FinancialCyclesWeekly.com #0452 -- December 26, 02004 -- January 1, 02005 with Tim Bost

COMMENT: As we were finishing up our writing for this issue of our newsletter, we got the news of the massive earthquake that hit in the Indian Ocean earlier today. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the incredibly huge 9.0 quake hit at 00:58:50 a.m. GMT and was centered northwest of Sumatra, at 03°N17'53", 095°E46'44". It was the world's fourth-largest earthquake since 1900, and the early reports indicate at least 3,000 people killed n Sri Lanka, 2,300 in India, 2,000 in Indonesia, 289 in Thailand, 42 in Malaysia, 8 in Somalia and 2 in Bangladesh. At the time of the event at the quake's epicenter, transiting Vulcanus was on an angle, and powerful eighth-harmonic transits activated midpoint structures for Mercury/Uranus, Neptune/Hades, Pluto/Admetos, Hades/Zeus, Jupiter/Pluto, and Sun/Moon.


HO HO, HO-HUM?

It's always interesting to see how forecasts based in financial astrology actually work out in the markets. In last week's issue, for example, we noted that the direct station by Mercury last Monday "may weaken the impact of the year-end Santa Claus rally in stocks somewhat." The Santa Claus rally has certainly materialized, but sure enough, it got off to a very slow start last Monday. The front page of Investors Business Daily the next day noted that "A Santa Claus rally got sidetracked Monday as solid morning gains reversed course." IBD didn't credit the sluggishness to the Mercury station, however. Instead the publication noted that "The declines accelerated about the time President Bush answered questions about the Iraqi armed forces." Just as the planet of communication resumed its forward motion, the President that U.S.-trained Iraqi soldiers were turning in a disappointing performance in battle. Later in the week, though, the seasonal rally got into full swing, with U.S. equities hitting their highest levels in three and a half years before the week's end.


MORE DOWNSIDE FOR THE DOLLAR

Even though the stock market was booming last week, the greenback didn't fare so well. The U.S. dollar plunged to an all-time low against the euro during the trading day on Thursday.


UPDATE ON THE DEBT

The U.S. national debt has continued to climb at a dizzying pace recently, growing by an estimated $2.56 billion each day since September 30 of this year. The total amount of the debt is now over $7.6 trillion, or more precisely $7,601,177,959,440.50 as of Christmas day. With the U.S. population currently at an estimated 295,154,190 people, that means each citizen's personal share of the debt is currently $25,753.23, with that amount increasing to over $25,800 per capita by New Years Day.

****


THE WEEK AHEAD

It's the holiday season and the last week in the calendar quarter, which means that we won't be looking for any significant earnings reports at all this week. The economic calendar will also be extremely light, but we will be looking for the December numbers on Consumer Confidence, the November figures for Existing Home Sales, and the December Purchasing Managers Index from Chicago.

On Monday the markets in the U.K., Canada, Hong Kong and Australia will be closed for Boxing Day. The holiday marking the start of a new year will bring some adjustments to trading schedules in a variety of equities markets around the globe, but the equities markets in the U.S. will remain open on a regular schedule on New Years Eve.

A waning Moon highlights the astrological picture as we move into the year's end, with a powerful Saturn/Chiron opposition on December 28 setting a conservative, almost worrisome tone for the trading action during the early part of the week. That careful attitude is certainly appropriate, however, since it may oblige some traders to confront concealed fears and begin a new, more healthy and profitable way of dealing with money issues. The uncertainty will likely be set aside, however, and caution could get thrown to the winds, when a Mars/Uranus square kicks in on December 31, promising a high-energy finale to the year's trading activity.

We will be keeping an eye on these geocentric factors this week as a background to our trading strategy, setting our analysis parameters at (G,180,N,0) for Mars, Saturn, Uranus, and Chiron. We'll also be keeping an eye on heliocentric action in the fourth harmonic, charting planetary lines for Mercury, Earth, Venus, Pluto, Neptune, Jupiter, Kronos, Hades, and Zeus (H,90,N,0). Two periods when the Moon is Void-of-Course, on Tuesday morning and throughout the trading day on Thursday, will give us opportunities to step aside from active trading.

Have a great week!

*****


SPIRITUAL FOCUS FOR THE WEEK

The greatest traders have all understood that emotional balance is the key to successful trading. Through Practical Spiritual Astrology we have an opportunity to restore inner harmony, enhance emotional balance, and make wiser choices in the markets.

We now have a marvelous opportunity to share the nurturing power of Divine Love with others, opening ourselves to more lively imagination, to greater refinement in our thoughts and communications, and to dramatic growth of consciousness.

"...the sense of being which in calm hours arises, we know not how, in the soul, is not diverse from things, from space, from light, from time, from man, but one with them and proceeds obviously from the same source.... Here is the fountain of action and of thought.... We lie in the lap of immense intelligence." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

*****


GLOBAL EQUITIES MARKETS LAST WEEK

Although trading got off to a somewhat tentative start last week and although the market action was truncated by holiday closings, stocks around the world put in some very solid gains for the week. The most notable exception was Singapore, which backed off sharply from the strong advance of the previous week.

Dow Jones Industrial Average -- up 1.66%
Dow Jones Transportation Average -- up 0.98%
Dow Jones Utilities Average -- up 2.07%
S&P 500 -- up 1.33%
NASDAQ Composite Index -- up 1.19%
Russell 2000 -- up 1.14%
London FTSE-100 -- up 1.94%
Paris CAC-40 -- up 2.00%
Frankfurt DAX -- up 1.66%
Sydney All Ordinaries -- up 0.95%
Tokyo Nikkei -- up 1.18%
Hong Kong Hang Seng Index -- up 1.74%
Singapore Straits Times Index -- down 0.12%

*****


FINANCIAL CYCLES MODEL PORTFOLIO


POSITIONS CLOSED DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK: ACXM, ASCA, AAPL, CNTY, URBN.

We closed five Model Portfolio positions during the past week, with 3 winners and 2 losers producing a net profit of $2,285.00.

On December 20 we sold 400 shares of Acxiom Corporation (ACXM) at 26.35, taking a loss of $100.00 (a 0.94% loss in 5 trading days).

On December 20 we sold 300 shares of Ameristar Casinos, Inc. (ASCA) at 42.00, taking a profit of $225.00 (a 1.82% gain in 8 trading days).

On December 20 we sold 200 shares of Apple Computer, Inc. (AAPL) at 64.50, taking a profit of $2,200.00 (a 20.56% gain in 33 trading days).

On December 20 we sold 1,000 shares of Century Casinos, Inc. (CNTY) at 8.60, taking a loss of $50.00 (a 0.58% loss in 1 trading day).

On December 20 we sold 200 shares of Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) at 42.80, taking a profit of $10.00 (a 0.12% gain in 14 trading days).

*****


POSITIONS ADDED TO THE PORTFOLIO DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK: CATY, MSB, UDI, UFPI.

We added four long positions to the Model Portfolio during the previous week.

We bought 300 shares of Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) at 38.75 on 12/20/04, setting our initial stop at 38.25.

We bought 800 shares of Mesabi Trust CBI (MSB) at 13.20 on 12/20/04, setting our initial stop at 11.75.

We bought 200 shares of United Defense Industries (UDI) at 48.00 on 12/20/04, setting our initial stop at 46.00.

We bought 200 shares of Universal Forest Products (UFPI) at 42.00 on 12/20/04, setting our initial stop at 39.50.

*****


YEAR-IN-REVIEW MODEL PORTFOLIO ACTIVITY

So far in 2004 we have had a total of 207 completed trades, with 100 winners and 107 losers bringing us a total net profit of $45,538.50. The largest profit for a single trade has been $5,645.00; the largest single-trade loss has been $750.00; the average profit per trade has been $219.99. The mean duration of our trades has been 10.3 trading days.

During 2003 we had a total of 176 completed trades, with 99 winners and 77 losers bringing us a total net profit of $51,717.00. The largest profit for a single trade was $9,240.00; the largest single-trade loss was $1,170.00; the average profit per trade was $293.85. The mean duration of our trades was 10.1 trading days.

During 2002 we had a total of 195 completed trades, with 119 winners, 74 losers, and 2 break-even trades bringing us a total net profit of $50,956.00. The largest profit for a single trade was $5,100.00; the largest single-trade loss was $1,055.00; the average profit per trade was $261.31. The mean duration of our trades was 12.7 trading days.

*****


CURRENT POSITIONS IN THE MODEL PORTFOLIO

Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (BNI) -- bought 300 shares at 38.61 on 10/05/04; currently 46.75. Raise stop to 45.75.

Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) -- bought 300 shares at 38.75 on 12/20/04; currently 38.73. Raise stop to 38.50.

Computer Associates International, Inc. (CA) -- bought 300 shares at 30.75 on 12/08/04; currently 31.08. Raise stop to 30.50.

D. R. Horton Inc. (DHI) -- bought 200 shares at 39.00 on 12/13/04; currently 39.81. Raise stop to 39.25.

Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. (FFEX) -- bought 800 shares at 12.00 on 11/30/04; currently 13.06. Raise stop to 12.50.

Healthextras, Inc. (HLEX) -- bought 500 shares at 15.75 on 12/13/04; currently 16.03. Raise stop to 15.80.

Humana Inc. (HUM) -- bought 500 shares at 23.00 on 11/22/04; currently 29.44. Raise stop to 29.25.

Mesabi Trust CBI (MSB) -- bought 800 shares at 13.20 on 12/20/04; currently 13.67. Raise stop to 13.00.

Sunrise Senior Living Inc. (SRZ) -- bought 300 shares at 42.50 on 11/22/04; currently 45.40. Raise stop to 44.50.

United Defense Industries (UDI) -- bought 200 shares at 48.00 on 12/20/04; currently 48.08. Raise stop to 47.25.

Universal Forest Products (UFPI) -- bought 200 shares at 42.00 on 12/20/04; currently 43.16. Raise stop to 41.85.

*****


STRONGEST MARKET SECTORS LAST WEEK

Gaming Equipment; Internet Content Providers; Household Textiles; Steel; Basic Chemicals.

*****

WEAKEST MARKET SECTORS LAST WEEK

Toys & Games; Metal Products; Dairy Products; Generic Drugs; Automobile Manufacturers.

*****


KEY ASTROLOGICAL EVENTS DURING THE COMING WEEK

December 26
Moon quincunx Mars 00:23 EST
Heliocentric Venus semisextile Heliocentric Cupido 02:10 EST
Moon conjunct Kronos 02:30 EST
True Lunar Node enters Aries 02:41 EST
Venus semisquare Chiron in right ascension 05:51 EST
Moon trine Uranus 07:05 EST
Full Moon 10:06 EST
Heliocentric Mercury contraparallel Heliocentric Uranus 11:10 EST
Moon biquintile Mars 13:14 EST
Moon trine Poseidon 13:37 EST
Moon semisquare Admetos 13:57 EST
Heliocentric Mars semisextile Heliocentric Cupido 14:23 EST
Moon biquintile Neptune 15:07 EST
Mercury sesquiquadrate Saturn in right ascension 15:14 EST
Sun sextile Uranus in right ascension 15:19 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Vulcanus 16:16 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Hades 16:34 EST
Moon square Zeus 18:35 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Saturn 20:26 EST
Heliocentric Mercury contraparallel Heliocentric Apollon 20:59 EST
Moon quincunx Cupido 21:02 EST
Heliocentric Mercury biquintile Heliocentric Neptune 22:31 EST
Venus contraparallel Vulcanus in right ascension 22:41 EST
True Lunar Node conjunct 04/19/04 Solar Eclipse Point 23:12 EST
Moon quintile True Lunar Node 23:28 EST

December 27
Venus contraparallel Vulcanus 00:16 EST
Mercury sextile Neptune 00:30 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Poseidon 01:25 EST
Moon quincunx Venus 02:19 EST
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Jupiter 02:49 EST
Mercury sesquiquadrate True Lunar Node in right ascension 03:14 EST
Moon quincunx Neptune 03:16 EST
Moon quincunx Mercury 03:28 EST
Mercury parallel Mars in right ascension 03:51 EST
Mercury parallel Mars 03:59 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Pluto 05:44 EST
Mars conjunct 11/23/03 Solar Eclipse Point 06:12 EST
Venus sesquiquadrate Saturn in right ascension 07:33 EST
Heliocentric Earth trine Heliocentric Uranus 07:52 EST
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Admetos 08:29 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Mars 08:32 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Kronos 08:46 EST
Moon biquintile Cupido 09:11 EST
Moon square Jupiter 09:38 EST
Zeus in 24th harmonic to Apollon 09:45 EST
Heliocentric Venus parallel Heliocentric Poseidon 10:12 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Vulcanus 10:43 EST
Venus sextile Neptune 11:31 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Saturn 11:55 EST
Mars quincunx Kronos 12:26 EST
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Zeus 13:10 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Uranus 13:29 EST
Heliocentric Earth trine Heliocentric Poseidon 13:40 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Hades 14:13 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Apollon 14:16 EST
Sun quintile Apollon 14:30 EST
Venus sesquiquadrate True Lunar Node in right ascension 14:31 EST
Moon biquintile Venus 15:53 EST
Moon biquintile Mercury 16:33 EST
Moon sextile Admetos 20:14 EST
Heliocentric Earth square Heliocentric Jupiter 20:55 EST
Moon quincunx Pluto 21:14 EST
Moon conjunct Vulcanus 22:33 EST
Moon semisextile Hades 22:51 EST
Mars quintile Neptune 23:19 EST

December 28
Saturn opposition Chiron 00:29 EST
Moon square Apollon 00:55 EST
Mercury sesquiquadrate True Lunar Node 00:56 EST
Moon conjunct Saturn 02:33 EST
Void-of-Course Moon 02:33-12:13 EST
Moon opposition Chiron 02:35 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Mars 02:35 EST
Heliocentric Venus parallel Heliocentric Chiron 02:44 EST
Sun sextile Poseidon 03:21 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Cupido 03:25 EST
Venus sesquiquadrate True Lunar Node 03:43 EST
Sun sesquiquadrate Admetos 06:41 EST
Mars semisquare Jupiter 06:52 EST
Moon quintile Zeus 06:58 EST
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Chiron 07:21 EST
Moon biquintile Uranus 07:44 EST
Moon biquintile Pluto 09:24 EST
Moon square True Lunar Node 11:11 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Venus 12:13 EST
Moon enters Leo 12:13 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Mercury 12:15 EST
Mercury conjunct Venus 13:32 EST
Moon semisextile Kronos 15:03 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Cupido 15:51 EST
Moon trine Mars 16:43 EST
Sun in 24th harmonic to Pluto 19:07 EST
Heliocentric Earth semisquare Heliocentric Admetos 19:21
Moon quincunx Uranus 19:54 EST
Moon quintile Admetos 20:28 EST
Moon quintile Jupiter 22:20 EST
Heliocentric Mars parallel Heliocentric Pluto 22:41 EST
Heliocentric Venus quintile Heliocentric Chiron 22:45 EST
Mercury conjunct Venus in right ascension 23:46 EST

December 29
Moon parallel Kronos 01:18 EST
Moon square Poseidon 02:16 EST
Heliocentric Venus square Heliocentric Neptune 02:39 EST
Sun square Zeus in right ascension 02:44 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Neptune 02:46 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Venus 02:51 EST
Moon contraparallel Sun 03:11 EST
Heliocentric Mercury enters Libra 03:36 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Pluto 03:38 EST
Moon quincunx Sun 04:24 EST
Heliocentric Earth in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Vulcanus 04:46 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Vulcanus 04:49 EST
Moon semisquare Hades 05:06 EST
Moon sextile Zeus 07:13 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Saturn 08:39 EST
Moon trine Cupido 09:46 EST
Moon parallel Hades 09:58 EST
Heliocentric Earth in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Saturn 11:26 EST
Moon contraparallel Venus 12:13 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Kronos 12:29 EST
Moon quintile Apollon 13:16 EST
Heliocentric Earth square Heliocentric Zeus 14:54 EST
Moon parallel Vulcanus 15:11 EST
Sun semisextile Cupido in right ascension 15:28 EST
Moon opposition Neptune 16:01 EST
Moon contraparallel Cupido 17:17 EST
Moon parallel Saturn 17:33
Moon biquintile Sun 17:37 EST
Heliocentric Venus parallel Heliocentric Pluto 18:03 EST
Heliocentric Earth in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Hades 19:12 EST
Moon contraparallel Mercury 19:18 EST
Neptune opposition 11/08/03 Lunar Eclipse Antiscion 20:27 EST
Moon contraparallel Mars 20:38 EST
Moon trine Mercury 21:13 EST
Moon semisquare Kronos 21:15 EST
Moon trine Venus 22:01 EST
Heliocentric Mercury contraparallel Heliocentric Zeus 22:18 EST
Moon sextile Jupiter 22:43 EST

December 30
Heliocentric Earth biquintile Heliocentric Neptune 00:36 EST
Heliocentric Venus parallel Heliocentric Mars 02:43 EST
Heliocentric Venus sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Kronos 03:01 EST
Jupiter trine Neptune in right ascension 04:45 EST
Venus sextile Jupiter 05:18 EST
Mars semisquare Jupiter in right ascension 06:02 EST
Venus biquintile Vulcanus 06:43 EST
Moon square Admetos 08:41 EST
Venus sextile Neptune in right ascension 08:42 EST
Venus sextile Jupiter in right ascension 08:53 EST
Moon parallel Admetos 09:51 EST
Moon trine Pluto 09:54 EST
Void-of-Course Moon begins 09:54 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Vulcanus 10:18 EST
Moon semisextile Vulcanus 10:58 EST
Moon sextile Hades 11:13 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Saturn 12:17 EST
Mars quincunx Kronos in right ascension 12:54 EST
Sun square Zeus 13:21 EST
Moon semisquare Zeus 13:22 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Sun 13:22 EST
Moon sextile Apollon 13:23 EST
Moon quintile Poseidon 14:29 EST
Moon semisextile Saturn 14:36 EST
Moon quincunx Chiron 15:27 EST
Mercury sextile Jupiter 16:05 EST
Mercury biquintile Vulcanus 16:39 EST
Mercury sextile Neptune in right ascension 17:12 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quincunx Heliocentric Uranus 17:24 EST
Mercury sextile Jupiter in right ascension 17:55 EST
Moon contraparallel Neptune 18:07 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Poseidon 18:46 EST
Heliocentric Venus biquintile Heliocentric Hades 20:21 EST
Heliocentric Mercury contraparallel Heliocentric Jupiter 22:00 EST
Heliocentric Mercury conjunct Heliocentric Jupiter 22:09 EST
Moon trine True Lunar Node 22:36 EST

December 31
Moon enters Virgo 00:32 EST
Void-of-Course Moon ends 00:32 EST
Mercury contraparallel Saturn in right ascension 01:55 EST
Moon contraparallel Pluto 01:59 EST
Mercury contraparallel Saturn 01:59 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Admetos 02:45 EST
Mars square Uranus 02:48 EST
Mercury parallel Cupido in right ascension 03:12 EST
Moon sextile Kronos 03:15 EST
Moon biquintile Chiron 03:31 EST
Heliocentric Earth quincunx Heliocentric Cupido 04:22 EST
Mercury parallel Cupido 04:31 EST
Moon contraparallel Chiron 04:36 EST
Moon semisquare Jupiter 04:59 EST
Heliocentric Mercury conjunct Heliocentric Zeus 08:01 EST
Moon opposition Uranus 08:17 EST
Moon square Mars 08:36 EST
Moon contraparallel Poseidon 08:36 EST
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Apollon 09:12 EST
Moon quintile Hades 11:07 EST
Venus contraparallel Hades in right ascension 13:18 EST
Moon sextile Poseidon 14:23 EST
Venus contraparallel Hades 15:38 EST
Venus biquintile Saturn 15:56 EST
Sun in 24th harmonic to Chiron 15:57 EST
Moon semisquare Vulcanus 16:49 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Cupido 18:16 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Pluto 19:01 EST
Moon semisextile Zeus 19:13 EST
Moon semisquare Apollon 19:15 EST
Moon semisquare Saturn 20:14 EST
Sun semisextile Cupido 20:32 EST
Moon parallel True Lunar Node 21:27 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Chiron 21:28 EST
Moon square Cupido 21:49 EST
Moon trine Sun 21:56 EST
Moon contraparallel Uranus 22:55 EST
Heliocentric Earth square Heliocentric Mercury 23:34 EST

January 1
Sun square 04/08/05 Solar Eclipse Antiscion 00:27 EST
Saturn contraparallel Cupido in right ascension 02:02 EST
Moon quintile Kronos 02:58 EST
Moon quincunx Neptune 03:59 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate True Lunar Node 04:03 EST
Moon contraparallel Apollon 04:42 EST
Mercury biquintile Saturn 05:31 EST
Venus in 24th harmonic to Mars 05:38 EST
Heliocentric Mercury biquintile Heliocentric Uranus 08:07 EST
Moon semisextile Jupiter 10:49 EST
Mercury contraparallel Vulcanus in right ascension 11:04 EST
Mercury contraparallel Vulcanus 12:23 EST
Mars biquintile True Lunar Node 13:06 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Mars 13:11 EST
Moon square Mercury 14:41 EST
Moon biquintile Neptune 15:45 EST
Moon square Venus 16:25 EST
Heliocentric Mercury parallel Heliocentric Jupiter 16:34 EST
Heliocentric Venus parallel Heliocentric Neptune 16:58 EST
Moon semisquare Poseidon 19:50 EST
Moon trine Admetos 19:59 EST
Venus quincunx Admetos in right ascension 20:25 EST
Venus semisquare Poseidon in right ascension 20:27 EST
Moon contraparallel Jupiter 21:15 EST
Moon square Pluto 21:21 EST
Moon biquintile True Lunar Node 21:31 EST
Moon quintile Mars 22:03 EST
Moon sextile Vulcanus 22:10 EST
Moon square Hades 22:23 EST

January 2
Moon in 24th harmonic to Zeus 00:33 EST
Moon semisextile Apollon 00:35 EST
Moon sextile Saturn 01:21 EST
Void-of-Course Moon 01:21 -- 11:18 EST
Saturn contraparallel Cupido 01:43 EST
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Neptune 02:11 EST
Moon trine Chiron 02:58 EST
Heliocentric Venus in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Poseidon 04:24 EST
Moon contraparallel Zeus 05:10 EST
Moon quintile Cupido 08:57 EST
Moon quincunx True Lunar Node 09:04 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Neptune 09:12 EST
Moon enters Libra 11:18 EST
Mercury quincunx Admetos in right ascension 12:01 EST
Mercury semisquare Poseidon in right ascension 12:12 EST
Moon square Kronos 13:51 EST
Heliocentric Mercury biquintile Heliocentric Admetos 13:56 EST
Venus quintile Zeus 15:21 EST
Heliocentric Venus semisquare Heliocentric Jupiter 15:29 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Jupiter 16:01 EST
Heliocentric Venus semisextile Heliocentric Pluto 16:27 EST
Heliocentric Mercury parallel Heliocentric Zeus 17:25 EST
Moon quincunx Uranus 18:56 EST
Mercury in 24th harmonic to Mars 19:29 EST
Moon quintile Vulcanus 21:09 EST
Mars parallel Cupido in right ascension 21:35 EST
Moon sextile Mars 22:24 EST
Heliocentric Venus opposition Heliocentric Admetos 23:22 EST
Mars parallel Cupido 23:57 EST

*****


STOCKS TO WATCH: CBRL, MTSC, OSK, RUSHA.

CBRL Group, Inc. (CBRL)
NASDAQ
First Trade Date: 11/05/1981; 10:00 a.m.
Trading Strategy: CBRL, the company behind the Cracker Barrel Restaurant chain, has displayed some real strength during the past few months. In December CBRL broke out above the high it set in April, retreated a bit, and then gapped upward in a decisive move before hitting some resistance just above 43.00. There are strong positive transits on the way for this stock, however, with transiting Pluto conjoining First-Trade Neptune, transiting Jupiter conjoining the First-Trade Midheaven, and transiting Apollon conjoining the First-Trade Mercury/Pluto conjunction. We will thus add a long position in CBRL to the Model Portfolio this week, setting our initial stop at 41.00.


MTS Systems Corporation (MTSC)
NASDAQ
First Trade Date: 07/17/1981; 10:00 a.m.
Trading Strategy: MTSC has shown dramatic price growth since mid-October, but has hit a little bit of congestion during the past couple of weeks as Saturn has been transiting its First-Trade Sun. That particular negative influence is starting to pass, however, and we are now ready to add a long position to the Model Portfolio in anticipation of further price gains. We will add the position this week, setting our initial stop at 32.00.


Oshkosh Truck Corporation (OSK)
NYSE
First Trade Date: 07/12/2002; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: Oshkosh has only been trading a couple of years, so there is not much of a track record to base our astrological analysis on. Even so, with Saturn currently transiting the OSK First-Trade Jupiter, we can see why its price has started to level off slightly during the past few trading sessions. As transiting Uranus moves forward to close in on the OSK First-Trade Descendant during the coming weeks, we expect to see further price appreciation, so we plan to add a long position now. We will set our initial stop at 64.00.


Rush Enterprises Inc. (RUSHA)
NASDAQ
First Trade Date: 07/10/2002; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: Thanks to nearly identical First-Trade dates, the situation for RUSHA is quite similar to the one for OSK. In the case of RUSHA, however, transiting Uranus is already contacting the First-Trade Descendant, so we are even more pleased with the prospects for a positive move in the immediate future. RUSHA has pulled back from the high it set early in December, so we will go ahead with a long position this week. We will set our initial stop at 14.00.

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FINANCIAL CYCLES WEEKLY (ISSN 1055-8527) is published by Taylor-Bost Consulting and edited by Tim Bost at 2132 Beneva Road, Sarasota, FL 34232 USA. Phone: 941-921-2588. Fax: 941-927-5798. Web: http://www.TimBost.com. Entire contents copyright 2004 Timothy L. Bost. No portion of Financial Cycles Weekly may be reproduced without the publisher's written permission. Subscriptions to FINANCIAL CYCLES WEEKLY are $39.00 per month for weekly issues sent by email, payable by monthly billing to a major credit card. Advance payment options (by credit card, check, or money order) are $228 for 6 months, $432 for 1 year or $815 for two years. All subscriptions are payable in US funds only-- Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, and Discover/Novus accepted; please make checks or money orders payable to Taylor-Bost. PayPal is also accepted for online orders; to subscribe go to http://www.TimBost.com/newsletter/subscribe.html.

By providing a source of independent market analysis, the purpose of FINANCIAL CYCLES WEEKLY is to foster the growth of person-centered business and investment astrology; to enhance the development and dissemination of financial literacy and prosperity consciousness; and to explore the use of technical analysis and financial astrology in promoting an esoteric spiritual understanding of economic trends, geocosmic cycles, geopolitical events, and market movements. FINANCIAL CYCLES WEEKLY is a general interest publication which is prepared from astrological information, news reports, cycle projections, and market observations which are believed to be accurate and reliable, but which cannot be guaranteed. Portfolio and trading reports in this publication do not include taxes and transaction fees, which should be taken into consideration by prospective traders and investors. Even with accurate information, past performance is no guarantee of future results. Speculation in securities and commodities involves considerable financial risk, and readers who plan to invest or speculate in securities or commodities mentioned in FINANCIAL CYCLES WEEKLY have the complete responsibility for making themselves fully aware of all the risks involved before they invest. The editor may or may not have positions in the securities and commodities discussed in this newsletter, and the information in FINANCIAL CYCLES WEEKLY should in no way be understood or construed as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any products or securities, nor should the material published in this newsletter be considered buy/sell advice.

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posted by Tim Bost @ 12/26/2004 02:50:36 AM