, unexpected shifts, and innovation (the Manhattan Project and the development of the atomic bomb) in the first house (the nation). The Sun in this chart was in opposition to Pluto. There was also a grand square aspect indicating tension and turmoil, involving 3 of the same planets that we have in the 2025 chart (Chiron, Moon, and Mercury).

The Sun-Pluto conjunction at 0° Aquarius (the charged degree marking the 2020 great conjunction) suggests the presidency will be defined by profound societal changes. The Sun represents the president, and Pluto governs transformation, power struggles, and dismantling outdated structures. This alignment indicates a presidency aimed at restructuring American society, particularly in areas like governance, technology, and collective ideals associated with Aquarius. However, the opposition to retrograde Mars on the IC suggests internal struggles and resistance to these transformative efforts, with the potential for external conflict, as the IC also signifies the homeland.

Uranus in the First House suggests that Trump’s public persona and leadership will be marked by sudden and unexpected shifts, which already define him with his natal Sun conjunct to Uranus. Uranus is a planet of rebellion, innovation, and unpredictability. Uranus in Taurus points to disruptions in material areas such as the economy, resources, and financial systems, suggesting that Trump’s actions may impact economic stability or environmental policies, potentially creating significant shifts in these sectors. Expect disruptions. This signature is exacerbated by Uranus entering Gemini (Trump’s Sun sign) in 2025, heading towards a Uranus return to his natal chart. This will create further unpredictability, instability, disruption, and even danger for the president.

A Grand Square involving the Moon in Libra, Mercury in Capricorn, Chiron in Aries, and Retrograde Mars in Cancer create significant tension and conflict between the signification of these planets. The Moon in Libra focuses on the public and their emotional needs, while Mercury in Capricorn represents structured communication, authority, legislation, and trade. The square between these two suggests difficulty in conveying clear and effective policies, particularly as Trump’s leadership may face criticism around trade (Mercury) wars (Mars). Chiron in Aries highlights wounds related to national identity, restrictions on personal autonomy, the hard-working labor force, and enemies. This placement suggests that Trump’s presidency may prompt the nation to confront painful issues related to its values and self-image, potentially resurfacing unresolved conflicts over leadership and the country’s direction.

Retrograde Mars in Cancer adds emotional complexity to the Grand Square, as Mars governs action and aggression, and Cancer represents the homeland and security. Retrograde Mars suggests that conflicts related to national security, family values, immigration, or domestic policies may be internalized or unresolved. This dynamic could lead to emotional battles and public dissatisfaction with Trump’s handling of key issues like national security, public safety, or social justice.

Under these conditions, it is worth becoming more attentive and prudent around your risk management strategies. Take profits early and err on the side of caution as we enter choppy waters.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 NOTE 1: WHAT THE &%#@?! IS HAPPENING? An Astrological Interpretation of the Planetary Movements Now Underway. SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2025, NOON EST. We are pleased to announce that MMA will host a 60- to 90-minute webinar with noted financial market analyst Raymond Merriman on Saturday, January 25, starting at noon EST. The cost is $35. A recording of this event will be available by Monday, January 27, to all who sign up. Note: This is different from the Forecast 2025 webinar taking place on February 16, which will cover specific financial markets, investments, and their timing.

About this new webinar: All the personal planets are in back-to-back retrograde cycles through mid-spring, which is unusual and meaningful. We call this “retrograde chaos.” All the outer planets are in the process of ingressing into new signs for the first time in 300 years — and before that, it was another 300 years. We refer to this outer planet ingress period as a time of great “turbulence.”

This is the middle of the “New Aira” (2020-2032) and the advent of “The Aries Vortex” (2025-2026). What do these mean for the world and individuals? Understanding these challenges, as shown by the cosmos, can make the difference between success and failure or between stress or excitement about new opportunities. Join us for an insightful look at what these cosmic indicators say — it will help you plan your year ahead. To register, click here.

NOTE 2: MMA’s Annual Forecast 2025 Worldwide Webinar with Raymond Merriman. Sunday, February 16, 2025, Noon EST. From 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 special updates on financial markets since the book was written in November 2024. This presentation will include trading plans for the DJIA, Gold, Silver, Bitcoin, Inflation, and Interest Rates. 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 using the MMA timing methodology. If you are unable to attend live, a video recording will be available the following day. The cost is $60 for this special three-hour webinar. Registration for the Forecast 2025 Webinar is now open. Save the date! Sign up now!

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 provide an outlook not only for the NASDAQ  but also for the QQQ (ETF) and specific technology stocks such as NVIDIA and Apple. It will also include unique CRDs (critical reversal dates) specific to the NASDAQ, based on Held’s meticulous research. Focusing on the NASDAQ is crucial 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 July 2025. Additionally, much of this report will be generated by Wiebke’s own AI applications. Truly, this will be an exciting report, highlighting many new features of 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 of this free weekly column or to those who sign 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 for this weekly distribution list now at https://www.mmacycles.com/free-weekly-forecast/!

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- 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. 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). 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 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.

 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: THE JANUARY ISSUE OF THE MMA Monthly Cycles Report was issued last week. It was our first issue of the new year and covers 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. If you would like to try 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 10: 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 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 is 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.

EVENTS

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

 JANUARY 25, 2025, NOON EST: “WHAT THE !@#$%^& IS HAPPENING? An Astrological Interpretation of the Planetary Movements Now Underway.” MMA will be hosting a 60- to 90-minute webinar with noted financial market analyst Raymond Merriman on Saturday, January 25, starting at noon EST. The cost is $35. A recording of this event will be available by Monday, January 27, to all who sign up. Note: This is not the same as the Forecast 2025 webinar taking place on February 16, which will cover specific financial markets, investments, and their timing. For more information, see “Announcements” above. To register, click here.

 FEBRUARY 16, 2025: MMA’s Annual Forecast 2025 Worldwide Webinar with Raymond Merriman. It starts at noon EST. From 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. This 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. She will provide her outlook on the NASDAQ using the MMA timing methodology. If you are unable to attend live, a video recording will be available the following day. The cost is $60 for this special three-hour webinar. 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.