FinancialCyclesWeekly.com #0514 -- April 3-9, 02005 with Tim Bost

COMMENT: A weak jobs report, a big jump in factory prices, and oil going to the Moon! What more could the stock market want as an excuse for another decline? Even if you don't give much attention to astrology, as far as the stock market went last week it certainly FELT like Mercury was retrograde!

ECLIPSES AND IMPORTANT EVENTS

We were recently asked about the astrological significance of eclipses, which are one of the most significant celestial phenomena from the Earth's perspective. They certainly play a key role in mundane and financial astrology, and deserve careful consideration from every serious astrologer. But they don't necessarily signal catastrophes or market crashes.

When we look at the potential impact of eclipses on market activity, we follow a fairly complex set of guidelines and connect our astrological work with empirical and historical analysis. In the realm of mundane or geopolitical astrology, however, there's a simple rule of thumb to follow. Eclipses, especially solar eclipses, tend to be accompanied by extremely significant events, although the ultimate significance may not always be fully understood when the events take place. Events that happen just prior to an eclipse are typically important but unexpected, while events occurring immediately after an eclipse are both important and planned or expected.

This past Saturday, for example, just six days prior to a solar eclipse, Pope John Paul II died, a sadly important but unexpected event. Next Friday, just hours after the eclipse, England's Prince Charles is scheduled to marry Camilla Parker Bowles in a civil ceremony in the town hall at Windsor, west of London, followed by a service of prayer and dedication at Windsor castle's chapel. The prince's office at Clarence House has announced that the royal wedding will go ahead on Friday as planned, even if it clashes with the Pope's funeral. Although Clarence House didn't specifically mention the fact, the timing of this much-anticipated nuptial event has obviously been scheduled to come on the heels of the eclipse. The desire, at least for Charles, Camilla and the Royal Astrologer, is that the event be an important one.


ECLIPSE MAY BRING MARKET STRENGTH
The Solar Eclipse coming up this week is interesting not only because of its own potential to move the markets, but also because there are three additional eclipse triggers on the day of the current eclipse. Transiting Venus, Mars, and Saturn will also trigger eclipses from 2003 that day, one solar and one lunar. Both of the 2003 eclipses were followed by significant advances in the S+P 500 in the weeks after they occurred. This leads us to suspect that the current eclipse will also be followed by a rally in stock prices, in spite of the fact that price action so far this year definitely suggests that a cautious stance is appropriate in equity positions.

ECLIPSE TRADING POTENTIAL
One of the simplest and often one of the most effective ways of trading an eclipse is to take long positions at the time of the eclipse in those stocks which have First-Trade Suns conjoined by the current eclipse. Prices tend to rise for those issues, although the amplitude and momentum of the move is often simply a reflection of overall market conditions.

The eclipse coming up this week will conjoin the First-Trade Suns for TWP, VIA, MDZ, CWT, GAI, VIFL, CFNB, BSML, GOAM, LIXG, LPSN, SABA, TNOX, VDSI, FORG, OMEF, BOOT, MAHI, ISWI, and FOSL. Not all of these stocks offer the kind of technical and fundamental strength that we like to see confirming our astrological analysis, but some of them may provide good trading opportunities. We will be taking a closer look at this group, along with other stocks, when we prepare next week's list of Stocks To Watch for this publication.

WOLFOWITZ GETS WORLD BANK NOD
Not surprisingly, the board of the World Bank confirmed Paul Wolfowitz as its new head this past week, even with Mercury retrograde and in spite of opposition from European leaders who were concerned about the Assistant Secretary of Defense's record as a key architect of the war against Iraq. But, as Jude Wanniski, former associate editor of the Wall Street Journal, commented, "it makes perfect sense to have Wolfowitz at the World Bank. He's terrific at doing wars, and wars are much more profitable than nickel-and-dime industrial projects. That's the way the world works. Always has been."

MORE ON MNTG
MTR Gaming Group Inc. (MNTG), a stock that we began tracking after it precisely set a correct low on the March 10 Sun/Saturn trine, has continued its upward trend. MNTG closed on Friday to finish the trading week at 12.31, an advance of 11.4% from its March 10 low of 11.05.

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THE WEEK AHEAD

It's a fairly light week for earnings reports and economic news. We will be watching the news from American Greetings (AM), Interpublic Group (IPG), Acuity Brands (AYI), International Speedway (ISCA), Shaw Group (SGR), Monsanto (MON), Alcoa (AA), WD-40 Company (WDFC), Bed Bath and Beyond (BBBY), and Constellation Brands (STZ), as well as the latest numbers on Consumer Credit and Wholesale Inventories.

The astrological story this week can be summarized in two words: Solar Eclipse. It's the most powerful astro-event we've seen in a while. Along the way we will have a heliocentric Mercury ingress on Monday, a Venus/Neptune sextile on Tuesday, a Vulcanus direct station on Wednesday, and added impacts from a Venus/Saturn square and three eclipse triggers the same day as the Solar Eclipse. Our net expectation is that we will see some choppy activity and uncertainty in the markets this week, resolving into a positive trend next week after the Solar Eclipse and Mercury's return to direct motion. We'll be keeping an eye on fourth-harmonic heliocentric aspects for the Earth, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Chiron, Vulcanus, and Apollon (H,90,N,0) as well.

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.


Are we ready to take advantage of this time of rapid evolution, or will we let our egos get in the way of personal and spiritual growth? If we are willing to empower our imagination with fresh reflections of creativity, we will soon discover that love and compassion can resolve any crisis.


"The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life." -Muhammad Ali

*****


GLOBAL EQUITIES MARKETS LAST WEEK

The slide in U.S. equities began to slow down a bit last week, and the broader U.S. averages appear ready to follow Europe's positive lead in the global marketplace.

Dow Jones Industrial Average -- down 0.37%
Dow Jones Transportation Average -- down 1.55%
Dow Jones Utilities Average -- up 1.79%
S+P 500 -- up 0.13%
NASDAQ Composite Index -- down 0.31%
Russell 2000 -- down 0.60%
London FTSE-100 -- down 0.17%
Paris CAC-40 -- up 0.04%
Frankfurt DAX -- up 0.69%
Sydney All Ordinaries -- down 0.13%
Tokyo Nikkei -- down 0.47%
Hong Kong Hang Seng Index -- down 0.78%
Singapore Straits Times Index -- down 0.36%

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FINANCIAL CYCLES MODEL PORTFOLIO


POSITIONS CLOSED DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK: FD, PTR.

We closed five Model Portfolio positions during the past week, with one winner and four losers producing a net profit of $437.00.

On March 28 we sold 200 shares of Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL) at 42.02, taking a loss of $160.00 (a 1.87% loss in 8 trading days).

On March 28 we sold 200 shares of Nexen Inc. (NXY) at 53.19, taking a profit of $1,488.00 (a 16.26% gain in 29 trading days).

On March 30 we sold 400 shares of Range Resources Corporation (RRC) at 22.55, taking a loss of $832.00 (an 8.44% loss in 6 trading days).

On March 31 we bought to cover 200 shares of Ashland Inc. (ASH) at 66.90, taking a loss of $10.00 (a 0.07% loss in 7 trading days).

On April 1 we sold 100 shares of Toro Company (TTC) at 87.95, taking a loss of $39.00 (a 0.44% loss in 18 trading days).

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POSITIONS ADDED TO THE PORTFOLIO DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK: ASCA, EENC, STTX, TKLC.

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

We bought 200 shares of Ameristar Casinos Inc. (ASCA) at 55.25 on 03/28/05, setting our initial stop at 49.95.
We bought 500 shares of Enterra Energy Trust (EENC) at 20.50 on 03/28/05, setting our initial stop at 18.15.

We bought 400 shares of Steel Technologies Inc. (STTX) at 24.00 on 03/30/05, setting our initial stop at 22.00.

We bought 600 shares of Tekelec (TKLC) at 15.50 on 03/30/05, setting initial stop at 14.95.

*****


YEAR-IN-REVIEW MODEL PORTFOLIO ACTIVITY

So far this year we have had a total of 54 completed trades, with 20 winners and 34 losers bringing us a total net profit of $11,225.00. The largest profit for a single trade has been $2,875.00, with our winners averaging $940.35; the largest single-trade loss has been $956.00, with our losers averaging $222.76. The overall average profit per trade has been $207.87, and the mean duration of our trades has been 11.4 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

Ameristar Casinos Inc. (ASCA) -- bought 200 shares at 55.25 on 03/28/05; currently 55.24. Raise stop to 53.50.
Ann Taylor Stores (ANN) -- bought 400 shares at 26.12 on 03/21/05; currently 25.00. Raise stop to 24.50.

Chiquita Brands, Inc. (CQB) -- bought 400 shares at 26.25 on 03/21/05; currently 26.55. Raise stop to 26.45.

Enterra Energy Trust (EENC) -- bought 500 shares at 20.50 on 03/28/05; currently 22.90. Raise stop to 19.25.

Hibbett Sporting Goods (HIBB) -- bought 300 shares at 30.53 on 03/21/05; currently 29.95. Raise stop to 29.00.

News Corporation Inc. Class A (NWS.A) -- 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 16.95. Set stop at 16.75.

Steel Technologies Inc. (STTX) -- bought 400 shares at 24.00 on 03/30/05; currently 23.92. Raise stop to 23.00.

Tekelec (TKLC) -- bought 600 shares at 15.50 on 03/30/05; currently 15.50. Raise stop to 15.00.

*****


STRONGEST MARKET SECTORS LAST WEEK

Department Stores; Hospitals; Oil and Gas Drilling and Exploration; Internet Information Providers; Oil and Gas Refining and Marketing.

*****

WEAKEST MARKET SECTORS LAST WEEK

Drug Delivery; Scientific and Technical Instruments; Printed Circuit Boards, Metal Fabrication, Technical Services.

*****


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

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

April 4
Moon contraparallel Vulcanus 00:26 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Chiron 01:03 EDT
Sun quintile Chiron 01:37 EDT
Moon trine Jupiter 01:47 EDT
Sun opposition Jupiter in right ascension 01:55 EDT
Moon parallel Cupido 02:16 EDT
Mercury contraparallel Zeus 02:54 EDT
Moon sextile Sun 02:59 EDT
Moon sextile Venus 04:55 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Kronos 04:59 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Jupiter 05:19 EDT
Mars trine Jupiter in right ascension 05:40 EDT
Moon conjunct Neptune 07:04 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Chiron 07:55 EDT
Venus quintile Chiron in right ascension 10:30 EDT
Moon semisquare Mercury 10:56 EDT
Mars quintile True Lunar Node 11:52 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury enters Scorpio 12:30 EDT
Heliocentric Earth in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Mercury 12:54 EDT
Moon quincunx Saturn 12:57 EDT
Moon parallel Mars 14:49 EDT
Mercury sextile Chiron in right ascension 15:07 EDT
Moon square Admetos 15:52 EDT
Moon contraparallel Admetos 16:02 EDT
Moon quincunx Vulcanus 16:04 EDT
Moon sextile True Lunar Node 16:40 EDT
Moon trine Hades 16:47 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Zeus 17:57 EDT
Moon quintile Cupido 17:59 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Uranus 18:28 EDT
Moon trine Apollon 18:35 EDT
Moon sextile Pluto 19:31 EDT
Void-of-Course Moon begins 19:31 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Mars 22:13 EDT
Heliocentric Earth trine Heliocentric Neptune 22:25 EDT
Moon biquintile Saturn 23:01 EDT

April 5
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Kronos 01:04 EDT
Moon biquintile Vulcanus 02:07 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Jupiter 02:40 EDT
Moon parallel Neptune 02:55 EDT
Moon enters Pisces 04:45 EDT
Void-of-Course Moon ends 04:45 EDT
Moon semisquare Sun 05:56 EDT
Moon parallel Pluto 06:00 EDT
Moon trine Kronos 06:07 EDT
Venus sextile Neptune 06:10 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Neptune 08:13 EDT
Moon semisquare Venus 08:25 EDT
Moon biquintile Zeus 09:01 EDT
Moon semisextile Chiron 09:07 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Mars 10:58 EDT
Moon semisextile Mercury 11:01 EDT
Moon parallel Poseidon 11:14 EDT
Saturn semisextile Hades in right ascension 12:30 EDT
Mars sextile Cupido 13:34 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Saturn 14:08 EDT
Moon parallel Chiron 14:31 EDT
Moon crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 14:49 EDT
Moon quintile Pluto 15:38 EDT
Moon trine Poseidon 16:04 EDT
Heliocentric Venus quintile Heliocentric Kronos 16:08 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Vulcanus 17:13 EDT
Moon biquintile Jupiter 17:38 EDT
Moon semisquare True Lunar Node 17:48 EDT
Moon quincunx Zeus 19:05 EDT
Moon conjunct Uranus 19:43 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Apollon 19:44 EDT
Moon quintile Admetos 22:05 EDT
Uranus sesquiquadrate Apollon 22:16 EDT

April 6
Moon square Cupido 00:11 EDT
Mars contraparallel Admetos 00:25 EDT
Moon semisextile Mars 00:46 EDT
Moon quincunx Jupiter 03:39 EDT
Mars crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 03:50 EDT
Sun quintile Chiron in right ascension 04:24 EDT
Moon parallel Apollon 04:29 EDT
Vulcanus direct station in right ascension 05:34 EDT
Moon parallel Uranus 05:56 EDT
Mercury in 24th harmonic to Venus 06:00 EDT
Moon contraparallel True Lunar Node 06:06 EDT
Heliocentric Earth biquintile Heliocentric Admetos 07:04 EDT
Moon semisextile Sun 09:04 EDT
Moon semisextile Neptune 09:31 EDT
Moon semisquare Chiron 10:27 EDT
Moon biquintile Apollon 10:54 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Mercury 11:22 EDT
Moon semisextile Venus 12:06 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury conjunct Heliocentric Poseidon 13:54 EDT
Moon contraparallel Sun 14:02 EDT
Moon trine Saturn 15:29 EDT
Moon contraparallel Venus 15:34 EDT
Sun sextile Neptune 15:48 EDT
Venus quintile Kronos 16:05 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Poseidon 17:22 EDT
Moon sextile Admetos 18:23 EDT
Moon trine Vulcanus 18:33 EDT
Moon semisextile True Lunar Node 19:07 EDT
Moon square Hades 19:19 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Uranus 19:22 EDT
Vulcanus direct station 20:42 EDT
Moon quincunx Apollon 21:04 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Uranus 21:10 EDT
Venus conjunct 04/08/05 Solar Eclipse Point 21:46 EDT
Moon square Pluto 22:03 EDT
Void-of-Course Moon begins 22:03 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Pluto 23:43 EDT

April 7
Moon parallel Jupiter 00:17 EDT
Moon parallel Zeus 02:02 EDT
Moon semisquare Mars 03:34 EDT
Heliocentric Venus semisquare Heliocentric Uranus 06:13 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Zeus 06:52 EDT
Moon contraparallel Mercury 07:21 EDT
Moon crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 07:28 EDT
Moon enters Aries 07:28 EDT
Void-of-Course Moon ends 07:28 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th harmonic to Heliocentric Apollon 07:58 EDT
Sun in 24th harmonic to Mercury 08:23 EDT
Moon biquintile Poseidon 08:42 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Hades 08:44 EDT
Moon square Kronos 08:53 EDT
Moon semisquare Neptune 11:06 EDT
Moon sextile Chiron 12:04 EDT
Moon conjunct Mercury 12:07 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Sun 12:32 EDT
Mercury sextile Chiron 13:40 EDT
Heliocentric Venus trine Heliocentric Pluto 14:35 ED
Venus quintile Kronos in right ascension 14:58 EDT
Heliocentric Venus semisextile Heliocentric Admetos 14:58 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Venus 16:09 EDT
Moon quincunx Poseidon 19:00 EDT
Moon semisquare Admetos 20:05 EDT
Moon parallel Mercury 20:19 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Cupido 20:39 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to True Lunar Node 20:48 EDT
Heliocentric Venus square Heliocentric Vulcanus 20:49 EDT
Moon opposition Zeus 22:06 EDT
Moon semisextile Uranus 22:59 EDT

April 8
Mars trine Jupiter 01:30 EDT
Moon quintile Hades 02:13 EDT
Moon contraparallel Zeus 02:29 EDT
Moon trine Cupido 03:21 EDT
Venus square Saturn 03:45 EDT
Venus square 05/21/03 Solar Eclipse Antiscion 03:46 EDT
Moon contraparallel Jupiter 04:04 EDT
Saturn conjunct 05/21/03 Solar Eclipse Antiscion 04:34 EDT
Venus sextile Neptune in right ascension 05:52 EDT
Heliocentric Venus opposition Heliocentric Apollon 06:26 EDT
Moon opposition Jupiter 06:30 EDT
Moon sextile Mars 06:49 EDT
Heliocentric Venus sextile Heliocentric Hades 07:56 EDT
Moon quintile Chiron 08:53 EDT
Sun quintile Kronos 10:03 EDT
Venus semisextile Admetos in right ascension 12:34 EDT
Moon sextile Neptune 13:07 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Mercury 13:26 EDT
Mars opposition 11/08/03 Lunar Eclipse Antiscion 14:48 EDT
Moon quintile Kronos 16:04 EDT
New Moon 16:32 EDT
Solar Eclipse 16:35 EDT
Moon parallel Venus 16:58 EDT
Moon parallel Sun 17:47 EDT
Moon square Saturn 19:19 EDT
Moon conjunct Venus 20:51 EDT
Moon semisextile Admetos 22:16 EDT
Moon square Vulcanus 22:24 EDT
Mercury semisquare Mars in right ascension 22:30 EDT
Moon conjunct True Lunar Node 22:58 EDT
Moon parallel True Lunar Node 23:01 EDT
Moon contraparallel Uranus 23:02 EDT
Moon sextile Hades 23:14 EDT
True Lunar Node direct station 23:21 EDT

April 9
Moon contraparallel Apollon 00:40 EDT
Moon opposition Apollon 00:58 EDT
Moon crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 01:10 EDT
Moon semisquare Uranus 01:18 EDT
Moon trine Pluto 02:00 EDT
Void-of-Course Moon 02:00-11:50 EDT
Mercury semisquare Neptune 03:11 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Jupiter 04:30 EDT
Moon quintile Mars 05:05 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Cupido 05:39 EDT
Uranus contraparallel True Lunar Node 06:35 EDT
Heliocentric Venus sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Cupido 06:39 EDT
Moon quintile Neptune 10:20 EDT
Moon enters Taurus 11:50 EDT
Venus semisextile Admetos 12:38 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Neptune 13:08 EDT
Moon sextile Kronos 13:20 EDT
Venus square Vulcanus 13:58 EDT
Moon contraparallel Chiron 15:05 EDT
Moon semisextile Mercury 15:28 EDT
Moon square Chiron 16:47 EDT
Moon contraparallel Poseidon 18:45 EDT
Venus conjunct True Lunar Node 20:11 EDT
Mars square 05/04/04 Lunar Eclipse Point 21:06 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Sun 21:18 EDT
Moon biquintile Cupido 21:45 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Chiron 22:02 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Kronos 23:01 EDT
Venus sextile Hades 23:12 EDT
Moon opposition Poseidon 23:52 EDT

April 10
Moon contraparallel Pluto 00:31 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Admetos 01:05 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to True Lunar Node 01:47 EDT
Moon semisquare Hades 02:04 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Venus 02:21 EDT
Sun quintile Kronos in right ascension 02:35 EDT
Moon quincunx Zeus 03:06 EDT
Moon quintile Saturn 03:33 EDT
Moon contraparallel Neptune 03:37 EDT
Moon sextile Uranus 04:15 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Pluto 04:52 EDT
Moon quintile Vulcanus 06:38 EDT
Sun square 05/21/03 Solar Eclipse Antiscion 06:50 EDT
Heliocentric Venus square Heliocentric Saturn 07:34 EDT
Heliocentric Mars quintile Heliocentric Apollon 08:17 EDT
Sun square Saturn 08:36 EDT
Moon quincunx Cupido 08:37 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury biquintile Heliocentric Hades 09:08 EDT
Venus opposition Apollon in right ascension 09:25 EDT
Moon quincunx Jupiter 11:28 EDT
Moon contraparallel Mars 11:31 EDT
Sun parallel Venus 13:04 EDT
Heliocentric Venus quintile Heliocentric Neptune 13:30 EDT
Moon biquintile Zeus 14:02 EDT
Venus sextile Hades in right ascension 14:42 EDT
Moon square Mars 15:27 EDT
Moon parallel Admetos 15:40 EDT
Moon semisquare Kronos 16:32 EDT
Venus square Saturn in right ascension 17:06 EDT
Venus opposition Apollon 17:39 EDT
Moon semisquare Mercury 18:21 EDT
Moon square Neptune 19:01 EDT
Venus crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 20:19 EDT
Moon crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 20:30 EDT
Moon biquintile Pluto 21:21 EDT
Sun sextile Neptune in right ascension 22:13 EDT
Moon biquintile Jupiter 22:23 EDT
Venus semisquare Uranus 23:25 EDT


*****


STOCKS TO WATCH: GMR, HUM, KSU, THO.

General Maritime (GMR)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 01/27/1982; 10:00 a.m.
Trading Strategy: Transiting Jupiter has just made a positive connection with the GMR First-Trade Mars, and is on its way to conjoining the GMR First-Trade Descendant in mid-April and then the GMR First-Trade Apollon in early May. That's all with Jupiter in retrograde motion, of course, so all of those positive dynamics will get repeated before the Fall. And there's more! Transiting Pluto is forming positive semisquare to First-Trade Jupiter, just as transiting Venus is crossing the GMR First-Trade Ascendant this week to make things look even more beautiful. The fourth-harmonic planetary lines for the Sun, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune (G,90,N,0) nicely define the trading structure for this stock; a daily close above the Neptune line at 49.74 or higher would help confirm the positive outlook. Our plan is to add a long position in GMR to the Model Portfolio by mid-week, setting our initial stop at 42.73.


Humana Inc. (HUM)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 05/18/1971; 10:00 a.m.
Trading Strategy: This stock has had a nice price run-up; the question is, can that momentum be sustained? A First-Trade Mars return has helped move things along nicely, with Jupiter's transit to the First-Trade IC and Venus hitting First-Trade Chiron on the Midheaven adding to the positive dynamic. There's even transiting Neptune moving slowly toward the HUM First-Trade True Lunar Node, bringing the possibility of merger or acquisition activity toward the end of the year. On the downside, transiting Chiron will square First-Trade Admetos until early June, and this week's solar eclipse will be in opposition to the HUM First-Trade Poseidon. In balance, though, the outlook appears to be positive, and with this month's Mercury station in opposition to First-Trade Apollon, we expect the price to go even higher. Based on our planetary line analysis of Mars and Jupiter (G,45,N,0), we will add a long position in HUM to the Model Portfolio this week, setting our initial stop on the first-harmonic Mars line at 31.00 on a close-only basis. If trading in HUM penetrates that Mars line to stop us out, we will reverse position and go short, setting our initial buy stop at 34.31.


Kansas City Southern Railroad (KSU)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 11/01/1962; 10:00 a.m.
Trading Strategy: Here's a fairly straightforward astrological picture: in the coming weeks, transiting Jupiter will conjoin the KSU First-Trade Midheaven, conjoin First-Trade Cupido, and then form a semisquare to First-Trade Venus. In addition, transiting Pluto is currently conjunct the First-Trade Moon, and transiting Saturn is picking up speed to release its month-long hold on First-Trade Zeus. KSU is responding to planetary lines for Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn (G,90,N,0), and on Friday it gapped up to blow past a Jupiter line. If there is significant intraday trading above the Saturn line at 20.05 we will enter this trade on the long side, setting our initial stop at 18.63.


Thor Industries, Inc. (THO)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 08/29/1986; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: Jupiter crossing a First-Trade angle is often a signal for a trading top, and we think that's what we are seeing for THO. Jupiter is currently in the position it occupied in mid-December, when THO hit a top. The stock has been in decline since then, and we don't see much relief in sight, especially with Saturn forming a semisquare to the THO First-Trade Sun. Add the fundamental fact that higher fuel prices are likely to have a significant negative impact on Thor's recreational vehicle business, and we are looking at a good candidate for a short sale. We expect to see a brief upward pop in this stock as Venus and the Sun transit the THO First-Trade Descendant early this week; we will use that opportunity to sell THO short, setting our initial buy stop at 33.58.

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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 @ 4/03/2005 12:50:00 AM