FinancialCyclesWeekly.com #0501 -- January 2-8, 02005 with Tim Bost

COMMENT: About 8,000 deaths had been reported when we got the news bulletin on the earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean last week and gave it a brief mention in this letter. Since that time, of course, the estimated death toll has risen to over 156,000 people, making the disaster one of the worst catastrophes in modern history. We are far from fully comprehending the ultimate human or economic impact of this event, and the recovery process is sure to color market activity and international commerce for much of this year, and probably for many years to come.

Last week we mentioned some of the planetary dynamics at work when we glanced briefly at the horoscope of the earthquake. We should add, however, that the surrounding astrological circumstances in the days just before and after the event contributed significantly to the scope and impact of the phenomenon. As we noted last week, there was a Mars/Uranus square on December 31, and the energy of this planetary configuration was already building when the earthquake occurred. The German astrologer Reinhold Ebertin described the interaction of Mars and Uranus as producing "sudden application of effort" and "the liability or proneness to injuries or accidents," which certainly applies to the events of December 26.

There's more to the catastrophe than a Mars/Uranus square, however. The quake took place just hours prior to the Full Moon, a Full Moon which culminated an unusually powerful lunar cycle. At the lunation two weeks earlier, there was a rare combination: a New Moon, the Moon at maximum south declination, and a lunar perigee, all within a 24-hour period. As astrologer Richard Nolle has noted, the last time this kind of configuration occurred was over a decade ago, when the "Perfect Storm" maritime disaster happened. The Full Moon on the day after Christmas was still crystallizing this potent New Moon energy; in fact, the Full Moon took place with the Moon also at maximum declination.

The tsunami in the Indian Ocean was thus certainly an anomaly; we aren't likely to see more natural disasters of the same magnitude any time soon. Unfortunately our astrological tools are limited in their ability to pinpoint such events ahead of time--not because the astrology doesn't give us the information, but because it provides such an over-abundance of information, leaving us the chore of sorting it all out and getting it to make sense so we can apply it in the real world. In focusing our attention on the astrology of the markets, we often fail to see the patterns emerging in other realms. Nevertheless, an event like this one helps us keep things in perspective. We certainly experience catastrophes in our trading from time to time, but as upsetting as they are, those catastrophes are nothing like the real thing.


DIVERGENCE AND DISAPPOINTMENT

It's interesting to watch the current divergence between the Dow Industrials and the Dow Transports. The Blue Chips finished the year with another sluggish week, while the transportation stocks put in a solid gain. The divergence between the two averages suggests that what looks like an improvement in some economic trends may actually be smoke and mirrors--the goods that are being delivered account for the transportation boom, but there aren't necessarily replacements in the pipeline, since manufacturing remains slow.

Several recent experiences brought the implications of the divergence home at a more personal level. First, a visit to a retailer to pick up a minor household item left us frustrated; we were told the item was out of stock. Trips to three more stores brought repetitions of the same story: "We used to have that item on hand all the time, but we haven't gotten any in for quite a while."

Then we responded to a TV pitch in an effort to order a last-minute holiday gift; we wanted to know if we could get overnight shipping for the kitchen appliance we were ordering. "Sure you can," we were told, "but it won't do you much good. That item is on back order, and it will be about five or six weeks before we get any more. But once it comes in we will be glad to overnight it to you."

Finally we checked in with a chain provider of office equipment and supplies so we could take a look at the newest computers. The salesman was very helpful in explaining the various features of the laptops we were considering as replacements for our ailing computer; in fact, he put in a lot of time extolling the virtues of one particular model. "I really think this one is the best choice for your needs," he told us as he put the demonstration unit through its paces, "and you can't go wrong with this processor speed and the enhanced screen. But of course we don't keep this computer in stock; until recently we've been able to order them and get them in within about ten days or two weeks. Lately, though, it's been taking a good bit longer than that."

While none of these encounters were about our experiencing critical shortages, the pattern that they demonstrate has certainly gotten our attention. The divergence between industrial and transportation stocks really means something; it's not just a technical indicator that suggests profitable directions for our investments. At a much more fundamental level, it reveals the real economic challenge that the country is confronting today: businesses need to become a lot more confident in the future, at least enough to return to former levels of production and hopefully enough to be willing to risk capital investments so they can start expanding their production of new goods instead of just shipping old ones out of inventory. If that happens, we may actually start to complete a meaningful economic recovery.


SATURN SUPPORT FOR THE DOLLAR

The U.S. Dollar Index closed out the year at 80.86 after the greenback spent most of the week, with the Dollar Index flirting with the support provided by geocentric Saturn (G,30,N,0) at about 80.50. Even though the dollar has lost about 12 percent of its value against the euro during the last 90 days, the Bush Administration seems determined to let the currency continue to fall. Nevertheless, our short-term expectation is that the dollar will continue to find support on this Saturn line. If the Dollar Index bounces back up from the 80.50 range, we could see a double-bottom forming and recovering dollar value ahead. If the index gives us a couple of consecutive daily closes significantly below that level, however, we will be looking for the dollar's decline to accelerate.

****


THE WEEK AHEAD

The New Year starts with anticipated earnings reports from Sonic Corporation (SONC), Walgreen Company (WAG), Oxford Industries (OXM), Bassett Furniture (BSET), Longview Fibre (LFB), Monsanto (MON), Ruby Tuesday Inc. (RI), RPM International (RPM), Acuity Brands Inc. (AYI), Emmis Communications (EMMS), WD-40 Company (WDFC), A. Schulman Inc. (SHLM), Constellation Brands (STZ), and Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company (GAP).

The economic calendar is also getting back in gear. During the week we will be watching for the numbers on November Construction Spending, November Consumer Credit, November Factory Orders, December Payrolls and Unemployment, December Car Sales, December Chain Store Sales, the December Credit Manager's Index, and the December ISM Index. The Federal Reserve Open Market Committee will also release the minutes of its December 14 meeting, which could give the market some insight on upcoming interest rate trends.

Markets in the U.K., Japan, and Australia will be closed on Monday to celebrate the beginning of the New Year. Some additional holiday closings may give a slow start to the week, but overall we're looking for the post-holiday action to pick up steam quite rapidly, thanks to the lingering effects of the volatile Mars/Uranus square, which closed out the year geocentrically on December 31 and comes into play in right ascension this Thursday.

Other astrological highlights for the week include a Venus/Pluto conjunction on Monday; a Venus/Hades opposition, Mercury/Pluto conjunction, and Mercury/Hades opposition on Tuesday; heliocentric squares of Mars to Neptune and Mercury to Chiron in the middle of the trading day on Wednesday; a Saturn/Apollon square and an eclipse activation on Thursday; and a big conclusion to the trading week on Friday with a Sun/Jupiter square, a Zeus retrograde station, and heliocentric Venus changing signs. The weekend brings an eclipse activation and both Venus and Mercury changing signs geocentrically.

A void-of-course Moon throughout the trading day on Tuesday and another one during the closing hours of trading on Thursday will give us opportunities to step back from our trading and evaluate our approach from the sidelines. Throughout the week, however, we will track planetary lines (G,90,N,0) for the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Pluto, Hades, Zeus, and Apollon.

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.

Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is to refine our personal sense of power and authority, opening ourselves up to a true transformation of spirit. If we are not afraid to articulate the profound potential for change that lies within our hearts, we will be able to release many of the illusions that have been holding us back.

"The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems." --Mahatma Gandhi

*****


GLOBAL EQUITIES MARKETS LAST WEEK

Stock markets around the world were a mixed bag as the year came to an end, testifying to some of the underlying economic weaknesses that still persist and reacting to the devastating economic and human impact of the earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean. U.S. blue chips and the Hong Kong market lost ground, while the rest of Asia, Europe, and the broader-based U.S. markets posted modest gains for the week. The biggest strength came from Japan, with the Nikkei making a decisive positive move.

Dow Jones Industrial Average -- down 0.41%
Dow Jones Transportation Average -- up 0.27%
Dow Jones Utilities Average -- down 0.28%
S&P 500 -- up 0.15%
NASDAQ Composite Index -- up 0.69%
Russell 2000 -- up 0.34%
London FTSE-100 -- up 0.56%
Paris CAC-40 -- up 0.04%
Frankfurt DAX -- up 0.10%
Sydney All Ordinaries -- up 0.59%
Tokyo Nikkei -- up 2.49%
Hong Kong Hang Seng Index -- down 0.04%
Singapore Straits Times Index -- up 0.52%

*****


FINANCIAL CYCLES MODEL PORTFOLIO


POSITIONS CLOSED DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK: CATY, DHI, HLEX, HUM, FFEX, UDI.

We closed six Model Portfolio positions during the past week, with 4 winners and 2 losers producing a net profit of $3,375.00.

On December 27 we sold 300 shares of Cathay General Bancorp (CATY) at 38.50, taking a loss of $75.00 (a 0.65% loss in 4 trading days).

On December 27 we sold 200 shares of D. R. Horton Inc. (DHI) at 39.25, taking a profit of $50.00 (a 0.64% gain in 9 trading days).

On December 27 we sold 500 shares of Healthextras, Inc. (HLEX) at 15.80, taking a profit of $25.00 (a 0.32% gain in 9 trading days).

On December 27 we sold 500 shares of Humana Inc. (HUM) at 29.25, taking a profit of $3,125.00 (a 27.27% gain in 23 trading days).

On December 30 we sold 800 shares of Frozen Food Express Industries, Inc. (FFEX) at 12.50, taking a profit of $400.00 (a 4.17% gain in 21 trading days).

On December 31 we sold 200 shares of United Defense Industries (UDI) at 47.25, taking a loss of $150.00 (a 1.56% loss in 8 trading days).

*****


POSITIONS ADDED TO THE PORTFOLIO DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK: CBRL, MTSC, OSK, RUSHA.

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

We bought 200 shares of CBRL Group, Inc. (CBRL) at 41.75 on 12/27/04, setting our initial stop at 41.00.

We bought 300 shares of MTS Systems Corporation (MTSC) at 33.65 on 12/27/04, setting our initial stop at 32.00.

We bought 200 shares of Oshkosh Truck Corporation (OSK) at 67.50 on 12/27/04, setting our initial stop at 64.00.

We bought 600 shares of Rush Enterprises Inc. (RUSHA) at 15.25 on 12/27/04, setting our initial stop at 14.00.

*****


YEAR-IN-REVIEW MODEL PORTFOLIO ACTIVITY

During 2004 we had a total of 213 completed trades, with 104 winners and 109 losers bringing us a total net profit of $48,913.50. The largest profit for a single trade was $5,645.00; the largest single-trade loss was $750.00; the average profit per trade was $229.64. The mean duration of our trades was 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 47.31. Raise stop to 46.50.

CBRL Group, Inc. (CBRL) -- bought 200 shares at 41.75 on 12/27/04; currently 41.85. Raise stop to 41.55.

Computer Associates International, Inc. (CA) -- bought 300 shares at 30.75 on 12/08/04; currently 31.06. Raise stop to 30.65.

Mesabi Trust CBI (MSB) -- bought 800 shares at 13.20 on 12/20/04; currently 13.46. Raise stop to 13.03.

MTS Systems Corporation (MTSC) -- bought 300 shares at 33.65 on 12/27/04; currently 33.81. Raise stop to 33.35.

Oshkosh Truck Corporation (OSK) -- bought 200 shares at 67.50 on 12/27/04; currently 68.38. Raise stop to 67.20.

Rush Enterprises Inc. (RUSHA) -- bought 600 shares at 15.25 on 12/27/04; currently 16.23. Raise stop to 15.45.

Sunrise Senior Living Inc. (SRZ) -- bought 300 shares at 42.50 on 11/22/04; currently 46.36. Raise stop to 45.05.

Universal Forest Products (UFPI) -- bought 200 shares at 42.00 on 12/20/04; currently 43.40. Raise stop to 42.75.

*****


STRONGEST MARKET SECTORS LAST WEEK

Residential Construction; Automobile Parts Stores; Diagnostic Substances; Technical Services; Nonmetallic Mineral Mining.

*****

WEAKEST MARKET SECTORS LAST WEEK

Silver; Aerospace & Defense; Machine Tools & Accessories; Gold; Closed-End Foreign Funds.

*****


KEY ASTROLOGICAL EVENTS DURING THE COMING WEEK

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

January 3
Markets closed for New Year Holiday in Japan, Australia & the U.K.
Moon quintile Saturn 00:09 EST
Moon semisextile Poseidon 00:35 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Admetos 00:42 EST
Venus semisquare Poseidon 02:20 EST
Mars contraparallel Saturn in right ascension 02:23 EST
Mars contraparallel Saturn 02:24 EST
Venus quintile Uranus 02:42 EST
Venus quincunx Admetos 03:24 EST
Moon quintile Mercury 04:47 EST
Moon conjunct Zeus 05:11 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Apollon 05:13 EST
Heliocentric Venus trine Heliocentric Vulcanus 05:21 EST
Moon biquintile Uranus 06:18 EST
Moon quintile Venus 06:41 EST
Moon sextile Cupido 07:45 EST
Moon quintile Pluto 07:48 EST
Mercury quintile Zeus 08:51 EST
Moon parallel Zeus 11:23 EST
Heliocentric Venus semisquare Heliocentric Zeus 11:52 EST
Heliocentric Venus trine Heliocentric Saturn 12:19 EST
Pluto sextile Apollon in right ascension 12:27 EST
Moon square Sun 12:44 EST
Moon trine Neptune 13:38 EST
True Lunar Node direct station 14:01 EST
Heliocentric Venus quincunx Heliocentric Hades 14:40 EST
Heliocentric Venus semisextile Heliocentric Apollon 14:40 EST
Chiron semisquare Cupido 16:23 EST
Neptune sesquiquadrate Kronos in right ascension 16:55 EST
Moon biquintile Admetos 17:32 EST
Venus conjunct Pluto 18:32 EST
Moon parallel Jupiter 19:11 EST
Mercury semisquare Poseidon 20:10 EST
Moon conjunct Jupiter 20:21 EST
Mercury quintile Uranus 21:03 EST
Mercury quincunx Admetos 21:04 EST
Mars semisextile Poseidon in right ascension 21:21 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Uranus 21:33 EST
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Poseidon 22:47 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Uranus 23:04 EST

January 4
Sun semisextile Neptune 00:25 EST
Venus quincunx Vulcanus 00:45 EST
Venus sextile Apollon in right ascension 01:43 EST
Venus conjunct Pluto in right ascension 02:03 EST
Venus opposition Hades 02:49 EST
Saturn opposition Chiron in right ascension 02:54 EST
Venus opposition Hades in right ascension 03:17 EST
Moon semisquare Mars 03:54 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Pluto 04:28 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Poseidon 04:29 EST
Moon quincunx Admetos 04:34 EST
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Jupiter 04:47 EST
Moon sextile Mercury 05:21 EST
Moon sextile Pluto 06:04 EST
Sun parallel Venus 06:08 EST
Sun parallel Venus in right ascension 06:08 EST
Moon square Vulcanus 06:37 EST
Moon trine Hades 06:48 EST
Moon sextile Venus 07:14 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quincunx Heliocentric Admetos 07:40 EST
Heliocentric Hades trine Heliocentric Apollon 08:01 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Zeus 08:54 EST
Moon conjunct Apollon 08:56 EST
Moon square Saturn 09:19 EST
Void-of-Course Moon 09:19 -- 18:59 EST
Heliocentric Earth trine Heliocentric Mars 09:53 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Vulcanus 10:28 EST
Moon parallel Apollon 10:28 EST
Moon semisquare Cupido 11:26 EST
Moon square Chiron 11:32 EST
Heliocentric Venus in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Cupido 11:53 EST
Mercury conjunct Pluto 12:57 EST
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Zeus 13:33 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Saturn 14:02 EST
Heliocentric Mercury conjunct Heliocentric Apollon 14:54 EST
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Hades 14:54 EST
Mars semisextile Poseidon 15:04 EST
Moon parallel Uranus 15:28 EST
True Lunar Node retrograde station 16:18 EST
Moon opposition True Lunar Node 16:52 EST
Moon contraparallel True Lunar Node 16:53 EST
Heliocentric Venus biquintile Heliocentric Kronos 18:25 EST
Mercury quincunx Vulcanus 18:28 EST
Moon enters Scorpio 18:59 EST
Mercury sextile Apollon in right ascension 19:12 EST
Mercury conjunct Pluto in right ascension 19:58 EST
Mercury opposition Hades 20:27 EST
Mercury opposition Hades in right ascension 20:30 EST
True Lunar Node square Chiron in right ascension 20:59 EST
Moon trine Kronos 21:17 EST
Mercury contraparallel Hades in right ascension 22:15 EST
Heliocentric Earth quincunx Heliocentric Neptune 22:44 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Jupiter 23:43 EST
Mercury contraparallel Hades 23:53 EST

January 5
Moon quintile Sun 00:15 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Cupido 01:04 EST
Venus sextile Apollon 01:27 EST
Moon trine Uranus 02:15 EST
Venus quincunx Saturn 04:06 EST
Moon parallel Poseidon 04:34 EST
Heliocentric Mars quintile Heliocentric Chiron 04:36 EST
Sun semisextile Neptune in right ascension 05:38 EST
Moon conjunct Poseidon 07:24 EST
Moon parallel Chiron 07:47 EST
Moon semisextile Mars 08:15 EST
Moon semisquare Pluto 08:57 EST
Mars contraparallel Vulcanus in right ascension 08:44 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Hades 09:34 EST
Pluto opposition Hades in right ascension 09:42 EST
Moon parallel Pluto 10:25 EST
Moon semisquare Mercury 10:55 EST
Mars contraparallel Vulcanus 11:09 EST
Moon semisextile Zeus 11:37 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Apollon 11:40 EST
Heliocentric Mars square Heliocentric Neptune 12:31 EST
Moon semisquare Venus 12:42 EST
Sun square Jupiter in right ascension 13:09 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Venus 13:11 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Chiron 13:14 EST
Heliocentric Venus sextile Heliocentric Chiron 13:17 EST
Moon semisextile Cupido 14:07 EST
Moon parallel Neptune 16:59 EST
Mercury sextile Apollon 19:00 EST
Venus quincunx Vulcanus in right ascension 19:08 EST
Moon quintile Chiron 19:35 EST
Moon square Neptune 19:38 EST
Mercury quincunx Saturn 20:29 EST
Heliocentric Venus contraparallel Heliocentric Admetos 20:55 EST
Mars in 24th harmonic to Pluto 22:47 EST
Moon sextile Sun 22:55 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Kronos 23:32 EST

January 6
Moon contraparallel Admetos 00:15 EST
Moon biquintile Hades 01:09 EST
Moon semisextile Jupiter 02:03 EST
Heliocentric Earth biquintile Heliocentric Cupido 02:11 EST
Mars square Uranus in right ascension 03:17 EST
Sun parallel Mercury in right ascension 03:49 EST
Sun parallel Mercury 03:50 EST
Venus in 24th harmonic to Cupido 04:36 EST
Mars sesquiquadrate Vulcanus 06:26 EST
Venus semisextile Chiron 07:55 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Poseidon 09:18 EST
Moon opposition Admetos 09:19 EST
Heliocentric Mercury parallel Heliocentric Apollon 09:56 EST
Moon semisextile Pluto 10:51 EST
Moon trine Vulcanus 11:11 EST
Moon quincunx Hades 11:21 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Mars 11:26 EST
Mercury quincunx Vulcanus in right ascension 11:44 EST
Heliocentric Earth in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Kronos 12:20 EST
Heliocentric Mercury enters Scorpio 13:12 EST
Moon semisquare Zeus 13:22 EST
Moon semisextile Apollon 13:25 EST
Moon trine Saturn 13:27 EST
Void-of-Course Moon 13:27 -- 22:42 EST
Moon parallel Cupido 14:27 EST
Moon contraparallel Saturn 14:45 EST
Moon biquintile Kronos 14:49 EST
Moon semisextile Mercury 15:16 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Cupido 15:49 EST
Moon contraparallel Vulcanus 16:01 EST
Moon sextile Chiron 16:09 EST
Moon parallel Mars 16:46 EST
Moon semisextile Venus 16:53 EST
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Mars 16:54 EST
True Lunar Node square 11/23/03 Solar Eclipse Antiscion 16:56 EST
Saturn square Apollon 19:01 EST
Venus quincunx Saturn in right ascension 19:41 EST
Moon contraparallel Hades 20:11 EST
Moon quincunx True Lunar Node 20:39 EST
Moon parallel Sun 21:02 EST
Mercury in 24th harmonic to Cupido 21:25 EST
Heliocentric Mercury parallel Heliocentric Uranus 22:12 EST
Moon parallel Mercury 22:24 EST
Moon enters Sagittarius 22:42 EST

January 7
Moon parallel Venus 00:15 EST
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Kronos 00:29 EST
Moon quincunx Kronos 00:49 EST
Venus trine True Lunar Node in right ascension 01:16 EST
Mercury semisextile Chiron 01:28 EST
Moon quintile Neptune 02:07 EST
Moon semisquare Sun 02:10 EST
Moon contraparallel Kronos 03:19 EST
Moon semisquare Jupiter 03:25 EST
Venus semisextile Chiron in right ascension 04:34 EST
Moon square Uranus 05:38 EST
Moon biquintile True Lunar Node 06:32 EST
Heliocentric Mars parallel Heliocentric Neptune 07:45 EST
Moon semisextile Poseidon 10:16 EST
Mercury quincunx Saturn in right ascension 10:30 EST
Zeus retrograde station 11:12 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Pluto 11:50 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Vulcanus 12:05 EST
Moon conjunct Mars 13:34 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Saturn 14:09 EST
Moon sextile Zeus 14:12 EST
Heliocentric Venus enters Sagittarius 14:14 EST
Moon semisquare Apollon 14:16 EST
Mercury trine True Lunar Node in right ascension 15:46 EST
Heliocentric Earth parallel Heliocentric Hades 16:02 EST
Moon conjunct Cupido 16:37 EST
Moon semisquare Chiron 17:03 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Mercury 18:28 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Venus 19:53 EST
Mercury semisextile Chiron in right ascension 20:48 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate True Lunar Node 21:06 EST
Sun square Jupiter 21:11 EST
Moon sextile Neptune 21:47 EST
Venus biquintile Admetos 21:48 EST
Heliocentric Saturn square Heliocentric Apollon 22:52 EST
Sun contraparallel Hades 23:24 EST
Mars semisquare Apollon in right ascension 23:43 EST

January 8
Mars opposition 05/21/03 Solar Eclipse Point 00:11 EST
Mars sesquiquadrate Saturn 00:45 EST
Heliocentric Saturn semisextile Heliocentric Hades 01:32 EST
Sun trine Admetos in right ascension 01:43 EST
Sun contraparallel Hades in right ascension 01:51 EST
Moon biquintile Vulcanus 02:39 EST
Mars sextile Zeus 03:04 EST
Moon sextile Jupiter 03:57 EST
Moon semisextile Sun 04:24 EST
Mars semisquare Apollon 04:25 EST
Moon biquintile Saturn 04:37 EST
Venus trine True Lunar Node 09:04 EST
Moon quintile Zeus 09:33 EST
Hades trine Apollon in right ascension 09:51 EST
Moon quincunx Admetos 10:29 EST
Moon semisquare Poseidon 10:30 EST
Heliocentric Venus in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Mars 10:40 EST
Moon quintile Uranus 10:50 EST
Mercury biquintile Admetos 11:54 EST
Moon conjunct Pluto 12:04 EST
Moon quincunx Vulcanus 12:14 EST
Moon opposition Hades 12:22 EST
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Uranus 12:40 EST
Heliocentric Venus quincunx Heliocentric Kronos 12:53 EST
Heliocentric Mercury conjunct Heliocentric Poseidon 13:41 EST
Moon quincunx Saturn 14:08 EST
Moon sextile Apollon 14:23 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Mars 14:52 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Cupido 16:43 EST
Moon semisextile Chiron 17:14 EST
Heliocentric Mars sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Kronos 17:45 EST
Venus semisquare Neptune 19:03 EST
Moon biquintile Admetos 20:01 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Pluto 20:10 EST
Moon conjunct Mercury 20:48 EST
Moon trine True Lunar Node 20:50 EST
Mercury trine True Lunar Node 21:05 EST
Moon semisquare Neptune 21:46 EST
Moon conjunct Venus 22:01 EST
Void-of-Course Moon 22:01 -- 23:09 EST
Moon quintile Jupiter 23:07 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Jupiter 23:06 EST
Moon enters Capricorn 23:09 EST
Sun quintile Poseidon 23:40 EST

January 9
Moon opposition Kronos 01:07 EST
Sun square 04/08/05 Solar Eclipse Point 01:57 EST
Sun semisquare Uranus 05:28 EST
Moon sextile Uranus 05:53 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Sun 05:55 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Zeus 06:03 EST
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Apollon 07:29 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Hades 07:31 EST
Mercury semisquare Neptune 07:59 EST
Mars sextile Zeus in right ascension 08:25 EST
Moon quintile Apollon 09:19 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Admetos 10:10 EST
Moon sextile Poseidon 10:12 EST
Heliocentric Venus quintile Heliocentric Neptune 10:22 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Pluto 11:47 EST
Venus enters Capricorn 11:55 EST
Venus quintile Jupiter 12:12 EST
Moon square Zeus 13:57 EST
Heliocentric Mercury parallel Heliocentric Poseidon 14:40 EST
Moon semisextile Mars 15:36 EST
Moon semisextile Cupido 16:20 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Chiron 16:57 EST
Heliocentric Jupiter sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Admetos 17:22 EST
Sun semisquare Uranus in right ascension 18:23 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Cupido 18:41 EST
Sun parallel Mars in right ascension 18:56 EST
Sun parallel Mars 18:56 EST
Heliocentric Mercury parallel Heliocentric Chiron 20:49 EST
Moon semisextile Neptune 21:22 EST
Mercury parallel Venus in right ascension 21:57 EST
Mercury parallel Venus 21:58 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Mercury 22:38 EST
Mercury enters Capricorn 23:08 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Venus 23:38 EST
Mercury quintile Jupiter 23:59 EST


*****


STOCKS TO WATCH: BBV, BZH, EMN, OMC.

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA (BBV)
NYSE
First Trade Date: 12/14/1988; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: The current Saturn/Chiron opposition is lined up on the BBV First-Trade Ascendant/Descendant axis, providing a springboard for a potentially powerful upward move. That's not all, however. This week transiting Mercury and Venus join transiting Pluto in conjoining the BBV First-Trade Sun. On top of that, transiting Zeus is forming a square to First-Trade Neptune as it makes its station this, energizing the potential for speculation with an aspect that will remain in exact orb for the next two months. That's a very potent combination, so our plan is to add a long position in BBV to the Model Portfolio this week. We will set our initial stop at 17.25.


Beazer Homes USA (BZH)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 02/23/1994; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: Here's a hot stock in a hot sector. In this case, the Saturn/Chiron opposition lines up on the First-Trade Meridian axis, offering us a good buying opportunity. Other energizing factors include transiting Jupiter conjoining First-Trade Apollon, transiting Pluto in opposition to First-Trade Kronos, and transiting Uranus conjoining the First-Trade Sun. Transiting Apollon is also square the BZH First-Trade Uranus, and that aspect will remain in play until early March. With this much action going on, we can't resist adding a long position to the Model Portfolio this week, even though BZH may seem like a rather pricey stock. We will be setting our initial stop at 132.50.


Eastman Chemical Company (EMN)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 12/14/1993; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: Thanks to the fact that it also has a December 14 birthday, EMN is also experiencing a Mercury/Venus/Pluto transit to its First-Trade Sun, along with a Saturn/Chiron activation of its First-Trade Ascendant/Descendant axis. In this case, however, we've also got transiting Poseidon conjoining First-Trade Jupiter and transiting Jupiter conjoining First-Trade Apollon. Need we say more? We will add a long position in EMN to the Model Portfolio this week, setting our initial stop at 55.75.


Omnicom Group Inc. (OMC)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 02/15/1917; 10:00 a.m.
Trading Strategy: Transiting Jupiter is moving into a semisquare configuration with the OMC First-Trade Moon this month, and will be forming a square to the True Lunar Node in the First-Trade horoscope. That creates some interesting potential, especially against the background of the current Saturn/Chiron passage over the First-Trade Meridian axis. We plan to add a long position in OMC to the Model Portfolio this week, setting our initial stop at 80.25.

*****


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 @ 1/02/2005 01:41:50 AM