FinancialCyclesWeekly.com #0513 -- March 27-April 2, 02005 with Tim Bost

COMMENT: It looks like April Fools Day may arrive a day early this year. On Thursday, with Mercury retrograde and perhaps under a void-of-course Moon, the board of the World Bank will vote on the nomination of Paul Wolfowitz, currently the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense, as the new head of the organization.

"I think all foreigners should stop interfering in the internal affairs of Iraq," Wolfowitz said at a press conference in Mosul, Iraq, on July 21, 2003. By "foreigners" he was obviously excluding the U.S. In fact, Mr. Wolfowitz is widely credited with being one of the architects of the U.S. invasion and occupation there. He was also one of the chief sponsors of Ahmed Chalabi. In addition, he predicted that Iraq could be conquered by a small number of U.S. troops, that Iraqi oil revenues would pay for the occupation and reconstruction of the country, and that the U.S. would find weapons of mass destruction and clear evidence linking Saddam Hussein to Osama bin Laden when it invaded the country. And it is that role, along with other factors, that has led to some vocal opposition to his nomination for the World Bank post.

The most recent protest has come from a group of British academics and global development professionals in a letter to the Financial Times, stating "four reasons why Wolfowitz is the wrong man for the World Bank." The group admits that they don't all agree on the role the World Bank should play in global affairs, but says its members are united in opposing the appointment of Wolfowitz. "First," their letter says, "he lacks the professional development experience and credentials required for this critical role. Second, his lead role in driving the extension of unilateral US power suggests that he is ill-suited to the task of heading a multilateral institution. Third, his nomination and appointment sends out the wrong signals to a world that sorely needs tolerance and acknowledgment that there exist a diversity of solutions to development challenges. And, fourth, we challenge a selection process that privileges citizens of a single country in the appointment of global civil servants."

We don't have a complete birth record for Paul Wolfowitz, just a note that he was born on December 22, 1943. Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto are thus all retrograde in his natal horoscope, along with 7 of the 8 transneptunian planets. And with a retrograde Mars/Uranus conjunction strongly featured in his birth chart, Wolfowitz is clearly an individual who tends to act rashly (if not explosively), and then come up with a rationale for his actions after the fact. That conjunction is currently receiving a square from transiting Uranus, which helps highlight the volatile controversy that his nomination has provoked. Even under the best of circumstances, however, that tendency to shoot first and ask questions later is hardly likely to be a good qualification for leadership of a multinational organization. It's certainly less than the globe's developing countries deserve.

THE TRIAL OF THE WEEK
The news media have been giving a huge amount attention to the trial of Michael Jackson lately, which must make U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld feel bad. After all, with his ongoing efforts at promoting a forceful image for the U.S. throughout the world and his frequent press conferences at home and abroad, Rummy should be at least as big a celebrity as Jacko is by now. But the media has given almost no attention to the fact that Mr. Rumsfeld is the subject of a lawsuit filed earlier this month by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Human Rights First on behalf of eight former prisoners, four Afghan and four Iraqi citizens, who were tortured and abused at the hands of U.S. military personnel acting under Rumsfeld's direction. The legal team that filed the suit includes two former military lawyers, retired Army General James Cullen and Retired Rear Admiral John Hutson. But in the media's eyes, even such a high-profile suit apparently doesn't have the newsworthiness or the legal implications of the pop star's trial.

WHAT'S BEHIND GAS PRICES?
With last week's devastating explosion and fire at the BP oil depot in Texas City, Texas, there's good reason for higher prices at the pump, right? Well, maybe, if you assume that there's a direct correlation between a reduction in the oil flow and higher gasoline prices for consumers. In other words, if you assume that there's actually a supply problem.

The fact is, however, that the current U.S. inventory of crude oil is about 8 percent higher than it was last year at this time. That's not including all the extra oil that the administration has purchased and put into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which is up to 685 million barrels, compared to 599 million barrels in 2003. There's also 7.5 percent more gasoline in inventory right now than there was a year ago; the last time the gasoline supply was higher than it is now was in 1999, when prices at the pump averaged $1.01 a gallon. Overall, there's roughly 10 percent more of all petroleum products in inventory today than there was when we invaded Iraq two years ago.

So why the high prices? Go figure. But when you do, don't buy the argument that the supply is drying up.

SOLE SURVIVOR
Out of the six stocks that we began tracking after they set correct lows on the March 10 Sun/Saturn trine, only one now remains with the support from that low holding: MTR Gaming Group Inc. (MNTG). This stock tested its 50-day moving average during last week's trading and found support there; it closed down on Thursday to end the trading week at 11.73, well above its March 10 low of 11.05.

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THE WEEK AHEAD

As things get back into gear after the three-day weekend, we will be looking for earnings reports from Russ Berrie and Company (RS), Walgreen Company (WAG), Apollo Group Inc. (APOL), Veritas DGC Inc. (VTS), Stride Rite Corporation (SRR), Circuit City Stores (CC), Best Buy Company Inc. (BBY), Robbins and Myers (RBN), Carmax Inc (KMX), Ruby Tuesday Inc. (RI), and A. G. Edwards Inc. (AGE).

It will be an extremely busy week for economic news, with lots of potential for the kind of surprises that can shake up the markets. We're anticipating the March Consumer Confidence report, the Fourth Quarter Gross Domestic Product numbers, February figures on Personal Income and Consumption, the January Factory Orders report, the March numbers on the Chicago Purchasing Managers Index, the final March report on Consumer Sentiment from the University of Michigan, the February numbers on Construction Spending, March Car Sales, the March Credit Managers Index, March Unemployment and Nonfarm Payrolls, and the March numbers on the Institute for Supply Management Index.

The astrological factors at work this week include the continuing Mercury retrograde, the waning Moon, and the realignment of planetary energies as we move toward the Solar Eclipse on April 8. During this week's trading action we will be tracking heliocentric fifth-harmonic aspects (H,72,N,0) for Mercury, Earth, Saturn, Mars, Uranus, Chiron, Hades, Vulcanus, Admetos, and Zeus. We will also be checking the impact of the Sun/Zeus opposition, the Venus/Zeus opposition, and the Mars/Poseidon square on Tuesday and the heliocentric Mars ingress on Thursday. There's a void-of-course Moon throughout the trading day on Tuesday and another lunar void on Thursday afternoon; we will step aside from active trading at those times.

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.


Our mission now is to master the power of the mind. If we start with the understanding that we can communicate more clearly when we embody what we want to communicate, we can claim new levels of mental refinement as our own. The result will not only be the kind of harmony that helps us experience more beauty and wholeness in our lives, but also a level of clarity in thought and purpose that automatically empowers effective action.


"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become." --Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

*****


GLOBAL EQUITIES MARKETS LAST WEEK

European share markets moved into positive territory last week, but in other parts of the world prices were weaker, with stocks in the U.S. and Asia making decisive moves to the downside.

Dow Jones Industrial Average -- down 1.76%
Dow Jones Transportation Average -- down 0.16%
Dow Jones Utilities Average -- down 1.46%
S+P 500 -- down 1.53%
NASDAQ Composite Index -- down 0.83%
Russell 2000 -- down 1.17%
London FTSE-100 -- down 0.02%
Paris CAC-40 -- up 0.74%
Frankfurt DAX -- up 0.38%
Sydney All Ordinaries -- down 2.48%
Tokyo Nikkei -- down 0.84%
Hong Kong Hang Seng Index -- down 1.76%
Singapore Straits Times Index -- down 1.06%

*****


FINANCIAL CYCLES MODEL PORTFOLIO


POSITIONS CLOSED DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK: FD, PTR.

We closed two Model Portfolio positions during the past week, with two losers producing a net loss of $600.00.

On March 21 we sold 200 shares of Federated Department Stores (FD) at 62.00, taking a loss of $474.00 (a 3.68% loss in 4 trading days).

On March 23 we sold 200 shares of Petrochina Company Ltd.ADS (PTR) at 61.55, taking a loss of 126.00 (a 1.01% loss in 16 trading days).

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POSITIONS ADDED TO THE PORTFOLIO DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK: ANN, ASH, CQB, HIBB, RRC.

We added four long positions and one short position to the Model Portfolio during the previous week.

We bought 400 shares of Ann Taylor Stores (ANN) at 26.12 on 03/21/05, setting our initial stop at 23.45.

We sold short 200 shares of Ashland Inc. (ASH) at 66.85 on 03/21/05, setting our initial buy stop at 67.86.

We bought 400 shares of Chiquita Brands, Inc. (CQB) at 26.25 on 03/21/05, setting our initial stop at 23.00.

We bought 300 shares of Hibbett Sporting Goods (HIBB) at 30.53 on 03/21/05, setting our initial stop at 28.00.

We bought 400 shares of Range Resources Corporation (RRC) at 24.63 on 03/21/05, setting our initial stop at 22.00.


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YEAR-IN-REVIEW MODEL PORTFOLIO ACTIVITY

So far this year we have had a total of 49 completed trades, with 19 winners and 30 losers bringing us a total net profit of $10,788.00. 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 $217.77. The overall average profit per trade has been $220.16, 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.

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CURRENT POSITIONS IN THE MODEL PORTFOLIO

Ann Taylor Stores (ANN) -- bought 400 shares at 26.12 on 03/21/05; currently 25.26. Raise stop to 24.25.

Ashland Inc. (ASH) -- sold short 200 shares at 66.85 on 03/21/05; currently 66.47. Lower buy stop to 66.81.

Chiquita Brands, Inc. (CQB) -- bought 400 shares at 26.25 on 03/21/05; currently 27.39. Raise stop to 26.30.

Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL) -- bought 200 shares at 42.82 on 03/15/05; currently 42.58. Raise stop to 42.05.

Hibbett Sporting Goods (HIBB) -- bought 300 shares at 30.53 on 03/21/05; currently 28.64. Raise stop to 28.50.

News Corporation Inc. (NWS) -- acquired 612 shares at a cost basis of 17.40, converted from 300 shares of Fox Entertainment Group purchased at 35.49 on 03/15/05; currently 17.72. Set stop at 17.55 when short form conversion is complete.

Nexen Inc. (NXY) -- bought 200 shares at 45.75 on 02/14/05; currently 54.02. Raise stop to 53.50.

Range Resources Corporation (RRC) -- bought 400 shares at 24.63 on 03/21/05; currently 23.91. Raise stop to 23.12.

Toro Company (TTC) -- bought 100 shares at 88.34 on 03/07/05; currently 89.51. Raise stop to 87.95.

*****


STRONGEST MARKET SECTORS LAST WEEK

Photographic Equipment and Supplies; Wholesale Computers; Drug Related Products; Wholesale Food; Medical Practitioners.

*****

WEAKEST MARKET SECTORS LAST WEEK

Silver; General Entertainment; Multimedia and Graphics Software; Nonmetallic Mineral Mining; Security and Protection Services.

*****


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

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

March 28
Heliocentric Earth contraparallel Heliocentric Mercury 01:34 EST
Moon conjunct Poseidon 01:47 EST
Moon quincunx Venus 02:04 EST
Moon parallel Pluto 02:22 EST
Mercury sextile Mars in right ascension 02:42 EST
Sun in 24th harmonic to True Lunar Node 03:18 EST
Moon quincunx Sun 03:28 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Hades 03:32 EST
Heliocentric Earth sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Admetos 03:41 EST
Moon trine Uranus 04:47 EST
Moon semisextile Zeus 05:06 EST
Moon parallel Neptune 05:39 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Apollon 05:45 EST
Moon semisquare Pluto 06:38 EST
Venus semisquare Admetos 06:48 EST
Heliocentric Mars semisextile Heliocentric Chiron 07:22 EST
Moon quincunx Mercury 07:32 EST
Mercury opposition Zeus in right ascension 07:33 EST
Heliocentric Venus quincunx Heliocentric Poseidon 09:29 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Vulcanus 10:22 EST
Moon semisextile Cupido 10:25 EST
Moon biquintile Venus 13:54 EST
Moon biquintile Sun 15:04 EST
Moon semisextile Jupiter 15:54 EST
Venus conjunct Sun in right ascension 16:10 EST
Moon contraparallel Admetos 16:54
Venus in 24th harmonic to True Lunar Node 17:12 EST
Mercury conjunct Venus in right ascension 17:32 EST
Moon biquintile Mercury 17:38 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Kronos 17:49 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Poseidon 18:45 EST
Heliocentric Venus semisextile Heliocentric Uranus 18:46 EST
Moon biquintile Hades 19:37 EST
Moon square Neptune 19:47 EST
Sun semisextile Uranus 22:01 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quincunx Heliocentric Uranus 22:40 EST
Venus opposition Zeus in right ascension 23:30 EST
Moon parallel Mars 23:56 EST

March 29
Heliocentric Earth quintile Heliocentric Saturn 00:33 EST
Heliocentric Earth conjunct Heliocentric Zeus 01:08 EST
Sun opposition Zeus 01:16 EST
Sun contraparallel Zeus in right ascension 01:18 EST
Sun opposition Zeus in right ascension 01:18 EST
Heliocentric Earth parallel Heliocentric Zeus 01:19 EST
Sun contraparallel Zeus 01:27 EST
Heliocentric Mercury opposition Heliocentric Venus 01:29 EST
Moon quintile Chiron 01:48 EST
Moon trine Saturn 02:05 EST
Void-of-Course Moon 02:05-18:56 EST
Heliocentric Mars biquintile Heliocentric Admetos 02:18 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Admetos 02:54 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Poseidon 04:31 EST
Heliocentric Earth in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Apollon 04:39 EST
Heliocentric Venus semisquare Heliocentric Admetos 04:51 EST
Moon opposition Admetos 05:15 EST
Moon trine Vulcanus 05:38 EST
Moon quincunx True Lunar Node 06:13 EST
Moon quincunx Hades 06:16 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Venus 07:30 EST
Moon parallel Cupido 07:30 EST
Moon semisquare Zeus 07:46 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Sun 08:17 EST
Venus semisextile Uranus 08:23 EST
Moon semisextile Apollon 08:24 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Saturn 08:25 EST
Heliocentric Mercury conjunct Heliocentric Zeus 08:30 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Mercury 08:39 EST
Moon quintile Mars 09:03 EST
Moon semisextile Pluto 09:17 EST
Moon contraparallel Vulcanus 09:24 EST
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Apollon 09:25 EST
Moon biquintile Kronos 09:45 EST
Venus opposition Zeus 10:25 EST
Heliocentric Earth conjunct Heliocentric Mercury 11:06 EST
Sun conjunct Mercury 11:10 EST
Moon contraparallel Saturn 11:49 EST
Heliocentric Mercury parallel Heliocentric Venus 12:41 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Cupido 13:00 EST
Moon contraparallel Hades 13:03 EST
Mercury conjunct Venus 15:29 EST
Moon biquintile True Lunar Node 16:47 EST
Heliocentric Saturn quintile Heliocentric Zeus 17:06 EST
Heliocentric Venus opposition Heliocentric Zeus 18:09 EST
Moon semisquare Jupiter 18:11 EST
Jupiter biquintile Uranus 18:51 EST
Moon enters Sagittarius 18:56 EST
Mars semisquare Pluto in right ascension 19:19 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Cupido 19:42 EST
Moon contraparallel Kronos 20:12 EST
Moon quincunx Kronos 20:18 EST
Hades trine Apollon in right ascension 21:00 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Pluto 21:48 EST
Mars biquintile Kronos 22:15 EST
Mars square Poseidon 22:54 EST
Moon sextile Chiron 23:00 EST
Mercury opposition Zeus 23:08 EST

March 30
Mercury semisextile Uranus 00:54 EST
Moon quintile Neptune 03:32 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Saturn 04:28 EST
Moon semisextile Poseidon 06:49 EST
Moon sextile Mars 07:15 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Vulcanus 07:55 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate True Lunar Node 08:32 EST
Moon trine Mercury 09:23 EST
Moon square Uranus 09:56 EST
Moon sextile Zeus 10:00 EST
Moon semisquare Apollon 10:38 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Pluto 11:31 EST
Moon trine Venus 12:21 EST
Moon trine Sun 12:33 EST
Heliocentric Mercury biquintile Heliocentric Uranus 13:36 EST
Moon conjunct Cupido 15:11 EST
Heliocentric Mercury conjunct Heliocentric Jupiter 17:24 EST
Heliocentric Earth sextile Heliocentric Cupido 19:19 EST
Heliocentric Venus quintile Heliocentric Chiron 20:00 EST
Moon sextile Jupiter 20:03 EST
Moon biquintile Saturn 20:07 EST
Heliocentric Venus trine Heliocentric Cupido 20:18 EST
Heliocentric Earth opposition Heliocentric Venus 21:54 EST
Sun conjunct Venus 22:29 EST
Heliocentric Chiron parallel Heliocentric Poseidon 22:31 EST
Mars sextile Cupido in right ascension 22:51 EST
Mercury in 24th harmonic to True Lunar Node 23:02 EST
Uranus quincunx Zeus 23:21 EST
Moon biquintile Vulcanus 23:30 EST
Venus trine Cupido in right ascension 23:32 EST

March 31
Moon sextile Neptune 00:23 EST
Venus sextile Mars in right ascension 00:51 EST
Moon semisquare Chiron 01:08 EST
Sun contraparallel Jupiter 01:22 EST
Sun contraparallel Jupiter in right ascension 01:23 EST
Heliocentric Earth parallel Heliocentric Jupiter 01:23 EST
Mercury sextile Mars 03:06 EST
Heliocentric Earth quintile Heliocentric Pluto 03:14 EST
Venus quintile Hades 04:14 EST
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Neptune 04:59 EST
Sun quintile Hades 05:43 EST
Venus opposition 04/08/05 Solar Eclipse Antiscion 05:50 EST
Heliocentric Mars enters Capricorn 06:03 EST
Venus semisextile Uranus in right ascension 06:09 EST
Moon quincunx Saturn 06:28 EST
Moon quintile Zeus 06:44 EST
Sun opposition 04/08/05 Solar Eclipse Antiscion 07:44 EST
Mars sesquiquadrate Hades 08:23 EST
Moon semisquare Poseidon 08:44 EST
Mars semisextile Uranus in right ascension 09:07 EST
Moon quincunx Admetos 09:32 EST
Moon quincunx Vulcanus09:50 EST
Moon trine True Lunar Node 10:28 EST
Moon opposition Hades 10:29 EST
Moon semisquare Mars 10:36 EST
Moon sextile Apollon 12:30 EST
Sun trine Cupido in right ascension 13:12 EST
Moon conjunct Pluto 13:23 EST
Void-of-Course Moon 13:23-22:47 EST
Heliocentric Mercury biquintile Heliocentric Admetos 14:09 EST
Mercury semisquare Admetos 14:31 EST
Moon quintile Jupiter 16:30 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Cupido 17:00 EST
Moon quintile Uranus 17:05 EST
Heliocentric Mercury parallel Heliocentric Zeus 17:46 EST
Heliocentric Venus quintile Heliocentric Hades 18:58 EST
Venus trine Cupido 19:35 EST
Moon biquintile Admetos 19:49 EST
Venus contraparallel Zeus in right ascension 19:59 EST
Venus contraparallel Zeus 20:26 EST
Sun semisextile Uranus in right ascension 22:26 EST
Moon enters Capricorn 22:47 EST
Heliocentric Mars semisquare Heliocentric Neptune 23:38 EST

April 1
Moon opposition Kronos 00:08 EST
Sun trine Cupido 00:59 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Mars 01:49 EST
Moon semisquare Neptune 02:09 EST
Moon semisextile Chiron 02:55 EST
Mercury quincunx Poseidon 04:14 EST
Heliocentric Mercury parallel Heliocentric Jupiter 05:27 EST
Moon quintile Apollon 08:58 EST
Moon square Mercury 10:00 EST
Moon sextile Poseidon10:20 EST
Mars trine Zeus 10:34 EST
Moon sesquiquadrate Admetos 11:09 EST
Sun parallel Mercury 11:41 EST
Sun parallel Mercury in right ascension 11:42 EST
Heliocentric Earth parallel Heliocentric Mercury 13:22 EST
Moon square Zeus 13:25 EST
Moon semisextile Mars 13:35 EST
Moon sextile Uranus 13:36 EST
Mars semisextile Uranus 13:58 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Pluto 14:57 EST
Saturn square Apollon in right ascension 16:16 EST
Moon semisextile Cupido 18:31 EST
Mercury semisquare Admetos in right ascension 19:02 EST
Moon square Sun 19:50 EST
True Lunar Node retrograde station 20:03 EST
Moon square Venus 20:43 EST
Moon square Jupiter 22:50 EST
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Poseidon 22:51 EST

April 2
Heliocentric Venus opposition Heliocentric Jupiter 00:36 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Uranus 03:29 EST
Moon semisextile Neptune 03:38 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Chiron 04:26 EST
Venus contraparallel Jupiter in right ascension 05:10 EST
Venus contraparallel Jupiter 05:17 EST
Moon quintile Poseidon 06:38 EST
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Pluto 07:33 EST
Heliocentric Mercury quincunx Heliocentric Admetos 07:54 EST
Mercury semisquare Neptune in right ascension 09:16 EST
Moon opposition Saturn 09:34 EST
Void-of-Course Moon begins 09:34 EST
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Vulcanus 10:39 EST
Mercury quincunx Poseidon in right ascension 11:14 EST
Mercury parallel Venus 11:34 EST
Mercury parallel Venus in right ascension 11:34 EST
Moon trine Admetos 12:32 EST
Moon opposition Vulcanus 12:47 EST
Moon square True Lunar Node 13:26 EST
Moon quincunx Hades 13:28 EST
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Zeus 14:11 EST
Heliocentric Earth biquintile Heliocentric Uranus 14:35 EST
Moon quintile Mercury 14:49 EST
Moon semisquare Uranus 15:02 EST
Heliocentric Mercury conjunct Heliocentric Apollon 15:13 EST
Moon square Apollon 15:22 EST
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Hades 15:53 EST
Mars semisquare Pluto 16:13 EST
Moon semisextile Pluto 16:16 EST
Moon in 24th harmonic to Mars 16:17 EST
Mercury contraparallel Jupiter 18:44 EST
Mercury contraparallel Jupiter in right ascension 18:45 EST
Venus opposition Jupiter 18:51 EST
Moon semisquare Cupido 19:47 EST
Venus opposition Jupiter in right ascension 21:21 EST
Moon biquintile Hades 23:33 EST

April 3
Heliocentric Venus sextile Heliocentric Neptune 00:16 EST
Moon enters Aquarius 01:30 EST
Void-of-Course Moon ends 01:30 EST
Daylight Saving Time begins 02:00 EST
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Cupido 03:44 EDT
Heliocentric Mars opposition Heliocentric Kronos 03:48 EDT
Moon quincunx Kronos 03:51 EDT
Venus quintile Chiron 04:44 EDT
Heliocentric Venus contraparallel Heliocentric Zeus 05:21 EDT
Moon quintile Sun 05:24 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Neptune 05:54 EDT
Moon conjunct Chiron 06:44 EDT
Moon quintile Venus 06:55 EDT
Sun sextile Mars in right ascension 06:58 EDT
Moon sextile Mercury 10:59 EDT
Heliocentric Earth conjunct Heliocentric Jupiter 11:23 EDT
Sun opposition Jupiter 11:30 EDT
Moon square Poseidon 13:51 EDT
Moon biquintile Kronos 13:55 EDT
Moon contraparallel Kronos 14:04 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Saturn 14:05 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Hades 15:40 EDT
Moon trine Zeus 16:53 EDT
Moon semisextile Uranus 17:17 EDT
Moon semisquare Pluto 18:26 EDT
Moon conjunct Mars 19:47 EDT
Moon quintile True Lunar Node 20:36 EDT
Moon contraparallel Hades 21:04 EDT
Moon sextile Cupido 21:55 EDT
Moon contraparallel Saturn 22:16 EDT

*****


STOCKS TO WATCH: ASCA, EENC, STTX, TKLC.

Ameristar Casinos Inc. (ASCA)
NASDAQ; optionable
First Trade Date: 11/09/1993; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: As transiting Jupiter was slowing down just prior to its February 1 retrograde station, ASCA broke out of a trading range and began a strong upward move. Right now Jupiter, still in retrograde motion, is closing in on the ASCA First-Trade Midheaven, a positive factor which could pick up some extra energy from transiting Pluto's semisquare to First-Trade Mercury. We're thus ready to add a long position to the Model Portfolio early this week, setting our initial stop at 49.95.


Enterra Energy Trust (EENC)
NASDAQ; optionable
First Trade Date: 01/10/2001; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: EENC has turned in fairly solid performance in the past year, nearly doubling in price from its low last April. More recently, however, transiting Saturn has formed an opposition to the EENC First-Trade Sun, and the current trading price is nearly 6 percent off the EENC 52-week high. With transiting Uranus conjoining the EENC First-Trade Venus and sesquiquadrate First-Trade Apollon, there has been plenty of positive energy to keep Saturn's impact from being too overwhelming. As an added kicker, transiting Mars is about to conjoin First-Trade Neptune, a contact that could add some additional speculative energy to the situation. EENC made an exact daily low on the fourth-harmonic Saturn line (G,90,N,0) last Thursday, precisely when transiting Saturn was forming its opposition to the First-Trade Sun. That indicator encourages us to take a long position in EENC early this week. We will set our initial stop at 18.15, to correspond to the recent Mercury retrograde station (G,360,N,-2).


Steel Technologies Inc. (STTX)
NASDAQ; optionable
First Trade Date: 08/27/1985; 10:00 a.m.
Trading Strategy: The price of STTX spiked up when transiting Jupiter conjoined the First-Trade Ascendant in early January and again in early March. Jupiter will hit that point again in mid-August. In the meantime, however, transiting Saturn will complete its transit of the STTX Midheaven, leaving this stock free to rebound from its current slump as transiting Pluto intensifies the energy of First-Trade Jupiter. With this kind of positive outlook, our plan is to add a long position in STTX this week, setting our initial stop at 22.00.


Tekelec (TKLC)
NASDAQ; optionable
First Trade Date: 05/16/1986; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: With Saturn currently transiting the TKLC First-Trade Ascendant, it's not terribly surprising to see the price of this stock hitting the lowest levels it has experienced since last September. Once Saturn completes that transit, however, there's nothing left to suggest that lower prices will persist, and during the next month Jupiter brings considerable positive energy to the situation as it forms a square to First-Trade Vulcanus, a conjunction to First-Trade Apollon, and a sesquiquadrate to the First-Trade Sun. Our plan is thus to add a long position in TKLC this week; we will set our initial stop at 14.95.


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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 @ 3/27/2005 12:31:00 AM