FinancialCyclesWeekly.com #0512 -- March 20-26, 02005 with Tim Bost

COMMENT: Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan is getting ready to retire early next year, and we can only hope that his replacement will also be a sun-sign Pisces. After all, in true Pisces fashion, Mr. Greenspan has entertained and amazed us for quite some time now with his ability to express exactly opposite opinions simultaneously, and to do so with such amazing fluidity that he not only confounds his critics, but also stupefies his supporters as well.

A wonderful example came last week when the news media reported on the Fed Chairman's appearance before a Senate committee to discuss the proposed changes in Social Security. The New York Times announced that "Greenspan Backs Idea of Accounts for Retirement." On the same day, the headline in The Washington Post advised, "Borrow Cautiously, Greenspan Declares."

Interestingly enough, each headline was correct. Mr. Greenspan managed to express both opinions simultaneously. He wasn't really being indecisive, however. His underlying message was just that there is no real Social Security crisis looming on the short-term horizon, so there's plenty of time for a well-reasoned discussion of the alternatives and their consequences.

There's good reason for Greenspan's perspective. After all, along with the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, he co-chaired the 1983 commission that designed a way to remedy what was then a very real Social Security crisis, when the government was forced to borrow just to meet a single quarter's worth of benefits payments. The plan raised taxes and cut back on benefits, and, almost magically, a big surplus materialized. That same plan would be doing its job quite nicely today if every presidential administration since then had not embezzled Social Security funds to cope with operating deficits, but apparently Mr. Greenspan is too polite to mention that fact.

CYCLES RESEARCH FEATURED IN BARRON'S
The current week's issue of Barron's, in its "Market Watch" column, cites renowned financial astrologer Bill Meridian's publication Cycles Research. Bill, who is the author of Planetary Stock Trading and Planetary Economic Forecasting and who spent about a dozen years in Abu Dhabi, shares his insights on oil production and its long-range implications. Although the citation doesn't specifically mention the geocosmic perspective, it's still great to see astrology getting more attention in the mainstream financial media!

SUN/SATURN TRINE BRINGS SOFT RESULTS
Last week we noted that six stocks had set correct lows on the March 10 Sun/Saturn trine: Gibraltar Steel Corporation (ROCK), Grant Prideco Inc. (GRP), MTR Gaming Group Inc. (MNTG), First American Corporation (FAF), Etablissements Delhaize Freres (DEG), and Kansas City Southern (KSU). Four of these six stocks (ROCK, FAF, DEG, and KSU) violated those lows during the past trading week. The correct lows have continued to hold as support for the remaining two stocks, GRP and MNTG, however. GRP is up 3.5% since the 3/10 close; MNTG is up 1.4%.

This performance seems to validate the traditional astrological notion that trines are "soft" or weak aspects, which do not have the same kind of stress or focus that the "hard" aspects like squares, oppositions, conjunctions and sesquiquadrates display. The weakness of the Sun/Saturn trine in moving markets is evidenced first by the fact that such a small number of stocks made correct lows on the aspect, and secondly by the fact that two-thirds of those stocks failed to hold support at the correct lows during the subsequent trading week.

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THE WEEK AHEAD

It will be a short week for market activity and for news that is likely to impact the markets, but we will nevertheless be looking for earnings reports from Carnival Corporation (CCL), NDCHealth Corporation (NDC), KB Home (KBH), Paychex Inc. (PAYX), Global Payment Technologies (GPTX), Omnova Solutions (OMN), Biomet inc. (BMET), Family Dollar Stores (FDO), Fred's Inc. (FRED), Commercial Metals Company (CMC), Marcus Corporation (MCS), Williams-Sonoma (WSM), Factset Research Systems (FDS), McCormick and Company (MKC), H. B. Fuller Company (FUL), Electro Scientific Industries (ESIO), Oracle Corporation (ORCL), Neenah Papers (NP), Gamestop Corporation (GME), Lindsay Manufacturing Company (LNN), Solectron Corporation (SLR), Conagra Foods (CAG), and Darden Restaurants (DRI).

The biggest economic news this week is likely to come from the Federal Reserve Bank's Open Market Committee, which will be meeting on Tuesday. The Fed is widely expected to raise interest rates once again. We will also be getting the word on the February Producer Price Index and Consumer Price Index, February New and Existing Home Sales, and February Durable Goods Orders.

Mercury is now in retrograde motion, so we are looking for a short-term counter-trend in the markets. That would mean that the slide that stocks have been in for the past couple of weeks is about to come to an end, and that swing traders are currently looking at a significant buying opportunity. This week's Saturn direct station, Pluto retrograde station, Full Moon, and heliocentric Venus ingress into Aries all support the notion of higher prices in the immediate future.

In the background there's a lot of action going on heliocentrically in both the eighth and the fifth harmonics. The fifth-harmonic dynamics involve Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Chiron, Cupido, Vulcanus, Kronos, and Poseidon (H,72,N,0). In the eighth harmonic we will be tracking Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Chiron, Hades, Cupido, Apollon, Kronos, Vulcanus, and Poseidon (H,45,N,0). Other factors to keep an eye on are the Saturn direct station on Monday, Venus entering Aries geocentrically on Tuesday and heliocentrically on Thursday, the Mars/Chiron conjunction on Wednesday, and the Full Moon on Friday. We're also moving toward the Pluto station this coming weekend, so we can look for even more market intensity to come.

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.


"Don't make me think!" That's the key spiritual message for a week that offers us a dramatic chance for a fresh start and a broader sphere of influence. If we struggle too hard with our efforts to create precise definitions and expectations, we run the risk of short-circuiting the human connections that bring our greatest spiritual opportunities.


"Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save." - Will Rogers

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GLOBAL EQUITIES MARKETS LAST WEEK

The markets around the world were a mixed bag last week, with share prices declining in the U.S. and most European bourses, while Asian issues traded essentially flat for the week. The biggest positive showing came from Australia, with the All Ordinaries putting in a solid gain for the week.

Dow Jones Industrial Average -- down 1.34%
Dow Jones Transportation Average -- down 2.13%
Dow Jones Utilities Average -- up 1.43%
S+P 500 -- down 0.87%
NASDAQ Composite Index -- down 1.66%
Russell 2000 -- down 0.68%
London FTSE-100 -- down 1.18%
Paris CAC-40 -- up 0.04%
Frankfurt DAX -- down 0.76%
Sydney All Ordinaries -- up 1.05%
Tokyo Nikkei -- down 0.37%
Hong Kong Hang Seng Index -- down 0.45%
Singapore Straits Times Index -- up 0.23%

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FINANCIAL CYCLES MODEL PORTFOLIO


POSITIONS CLOSED DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK: SYT, ORLY.

We closed two Model Portfolio positions during the past week, with two losers producing a net of $240.00.

On March 15 we sold 500 shares of Syngenta AG (SYT) at 22.50, taking a loss of $90.00 (a 0.79% loss in 15 trading days).

On March 16 we sold 200 shares of O'Reilly Automotive Inc. (ORLY) at 49.50, taking a loss of $150.00 (a 1.49% loss in 1 trading day).

*****


POSITIONS ADDED TO THE PORTFOLIO DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK: FD, FOX, GIL, ORLY.

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

We bought 200 shares of Federated Department Stores (FD) at 64.37 on 03/15/05, setting our initial stop at 59.40

We bought 300 shares of Fox Entertainment Group (FOX) at 35.49 on 03/15/05, setting our initial stop at 32.75.

We bought 200 shares of Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL) at 42.82 on 03/15/05, setting our initial stop at 40.40.

We bought 200 shares of O'Reilly Automotive Inc. (ORLY) at 50.25 on 03/15/05, setting our initial stop at 49.50.

*****


YEAR-IN-REVIEW MODEL PORTFOLIO ACTIVITY

So far this year we have had a total of 47 completed trades, with 19 winners and 28 losers bringing us a total net profit of $11,388.00. The largest profit for a single trade has been $2,875.00, with our winners averaging $911.53; the largest single-trade loss has been $956.00, with our losers averaging $211.89. The overall average profit per trade has been $242.30, and the mean duration of our trades has been 11.2 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

Federated Department Stores (FD) -- bought 200 shares at 64.37 on 03/15/05; currently 63.03. Raise stop to 62.00.

Fox Entertainment Group (FOX) at 35.49 -- bought 300 shares at 35.49 on 03/15/05; currently 36.75. Raise stop to 35.00.

Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL) -- bought 200 shares at 42.82 on 03/15/05; currently 42.60. Raise stop to 42.00.

Nexen Inc. (NXY) -- bought 200 shares at 45.75 on 02/14/05; currently 56.55. Raise stop to 53.30.

Petrochina Company Ltd. ADS (PTR) -- bought 200 shares at 62.18 on 03/01/05; currently 65.18. Raise stop to 62.48.

Toro Company (TTC) -- bought 100 shares at 88.34 on 03/07/05; currently 89.90. Raise stop to 87.75.

*****


STRONGEST MARKET SECTORS LAST WEEK

Toy and Hobby Stores; Education and Training Services; Consumer Services; Diversified Entertainment; Generic Drugs.

*****

WEAKEST MARKET SECTORS LAST WEEK

Mortgage Investment; Major Airlines; Housewares and Accessories; Semiconductor Memory Chips; Specialized Semiconductors.

*****


ASTRO-TRADING GANN PLAN:
ASTROLOGICAL EVENTS DURING THE COMING WEEK

March 20
Heliocentric Venus trine Heliocentric Vulcanus 00:09 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quincunx Heliocentric Chiron 00:28 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Cupido 01:34 EST
Heliocentric Mercury parallel Heliocentric Admetos 01:38 EST
Moon quintile Zeus 01:47 EST
Moon trine Venus 02:18 EST
Heliocentric Mars sextile Heliocentric Apollon 06:35 EST
Mars square 04/19/04 Solar Eclipse Point 06:55 EST
Sun enters Aries -- Vernal Equinox 07:33 EST
Moon opposition Mars 07:58 EST
Void-of-Course Moon 07:58-08:17 EST
Moon enters Leo 08:17 EST
Moon trine Sun 08:21 EST
Heliocentric Mercury enters Virgo 09:15 EST
Moon biquintile Pluto 09:17 EST
Heliocentric Earth semisextile Heliocentric Mercury 09:40 EST
Heliocentric Venus quincunx Heliocentric Apollon 09:46 EST
Moon semisextile Kronos 09:49 EST
Heliocentric Mars opposition Heliocentric Hades 09:59 EST
Heliocentric Venus square Heliocentric Hades 10:58 EST
Heliocentric Venus square Heliocentric Mars 11:30 EST
Moon opposition Chiron 11:58 EST
Moon biquintile Uranus 12:28 EST
Mars enters Aquarius 13:01 EST
Moon quintile Jupiter 15:45 EST
Heliocentric Earth sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Neptune 16:02 EST
Moon quintile Admetos 16:38 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Kronos 17:15 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Saturn 19:09 EST
Moon parallel Kronos 22:02 EST
Moon square Poseidon 22:09 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Vulcanus 23:18 EST
Moon semisquare Hades 23:53 EST

March 21
Moon quincunx Uranus 00:36 EST
Moon sextile Zeus 01:56 EST
Sun square Kronos 01:57 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Pluto 03:25 EST
Heliocentric Mercury contraparallel Heliocentric Neptune 04:34 EST
Sun biquintile Poseidon 04:51 EST
Sun square Kronos in right ascension 05:35 EST
Heliocentric Mercury biquintile Heliocentric Chiron 05:49 EST
Moon parallel Hades 06:32 EST
Moon trine Cupido 07:45 EST
Moon parallel Saturn 07:52 EST
Moon quintile Apollon 08:38 EST
Moon parallel Vulcanus 10:31 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Venus 11:59 EST
Moon trine Mercury 12:13 EST
Moon contraparallel Cupido 12:32 EST
Mercury quintile Chiron 13:18 EST
Mercury in 24th harmonic to Venus 13:56 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Hades 14:10 EST
Mars quincunx Kronos 14:22 EST
Moon contraparallel Mars 14:45 EST
Moon sextile Jupiter 15:35 EST
Moon semisquare Kronos 15:56 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Sun 17:12 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Poseidon 17:17 EST
Moon opposition Neptune 17:48 EST
Heliocentric Mercury contraparallel Heliocentric Pluto 20:00 EST
Heliocentric Mercury opposition Heliocentric Uranus 20:06 EST
Saturn direct station 21:54 EST
Heliocentric Earth square Heliocentric Kronos 23:15 EST

March 22
Heliocentric Jupiter biquintile Heliocentric Uranus 00:08 EST
Sun semisquare Neptune 00:36 EST
Heliocentric Venus trine Heliocentric Saturn 00:50 EST
Moon semisextile Saturn 01:10 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Vulcanus 01:49 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Zeus 04:18 EST
Moon square Admetos 04:40 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Apollon 05:04 EST
Moon semisextile Vulcanus 05:16 EST
Moon parallel Admetos 05:18 EST
Moon sextile Hades 05:51 EST
Moon trine True Lunar Node 06:09 EST
Sun sextile Chiron 06:16 EST
Moon semisquare Zeus 07:50 EST
Moon biquintile Venus 07:58 EST
Moon sextile Apollon 08:30 EST
Moon trine Pluto 09:19 EST
Void-of-Course Moon 09:19-20:09 EST
Moon quintile Poseidon 10:02 EST
Venus enters Aries 11:24 EST
Heliocentric Mars quintile Heliocentric Uranus 12:03 EST
Moon biquintile Sun 12:39 EST
Heliocentric Mercury contraparallel Heliocentric Chiron 12:45 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Cupido 13:07 EST
Heliocentric Mercury contraparallel Heliocentric Poseidon 13:11 EST
Heliocentric Mars quintile Heliocentric Jupiter 13:37 EST
Mercury quintile Mars 16:40 EST
Venus square Kronos in right ascension 17:17 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Mercury 17:18 EST
Moon contraparallel Neptune 17:29 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Saturn 18:35 EST
Moon enters Virgo 20:09 EST
Moon semisquare Jupiter 21:00 EST
Heliocentric Venus parallel Heliocentric Jupiter 21:01 EST
Moon quincunx Venus 21:09 EST
Moon contraparallel Pluto 21:16 EST
Moon sextile Kronos 21:39 EST
Mars in 24th harmonic to Neptune 22:20 EST
Sun contraparallel Venus 23:12 EST
Moon quincunx Mars 23:37 EST

March 23
Moon quincunx Chiron 00:02 EST
Moon quincunx Sun 01:30 EST
Heliocentric Mars in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Cupido 01:51 EST
Venus square Kronos 02:10 EST
Moon contraparallel Poseidon 03:30 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Jupiter 03:39 EST
Venus biquintile Poseidon 04:05 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Chiron 04:13 EST
Heliocentric Venus sextile Heliocentric Chiron 04:50 EST
Moon quintile Hades 05:29 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Kronos 06:26 EST
Moon contraparallel Chiron 06:29 EST
Moon semisquare Saturn 06:44 EST
Sun sextile Chiron in right ascension 06:54 EST
Mars conjunct Chiron 07:07 EST
Mars square Poseidon in right ascension 08:44 EST
Moon sextile Poseidon 09:35 EST
Moon biquintile Mercury 10:21 EST
Moon semisquare Vulcanus 10:44 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate True Lunar Node 11:29 EST
Moon biquintile Chiron 11:48 EST
Moon biquintile Mars 12:04 EST
Moon opposition Uranus 12:16 EST
Moon semisextile Zeus 13:14 EST
Moon semisquare Apollon 13:54 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quincunx Heliocentric Neptune 15:38 EST
Heliocentric Venus parallel Heliocentric Zeus 17:02 EST
Moon square Cupido 18:55 EST
Moon quintile Kronos 21:03 EST
Venus semisquare Neptune 21:12 EST
Moon quincunx Mercury 21:33 EST
Moon contraparallel Apollon 23:19 EST


March 24
Moon contraparallel Uranus 00:09 EST
Moon parallel True Lunar Node 01:20 EST
Moon semisextile Jupiter 01:55 EST
Venus sextile Chiron 02:37 EST
Moon parallel Mercury 03:49 EST
Moon quincunx Neptune 04:45 EST
Moon biquintile True Lunar Node 04:50 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Chiron 05:18 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Mars 06:33 EST
Heliocentric Venus enters Aries 07:40 EST
Venus sextile Chiron in right ascension 09:55 EST
Moon sextile Saturn 11:44 EST
Heliocentric Mercury contraparallel Heliocentric Uranus 14:43 EST
Mercury trine Cupido in right ascension 14:46 EST
Heliocentric Venus biquintile Heliocentric Poseidon 14:54 EST
Moon semisquare Poseidon 14:31 EST
Moon trine Admetos 15:08 EST
Moon sextile Vulcanus 15:39 EST
Moon square Hades 16:16 EST
Moon biquintile Neptune 16:16 EST
Moon quincunx True Lunar Node 16:18 EST
Mercury semisextile Uranus in right ascension 17:00 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Zeus 18:05 EST
Moon semisextile Apollon 18:44 EST
Moon contraparallel Jupiter 19:21 EST
Heliocentric Mercury contraparallel Heliocentric Apollon 19:34 EST
Moon square Pluto 19:35 EST
Void-of-Course Moon begins 19:35 EST
Moon contraparallel Zeus 23:37 EST

March 25
U.S. Markets closed for Good Friday holiday
Sun semisquare Neptune in right ascension 00:08 EST
Heliocentric Mercury biquintile Heliocentric Neptune 00:45 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Poseidon 01:20 EST
Heliocentric Mars quincunx Heliocentric Saturn 01:33 EST
True Lunar Node sextile Hades 03:12 EST
Venus sextile Mars 03:41 EST
Moon quintile Cupido 05:20 EST
Moon parallel Sun 05:42 EST
Void-of-Course Moon ends 05:59 EST
Moon enters Libra 05:59 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Jupiter 06:15 EST
Sun quincunx Poseidon in right ascension 06:29 EST
Moon square Kronos 07:26 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Pluto 08:03 EST
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Admetos 08:32 EST
Heliocentric Venus square Heliocentric Kronos 08:32 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Neptune 09:21 EST
Moon trine Chiron 09:56 EST
Moon quintile Saturn 10:31 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Vulcanus 10:43 EST
Heliocentric Earth quintile Heliocentric Vulcanus 12:16 EST
Moon parallel Venus 12:26 EST
Moon trine Mars 12:46 EST
Moon opposition Venus 13:10 EST
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Zeus 13:32 EST
Sun semisquare Admetos in right ascension 13:36 EST
Uranus square Cupido in right ascension 13:48 EST
Moon quintile Vulcanus 14:21 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Apollon 14:23 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Hades 14:52 EST
Full Moon 15:58 EST
Heliocentric Earth parallel Heliocentric Venus 16:58 EST
Venus semisquare Neptune in right ascension 18:08 EST
Moon semisextile Poseidon 18:50 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Admetos 19:30 EST
Moon quincunx Uranus 21:41 EST
Moon contraparallel Sun 22:03 EST
Moon conjunct Zeus 22:18 EST
Venus quincunx Poseidon in right ascension 22:39 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Apollon 22:57 EST

March 26
Moon parallel Zeus 02:56 EST
Moon sextile Cupido 03:47 EST
Moon opposition Mercury 03:49 EST
Mercury trine Cupido 04:18 EST
Venus semisquare Admetos in right ascension 04:37 EST
Moon quintile Pluto 05:24 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Saturn 06:15 EST
Moon parallel Jupiter 06:50 EST
Moon biquintile Uranus 08:52 EST
Moon conjunct Jupiter 09:59 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Mars 10:30 EST
Moon biquintile Admetos 12:13 EST
Moon trine Neptune 13:22 EST
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Chiron 16:37 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Cupido 17:07 EST
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Jupiter 17:11 EST
Moon contraparallel Mercury 18:52 EST
Moon square Saturn 19:59 EST
Heliocentric Earth semisextile Heliocentric Poseidon 20:31 EST
Pluto retrograde station 21:29 EST
Mars sesquiquadrate Hades in right ascension 21:56 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Poseidon 22:34 EST
Moon quincunx Admetos 23:16 EST
Moon square Vulcanus 23:42 EST

March 27
Moon opposition True Lunar Node 00:15 EST
Moon contraparallel True Lunar Node 00:17 EST
Moon trine Hades 00:19 EST
True Lunar Node direct station 00:27 EST
Moon parallel Uranus 01:16 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Uranus 01:30 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Zeus 01:58 EST
Moon parallel Apollon 02:14 EST
Moon conjunct Apollon 02:37 EST
Heliocentric Mercury enters Libra 02:51 EST
Moon sextile Pluto 03:29 EST
Void-of-Course Moon 03:29-13:28 EST
Mercury opposition 04/08/05 Solar Eclipse Antiscion 04:41 EST
Sun quincunx Poseidon 04:56 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Neptune 05:11 EST
Moon semisquare Cupido 07:22 EST
Mercury quintile Hades 08:22 EST
Heliocentric Earth quincunx Heliocentric Uranus 11:09 EST
Heliocentric Mercury contraparallel Heliocentric Jupiter 11:50 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Kronos 12:46 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Jupiter 13:12 EST
Moon enters Scorpio 13:28 EST
Sun semisquare Admetos 14:14 EST
Moon trine Kronos 14:52 EST
Moon square Chiron 17:29 EST
Moon parallel Chiron 17:39 EST
Heliocentric Mercury contraparallel Heliocentric Zeus 20:34 EST
Moon parallel Poseidon 20:41 EST
Mars trine Zeus in right ascension 22:23 EST
Venus quincunx Poseidon 23:07 EST
Moon square Mars 23:10 EST


*****


STOCKS TO WATCH: FD, FOX, GIL, ORLY.

Ann Taylor Stores (ANN)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 05/17/1991; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: ANN is trading well off the highs it set in 2004, and it isn't any wonder, since Saturn is crossing over its First-Trade Ascendant. Now that Saturn is back in direct motion and will soon be getting out of the way, it sets up a buying opportunity for this stock, augmented by Jupiter's conjunction with First-Trade Apollon and by the passage of the Sun and Venus over the First-Trade Midheaven. Our plan is to add a long position to the Model Portfolio this week, setting our initial stop at 23.45.


Ashland Inc. (ASH)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 05/08/1950; 10:00 a.m.
Trading Strategy: With the way oil prices have been climbing, ASH has had quite a ride! Some of the run-up has also been due to transiting Jupiter conjoining the ASH First-Trade Neptune, adding enormously to the speculative energy behind this stock. Jupiter will be hitting that aspect again this week just as the Sun conjoins the ASH First-Trade Venus. That's all very positive, but it could also signify a top. Thanks to the Mars/Chiron conjunction getting ready to cross over the ASH First-Trade Descendant, we think we see a shorting opportunity here, an idea that is reinforced by the way this stock stopped dead on a first-harmonic heliocentric Neptune line(H,360,N,0) during Friday's trading. Our plan is thus to sell this stock short early this week; we will set our initial buy stop at 67.76, or at about 12 cents above our entry point if we enter the trade at a higher price.


Chiquita Brands, Inc. (CQB)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 02/13/1903; 10:00 a.m.
Trading Strategy: Although we may see a significant price pull-back in mid-to-late April as Saturn crosses back over the CQB First-Trade IC, it looks like the positive energy for CQB should continue quite strongly for the next several months: transiting Jupiter has just completed its conjunctions with First-Trade Mars and the True Lunar Node, and is on its way toward sesquiquadrates with First-Trade Jupiter and the First-Trade Sun. With that in mind, we plan to add a long position to the Model Portfolio early this week, setting our initial stop at 23.00.


Dominion Resources Inc. (D)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 05/20/1983; 10:00 a.m.
Trading Strategy: Dominion has been trying to work its way through an eighth-harmonic heliocentric Apollon line (H,45,N,0) during its recent trading sessions. This is important because a lower increment of this same planetary line provided a springboard for this stock's current upward run when it found support there on February 22 and 23. If we get a daily low on the current line, at approximately 74.40, we will enter a long position in this stock. Our initial stop will be set at 72.25.


Hibbett Sporting Goods (HIBB)
NASDAQ; optionable
First Trade Date: 10/11/1996; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: Transiting Uranus is getting reading to form an exact opposition to the HIBB First-Trade Venus, an event which could add some strong positive energy to this stock's trading prospects. On that basis, we will add a long position to the Model Portfolio early this week, setting our initial stop at 28.00.


Range Resources Corporation (RRC)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 10/11/1996; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: RRC shares the same First-Trade chart as HIBB, so a parallel situation applies here. With transiting Uranus about to form an exact opposition to the RRC First-Trade Venus, we will be entering a long position early in the week, with an eye to a short-term swing trade. Our initial stop for RRC will be set at 24.00.

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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 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 @ 3/20/2005 12:46:00 AM