FinancialCyclesWeekly.com #0508 -- February 20-26, 02005 with Tim Bost

COMMENT: Last week we suggested that "We're beginning to move into some possibly treacherous territory for the current market rally" and hinted that "the stage is being set around the world for a downside reversal in stocks." As it turned out, share prices in the U.S. are currently on the cutting edge, leading the world markets with a downward move. Meanwhile, the markets in Asia and much of Europe continue to rally.

AN EXPLANATION FROM THE PRESIDENT
According to some commentators, President Bush seems to be toning down his proposals for revamping the Social Security system by privatizing at least part of the program. But exactly what are his proposals? He offered this explanation in Tampa, Florida, on February 4, in response to a woman who asked him how his plan would solve what he insists is a problem with the system:

"Because the -- all which is on the table begins to address the big cost drivers. For example, how benefits are calculate, for example, is on the table; whether or not benefits rise based upon wage increases or price increases. There's a series of parts of the formula that are being considered. And when you couple that, those different cost drivers, affecting those -- changing those with personal accounts, the idea is to get what has been promised more likely to be -- or closer delivered to what has been promised.


"Does that make any sense to you? It's kind of muddled.... There is a reform that would help solve the red if that were put into effect. In other words, how fast benefits grow, how fast the promised benefits grow, if those -- if that growth is affected, it will help on the red.

"Okay, better? I'll keep working on it."

THE SOCIAL SECURITY HOROSCOPE
Even more intriguing than Mr. Bush's explanation is the horoscope for the inception of Social Security. The legislation which created the Social Security Administration was signed into law by President Franklin Roosevelt on August 14, 1935. At this point we don't know the exact time that President Roosevelt signed the bill, but both Time Magazine and United Press International reported that the ceremonial signing took place during the afternoon. The notice in Time following the event commented that the press had been notified that morning to attend the signing that afternoon, but also complained that some print media were excluded from the ceremony in order to make room for the movie newsreel cameras. Based on this contemporaneous data, we have estimated that the signing took place at 3:30 pm. EST in Washington. This is an interesting chart, with the meridian axis at the midpoint of the Hades/Admetos conjunction, which is the astrological signature of the Great Depression. Even more intriguing are the current transits to this horoscope, with the current transiting Pluto/Hades opposition lining up precisely on the Social Security Ascendant/Descendant axis and the ultra-apprehensive Saturn/Vulcanus conjunction hitting the Social Security South Lunar Node. This is obviously a speculative and untested horoscope, but we nevertheless hope that other astrologers will take a look at this chart and perhaps share their comments and observations.

****


THE WEEK AHEAD

The week brings earnings reports from additional significant players in the retail sector, including Federated Department Stores (FD), Home Depot Inc. (HD), Lowe's Companies (LOW), TJX Companies (TJX), J.C. Penney Company (JCP), Staples Inc. (SPLS), and the Gap Inc. (GPS). We'll also be keeping an eye on reports from Kerr-McGee Corporation (KMG), Clear Channel Communications (CCU, and Newmont Mining (NEM).

Since the week starts with the Presidents Day holiday, it's a light week for economic reports. We do expect to the get the word, however, on the January Consumer Price Index, January Existing Home Sales, January Durable Goods Orders, and February Consumer Confidence, as well as the preliminary numbers on the Fourth Quarter GDP. The Federal Reserve will publish the minutes of its meeting earlier this month; pundits will be checking the document for clues about future interest rate trends.

From an astrological perspective, our trading week begins on Tuesday hot on the heels of Monday's Venus/Pluto sextile and a powerful eclipse activation by transiting Mars. With heliocentric Mercury making a cardinal ingress Tuesday morning, we should see an energetic start to the week's trading. Heliocentric Mercury is also semisquare Neptune, helping to define the most significant planetary lines for the week as heliocentric eighth-harmonic factors (H,45,N,0), with a particular emphasis on the Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Admetos, and Vulcanus.

It's Wednesday's Full Moon that deserves the most attention, however. The Full Moon is always an important time in the markets, bringing particularly strong energy not only to the day of the event itself but to the trading days just before and after it as well. In this case, however, the Full Moon late Wednesday night is extraordinary because it comes with Uranus conjunct the Sun (the Moon will be in opposition to Uranus just two hours after the exact moment of the Full Moon; the Sun/Uranus conjunction is exact about 24 hours later). This planetary dynamic suggests that we should be on the alert for acts of violence, major earthquakes, upheavals in society, and extremes in the markets throughout this week. As traders, we may experience those extremes either as significant tops or bottoms or as high-volume days or days of remarkable trading volatility. In other words, this is a time of significant opportunity for savvy traders, but a huge amount of caution is also called for.

Fortunately we have a couple of astrological signals that will help us simply our trading activity. A Void-of-Course Moon is in play throughout the morning on Wednesday, so we won't enter any new trades that day until after lunch. We will also be prepared to step aside on Friday afternoon, when another Void-of-Course Moon brings the trading week to an end. In spite of this shortened span of opportunity for effective trading, however, we will be moving into a powerful weekend which features a sign change by Venus and two separate eclipse activations. This energy could amplify Friday's trading drama, but it's also likely to add some extra speculative possibilities to the start of the following week as we get ready to move into March.

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.


Powerful ideas, sudden insights, and the urge for dramatic action all crowd into our experience this week, bringing us an opportunity to set higher standards for personal transformation. When we are willing to take responsibility for the well-being of our community, we can move past suffering into true expressions of wisdom and compassion.


"Praise out of season, or tactlessly bestowed, can freeze the heart as much as blame." - Pearl S. Buck

*****


GLOBAL EQUITIES MARKETS LAST WEEK

Throughout most of Europe and Asia the markets were positive last week, although the pace of the rally continued to diminish. In the U.S., however, stock prices were down across the board, with the broader-based markets especially hard hit.

Dow Jones Industrial Average -- down 0.10%
Dow Jones Transportation Average -- down 0.19%
Dow Jones Utilities Average -- down 0.14%
S+P 500 -- down 0.31%
NASDAQ Composite Index -- down 0.87%
Russell 2000 -- down 0.73%
London FTSE-100 -- up 0.26%
Paris CAC-40 -- up 0.31%
Frankfurt DAX -- down 0.65%
Sydney All Ordinaries -- down 0.22%
Tokyo Nikkei -- up 0.92%
Hong Kong Hang Seng Index -- up 1.75%
Singapore Straits Times Index -- up 0.90%

*****


FINANCIAL CYCLES MODEL PORTFOLIO


POSITIONS CLOSED DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK: ATPG, SMRT, TOL, STZ, ELK.

We closed five Model Portfolio positions during the past week, with three winners and two losers producing a net profit of $1,860.00.

On February 14 we sold 500 shares of ATP Oil and Gas (ATPG) at 20.90, taking a loss of $100.00 (a 0.95% loss in 5 trading days).

On February 15 we sold 500 shares of Stein Mart Inc. (SMRT) at 20.25, taking a profit of $625.00 (a 6.58% gain in 22 trading days).

On February 15 we sold 100 shares of Toll Brothers Inc. (TOL) at 81.25, taking a profit of $775.00 (a 10.54% gain in 15 trading days).

On February 18 we sold 200 shares of Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ) at 53.00, taking a profit of $900.00 (a 9.28% gain in 18 trading days).

On February 18 we sold 200 shares of Elkcorp (ELK) at 38.75, taking a loss of $340.00 (a 4.2% loss in 14 trading days).

*****


POSITIONS ADDED TO THE PORTFOLIO DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK: NXY, CHA, KOF, CRS.

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

We bought 200 shares of Nexen Inc. (NXY) at 45.75 on 02/14/05, setting our initial stop at 41.05.

We bought 300 shares of China Telecom Corporation Ltd. (CHA) at 38.25 on 02/16/05, setting our initial stop at 37.50.

We bought 400 shares of Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A. de C.V. (KOF) at 26.00 on 02/16/05, setting our initial stop at 24.25.

We bought 200 shares of Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS) at 64.00 on 02/18/05, setting our initial stop at 60.25.

*****


YEAR-IN-REVIEW MODEL PORTFOLIO ACTIVITY

So far this year we have had a total of 28 completed trades, with 12 winners and 16 losers bringing us a total net profit of $6,022.00. The largest profit for a single trade has been $2,367.00, with our winners averaging $689.08; the largest single-trade loss has been $340.00, with our losers averaging $140.56. The overall average profit per trade has been $215.07, and the mean duration of our trades has been 11.8 trading days.

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

Carpenter Technology Corporation (CRS) -- bought 200 shares at 64.00 on 02/18/05; currently 64.24. Raise stop to 62.50.

Centex Corporation (CTX) -- bought 100 shares at 64.00 on 02/10/05; currently 61.76. Raise stop to 60.40.

Companhia Siderugica Nacional ADS (SID) -- bought 500 shares at 18.75 on 01/19/05; currently 24.02. Raise stop to 21.40.

China Telecom Corporation Ltd. (CHA) -- bought 300 shares at 38.25 on 02/16/05; currently 38.90. Raise stop to 38.45.

Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A. de C.V. (KOF) -- bought 400 shares at 26.00 on 02/16/05, currently 25.49. Raise stop to 25.25.

Constellation Energy Group (CEG) -- bought 300 shares at 45.30 on 01/25/05; currently 52.36. Raise stop to 52.00.

Nexen Inc. (NXY) -- bought 200 shares at 45.75 on 02/14/05; currently 47.58. Raise stop to 45.25.

Olin Corporation (OLN) -- bought 500 shares at 20.30 on 01/13/05, currently 24.35. Raise stop to 23.75.

Range Resources Corporation (RRC) -- bought 500 shares at 21.75 on 01/31/05; currently 23.99. Raise stop to 23.00.

Wolseley PLC (WOS) -- bought 300 shares at 40.00 on 01/25/05; currently 43.43. Raise stop to 42.15.

*****


STRONGEST MARKET SECTORS LAST WEEK

Industrial Metals and Mining; Aluminum; Steel and Iron; Copper; Oil and Gas Drilling and Exploration.

*****

WEAKEST MARKET SECTORS LAST WEEK

Mortgage Investments; Wholesale Food; Catalog and Mail Order Houses; Education and Training Services; Healthcare Information Services.

*****


ASTROLOGICAL EVENTS DURING THE COMING WEEK

February 20
Lunar apogee 00:00 EST
Heliocentric Venus sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Hades 00:11 EST
Heliocentric Mars contraparallel Heliocentric Hades 00:38 EST
Mercury conjunct Uranus 00:43 EST
Moon square Jupiter 01:21 EST
Venus parallel Pluto 04:38 EST
Venus parallel Pluto in right ascension 04:41 EST
Heliocentric Mercury parallel Heliocentric Apollon 06:09 EST
Moon conjunct Saturn 07:06 EST
Void-of-Course Moon begins 07:06 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Uranus 07:42 EST
Mercury trine Poseidon 08:17 EST
Moon sextile Admetos 08:39 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Mercury 08:58 EST
Mercury sesquiquadrate Vulcanus in right ascension 09:15 EST
Moon quincunx Venus 09:43 EST
Moon conjunct Vulcanus 10:03 EST
Moon semisextile Hades 10:15 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Poseidon 11:13 EST
Heliocentric Mars sextile Heliocentric Zeus 12:29 EST
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Uranus 12:41 EST
Venus quincunx Vulcanus 12:49 EST
Moon quincunx Pluto 13:10 EST
Moon square True Lunar Node 13:15 EST
Moon square Apollon 13:33 EST
Venus trine Hades 14:42 EST
Mercury sesquiquadrate Vulcanus 15:49 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Pluto 16:42 EST
Moon biquintile Sun 17:38 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Admetos 17:56 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Cupido 18:04 EST
Pluto trine True Lunar Node 18:35 EST
Moon quintile Zeus 19:09 EST
Heliocentric Mars semisquare Heliocentric Apollon 19:48 EST
Mercury square Cupido in right ascension 19:59 EST
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Vulcanus 20:00 EST
Mercury in 24th harmonic to Venus 21:55 EST
Heliocentric Venus sextile Heliocentric Cupido 22:21 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quincunx Heliocentric Apollon 23:18 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Hades 23:34 EST

February 21
U.S. Markets Closed for Presidents Day Holiday
Moon opposition Chiron 00:49 EST
Moon enters Leo 00:54 EST
Moon crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 00:54 EST
Void-of-Course Moon ends 00:54 EST
Moon biquintile Pluto 01:18 EST
Moon biquintile Uranus 01:57 EST
Sun trine Poseidon in right ascension 02:03 EST
Moon semisextile Kronos 02:33 EST
Mercury parallel Uranus 03:24 EST
Mercury parallel Uranus in right ascension 03:26 EST
Moon biquintile Mercury 06:31 EST
Moon quincunx Sun 06:51 EST
Venus quintile Cupido 07:29 EST
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Saturn 07:33 EST
Heliocentric Venus trine Heliocentric Jupiter 07:45 EST
Moon quintile Admetos 08:52 EST
Mercury semisquare True Lunar Node 10:21 EST
Mercury quincunx Zeus 11:02 EST
Sun biquintile Zeus 11:18 EST
Venus semisquare Mars in right ascension 11:34 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Venus 11:55 EST
Chiron enters Aquarius 12:34 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Saturn 13:12 EST
Moon contraparallel Mars 13:24 EST
Moon quintile Jupiter 13:28 EST
Mercury square 05/21/03 Solar Eclipse Point 13:31 EST
Mercury parallel Apollon 13:39 EST
Moon parallel Kronos 13:49 EST
Mercury sesquiquadrate Apollon 13:56 EST
Mercury parallel Apollon in right ascension 13:51 EST
Sun sesquiquadrate Jupiter 13:59 EST
Moon quincunx Uranus 14:05 EST
Moon square Poseidon 15:04 EST
Venus sextile True Lunar Node 15:48 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Vulcanus 16:14 EST
Moon semisquare Hades 16:27 EST
Mercury sextile Mars in right ascension 16:56 EST
Mercury contraparallel True Lunar Node in right ascension 17:01 EST
Mercury contraparallel True Lunar Node 17:27 EST
Venus sesquiquadrate Zeus 17:31 EST
Venus sextile Pluto 18:59 EST
Moon sextile Zeus 19:15 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Pluto 19:25 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Chiron 19:41 EST
Moon quincunx Mercury 20:47 EST
Mercury quintile Admetos 21:30 EST
Venus trine Apollon 21:53 EST
Mars square 04/08/05 Solar Eclipse Antiscion 22:12 EST
Moon parallel Hades 22:22 EST
True Lunar Node crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 22:35 EST
Moon quincunx Mars 22:49 EST
Heliocentric Earth biquintile Heliocentric Chiron 23:50 EST

February 22
Moon trine Cupido 00:14 EST
Moon parallel Saturn 00:41 EST
Moon quintile Apollon 01:43 EST
Moon parallel Vulcanus 02:41 EST
Moon contraparallel Cupido 04:37 EST
Heliocentric Mercury enters Aries 07:35 EST
Moon opposition Neptune 08:32 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Neptune 08:34 EST
Moon semisquare Kronos 08:36 EST
Heliocentric Mercury biquintile Heliocentric Poseidon 09:50 EST
Heliocentric Venus in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Chiron 11:15 EST
Moon biquintile Mars 11:33 EST
Moon sextile Jupiter 13:20 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Kronos 15:34 EST
Mercury sextile Mars 16:24 EST
Mercury square Cupido 18:47 EST
Mars contraparallel Kronos 18:49 EST
Moon semisextile Saturn 19:03 EST
Moon square Admetos 20:50 EST
Moon parallel Admetos 21:39 EST
Moon semisextile Vulcanus 22:08 EST
Moon sextile Hades 22:21 EST
Heliocentric Mercury parallel Heliocentric Zeus 22:25 EST
Mars semisextile Cupido 22:45 EST

February 23
Moon trine True Lunar Node 00:31 EST
Moon crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 00:52 EST
Heliocentric Mercury parallel Heliocentric Jupiter 01:03 EST
Moon semisquare Zeus 01:07 EST
Moon trine Pluto 01:20 EST
Moon sextile Apollon 01:34 EST
Mercury biquintile Jupiter 01:35 EST
Mars contraparallel Kronos in right ascension 01:51 EST
Sun parallel Uranus 02:49 EST
Sun parallel Uranus in right ascension 02:52 EST
Moon quintile Poseidon 02:56 EST
Heliocentric Earth contraparallel Heliocentric Uranus 02:58 EST
Neptune sesquiquadrate Kronos 04:21 EST
Chiron quincunx Kronos in right ascension 04:41 EST
Moon opposition Venus 04:47 EST
Void-of-Course Moon 04:47 -- 12:43 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Mars 06:32 EST
Moon contraparallel Neptune 08:24 EST
Heliocentric Earth quincunx Heliocentric Mercury 08:36 EST
Sun semisquare True Lunar Node in right ascension 12:11 EST
Moon enters Virgo 12:43 EST
Moon quincunx Chiron 13:02 EST
Moon contraparallel Pluto 13:14 EST
Venus parallel Poseidon 13:18 EST
Venus parallel Poseidon in right ascension 13:49 EST
Moon sextile Kronos 14:18 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quincunx Heliocentric Poseidon 15:25 EST
Heliocentric Mars conjunct Heliocentric Cupido 15:46 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Uranus 16:52 EST
Moon semisquare Jupiter 18:51 EST
Moon contraparallel Poseidon 19:37 EST
Moon contraparallel Venus 20:09 EST
Moon contraparallel Chiron 20:20 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Admetos 21:31 EST
Moon quintile Hades 22:01 EST
Heliocentric Mars sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Saturn 22:22 EST
Venus parallel Chiron in right ascension 22:38 EST
Venus parallel Chiron 22:39 EST
Sun parallel Apollon 22:46 EST
Sun parallel Apollon in right ascension 23:11 EST
Full Moon 23:53 EST

February 24
Moon semisquare Saturn 00:31 EST
Venus biquintile Saturn 00:33 EST
Moon biquintile Chiron 00:53 EST
Heliocentric Venus conjunct Heliocentric Neptune 01:37 EST
Sun sesquiquadrate Apollon in right ascension 01:39 EST
Heliocentric Mercury opposition Heliocentric Zeus 01:39 EST
Moon opposition Uranus 01:52 EST
Moon sextile Poseidon 02:32 EST
Heliocentric Earth quintile Heliocentric Hades 02:35 EST
True Lunar Node sextile Hades in right ascension 03:12 EST
Moon semisquare Vulcanus 03:40 EST
Mercury semisquare Chiron in right ascension 04:22 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate True Lunar Node 05:41 EST
Sun sesquiquadrate Saturn in right ascension 05:45 EST
Moon semisextile Zeus 06:35 EST
Moon semisquare Apollon 07:03 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Chiron 07:04 EST
Sun sesquiquadrate Saturn 07:17 EST
Sun crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 07:31 EST
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Cupido 09:41 EST
Moon square Cupido 11:31 EST
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Mars 11:50 EST
Heliocentric Earth contraparallel Heliocentric Apollon 13:18 EST
Heliocentric Mercury opposition Heliocentric Jupiter 13:43 EST
Moon trine Mars 13:45 EST
Sun quintile Pluto 13:46 EST
Moon quintile Kronos 13:47 EST
Moon contraparallel Uranus 14:17 EST
Moon contraparallel Apollon 15:30 EST
Sun contraparallel True Lunar Node in right ascension 16:37 EST
Moon contraparallel Sun 16:42 EST
Moon parallel True Lunar Node 16:44 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Hades 16:54 EST
Mercury semisquare Chiron 16:56 EST
Sun contraparallel True Lunar Node 17:21 EST
Venus semisquare Mars 18:02 EST
Heliocentric Earth sextile Heliocentric Poseidon 18:06 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Chiron 18:33 EST
Moon opposition Mercury 18:50 EST
Moon quincunx Neptune 19:45 EST
Heliocentric Earth biquintile Heliocentric Mercury 20:22 EST
Mercury quincunx Jupiter in right ascension 22:06 EST
Sun quincunx Zeus in right ascension 22:14 EST
Heliocentric Venus sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Kronos 22:43 EST
Moon biquintile True Lunar Node 23:02 EST
Moon crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 23:52 EST
Moon semisextile Jupiter 23:56 EST

February 25
Venus trine Kronos in right ascension 00:46 EST
Mercury semisextile Neptune 00:59 EST
Sun conjunct Uranus 01:32 EST
Heliocentric Earth opposition Heliocentric Uranus 01:41 EST
Venus semisextile Chiron in right ascension 03:54 EST
Moon contraparallel Mercury 04:16 EST
Moon sextile Saturn 05:35 EST
Venus biquintile Vulcanus 07:15 EST
Moon biquintile Neptune 07:23 EST
Moon contraparallel Jupiter 07:32 EST
Moon trine Admetos 07:33 EST
Moon semisquare Poseidon 07:40 EST
Sun trine Poseidon 08:12 EST
Heliocentric Mars sextile Heliocentric Jupiter 08:27 EST
Moon sextile Vulcanus 08:46 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Neptune 08:47 EST
Sun conjunct Uranus in right ascension 08:56 EST
Moon square Hades 09:00 EST
Heliocentric Venus contraparallel Heliocentric Admetos 09:34 EST
Moon quincunx True Lunar Node 10:32 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Zeus 11:38 EST
Moon square Pluto 11:59 EST
Void-of-Course Moon 11:59-22:58 EST
Moon semisextile Apollon 12:06 EST
Mercury semisextile Neptune in right ascension 14:50 EST
Moon contraparallel Zeus 15:57 EST
Heliocentric Mercury contraparallel Heliocentric Jupiter 16:21 EST
Heliocentric Mercury contraparallel Heliocentric Zeus 18:02 EST
Sun sesquiquadrate Vulcanus 21:39 EST
Moon quincunx Venus 21:44 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Venus 22:05 EST
Moon quintile Cupido 22:17 EST
Moon enters Libra 22:58 EST
Moon trine Chiron 23:37 EST

February 26
Moon square Kronos 00:29 EST
Sun sesquiquadrate Vulcanus in right ascension 00:39 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Neptune 00:42 EST
Venus sesquiquadrate Jupiter in right ascension 01:49 EST
Mercury parallel Jupiter 02:40 EST
Mercury parallel Jupiter in right ascension 02:41 EST
Mercury quincunx Jupiter 03:28 EST
Moon quintile Saturn 04:31 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Jupiter 04:35 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Kronos 04:41 EST
Mercury sextile Admetos in right ascension 07:40 EST
Moon quintile Vulcanus 07:43 EST
Mercury biquintile Apollon 08:25 EST
Mercury sesquiquadrate Poseidon in right ascension 09:28 EST
Heliocentric Earth semisquare Heliocentric Vulcanus 09:59 EST
Venus enters Pisces 10:07 EST
Moon biquintile Venus 10:25 EST
Moon quincunx Uranus 11:59 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Admetos 12:15 EST
Moon semisextile Poseidon 12:21 EST
Venus opposition 04/19/04 Solar Eclipse Antiscion 13:38 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Uranus 14:28 EST
Moon quincunx Sun 14:47 EST
Moon conjunct Zeus 16:14 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Apollon 16:42 EST
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Pluto 17:42 EST
Venus semisextile Chiron 17:44 EST
Sun semisquare True Lunar Node 17:51 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Admetos 18:36 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Vulcanus 20:20 EST
Moon parallel Zeus 20:57 EST
Moon sextile Cupido 21:05 EST
Heliocentric Earth semisextile Heliocentric Zeus 21:15 EST
Moon crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 21:45 EST
Moon quintile Pluto 22:19 EST
Heliocentric Earth sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Mercury 22:39 EST
Sun square Cupido in right ascension 22:42 EST
Heliocentric Mercury opposition Heliocentric Apollon 23:06 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Hades 23:21 EST
Moon biquintile Uranus 23:22 EST

February 27
Heliocentric Earth semisquare Heliocentric Apollon 01:05 EST
Venus trine Kronos 01:17 EST
Moon parallel Mercury 01:43 EST
Moon square Mars 02:38 EST
Moon biquintile Sun 03:04 EST
Venus in 24th harmonic to Neptune 04:24 EST
Moon parallel Jupiter 04:57 EST
Moon trine Neptune 05:12 EST
Moon biquintile Admetos 05:15 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Venus 05:17 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Cupido 05:47 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Saturn 06:55 EST
Moon conjunct Jupiter 08:45 EST
Sun quincunx Zeus 08:50 EST
Venus square 11/23/03 Solar Eclipse Point 09:48 EST
Moon quincunx Mercury 13:55 EST
Heliocentric Earth parallel Heliocentric Mercury 14:06 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Neptune 14:19 EST
Moon square Saturn 14:21 EST
Mercury semisextile True Lunar Node in right ascension 14:42 EST
Sun sesquiquadrate Apollon 14:50 EST
Moon parallel Sun 14:59 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Mars 15:03 EST
Sun square 05/21/03 Solar Eclipse Point 15:08 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Uranus 16:19 EST
Moon quincunx Admetos 16:28 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Poseidon 16:33 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Chiron 16:40 EST
Mercury trine Saturn 16:50 EST
Moon square Vulcanus 17:35 EST
Moon trine Hades 17:50 EST
Moon opposition True Lunar Node 19:09 EST
Moon contraparallel True Lunar Node 19:10 EST
True Lunar Node direct station 19:17 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Zeus 20:20 EST
Moon parallel Apollon 20:34 EST
Moon sextile Pluto 20:48 EST
Void-of-Course Moon begins 20:48 EST
Moon conjunct Apollon 20:49 EST
Mercury square Hades in right ascension 21:00 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Sun 21:19 EST
Moon parallel Uranus 21:27 EST

*****


STOCKS TO WATCH: PXD, STNR, SYT, USAK.

Pioneer Natural Resources Company (PXD)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 01/13/1993; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: Earlier this month transiting Saturn was sesquiquadrate the PXD First-Trade Ascendant, and the stock experienced a brief pull-back from its rapid move upward. During the past week, however, that influence has started to wane, and PXD has resumed its forward progress, finding solid support on eighth-harmonic Saturn and Uranus lines (G,45,N,0). Right now, transiting Jupiter is poised to form a similar sesquiquadrate to the PXD First-Trade Ascendant as well as a square to the powerful Uranus/Neptune conjunction in the First-Trade chart, and within the next couple of weeks transiting Uranus will be crossing the PXD First-Trade Ascendant to add some extra juice. We're thus ready to add a long position in this stock to the Model Portfolio early this week; we will set our initial stop at 38.15.


Steiner Leisure Limited (STNR)
NASDAQ
First Trade Date: 11/13/1996; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: STNR has a very positive set-up astrologically right now, with transiting Jupiter crossing its First-Trade Midheaven and transiting Pluto simultaneously moving toward a conjunction with the STNR First-Trade Ascendant. In addition to that, transiting Apollon will be spending the next couple of months conjoining First-Trade Chiron. Technically speaking, STNR is moving toward overbought territory right now, but we haven't gotten a decisive overbought signal yet, and STNR made a correct low on Friday based on the weekend's Venus/Pluto sextile (G,60,N,0). As long as Friday's low holds during this Tuesday's trading, we plan to enter a long position in this stock this week, setting our initial stop at 33.00.


Syngenta AG (SYT)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 11/13/2000; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: Like STNR, SYT has Jupiter and Pluto on First-Trade angles right now (note the similarity in First-Trade dates). In this case, however, transiting Cupido is conjoining First-Trade Pluto, and the transiting True Lunar Node is moving toward a semisextile with First-Trade Jupiter. The combination of transiting Pluto and the transiting True Lunar Node proved significant last Friday, when SYT gapped over both planetary lines (G,60,N,-2) on heavy trading volume. We see enough strength here to justify an immediate long position in this stock; we will set our initial stop at 21.72.


USA Truck Inc. (USAK)
NASDAQ
First Trade Date: 03/19/1992; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: Transiting Jupiter has been square the USAK First-Trade Neptune for most of this month, and the stock has moved to a new high. Thus far, however, it has been unable to penetrate a significant Uranus line (G,24,N,0) in spite of having transiting Uranus conjoining First-Trade Venus and transiting Venus conjoining First-Trade Mars. Our analysis shows this stock as currently overbought, so our plan is to sell USAK short early this week, setting our initial buy stop at 19.30, closing basis only.

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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 2005 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 @ 2/20/2005 12:11:00 AM