FinancialCyclesWeekly.com #0516 -- April 17-23, 02005 with Tim Bost

COMMENT: We noted last week that there was "serious doubt as to whether or not traders would be able to sustain the rally" in equities markets around the globe. The combination of the Solar Eclipse and the Mercury Station was more than enough to send equities into a tailspin, with blue chips turning in their worst week in two years and the Dow Industrials hitting a five-month low. In short, the "resumption of a short-term positive trend" that we forecast last week managed to last exactly one day. After Tuesday's breather, the sell-off began to impact nearly every market sector. And at this point, the technical indicators are massing up the evidence that we will continue to see lower stock prices ahead, most likely into the end of this year or early 2006.


The Financial Cycles Model Portfolio was certainly not exempt from the market mayhem. Even so, our portfolio remains ahead for the year to date, in spite of the fact that the week took its toll on our long positions. The Dow is currently down more than 6% since the first of the year, while the Model Portfolio is up by more than 7%.


The way we see it, a serious and sustained downward correction right now would be a very positive thing. We need to let a little bit of the pressure out of this over-extended market, and more decisively trending prices definitely make for better trading opportunities. The faint of heart would do best to step aside during these conditions, keeping their money on the sidelines until less volatile opportunities present themselves. But more seasoned traders and hard-core speculators are no doubt licking their chops as they anticipate the feast ahead.


ARE YOU READY FOR A PRIVATE ACCOUNT?

Along the way, of course, there's one impact of the current sell-off that we can't afford to ignore: it makes the notion of private Social Security investment accounts a good bit scarier for the few individuals who were applauding President Bush's plan for fixing the program. Note the word "few" here. The President's approval rating had already sunk to a new low prior to the current market decline; it will be interesting to see what effect the current situation has on the public's willingness to accept his call for privatization.


Of course, if the President "concedes" and discards the idea of private accounts, it will most likely be viewed by the media as a major compromise. Nothing could be further from the truth. Mr. Bush's real agenda is to push through a plan to "fix" Social Security, with or without the private accounts. But the numbers just don't add up, at least if you believe the reports of the Congressional Budget Office. Social Security is a long way from a crisis, and "fixing" it now would in all likelihood be little more than a thinly-disguised attempt to embezzle from the trust fund.

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THE WEEK AHEAD

There are a lot of big Dow component stocks issuing earnings reports this week, which sets the stage for major disappointments and more market tension. Watch for news from 3M Company (MMM), Johnson and Johnson (JNJ), Pfizer (PFE), Intel (INTC), Coca-Cola (KO), General Motors (GM), Altria Group (MO), SBC Communications (SBC), J.P. Morgan Chase (JPM), United Technologies (UTX), Honeywell International (HON), Caterpillar (CAT), Merck (MRK) and McDonald's (MCD).

We also have some key economic reports on tap, including March Leading Indicators, March Housing Starts, the March Producer Price Index, the March Consumer Price Index, and the Philadelphia Fed Survey for April. The Fed will also release its Beige Book on regional economic activity and Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan will be in front of the Senate Budget Committee. Watch for fireworks!

Astrologically, we have a Venus/Chiron square and an eclipse trigger on Monday followed by a heliocentric Venus/Mars trine that evening; a solar ingress and an eclipse trigger on Tuesday; and a Mars/Admetos square with Venus squaring Chiron and opposing Poseidon in right ascension on Wednesday. Thursday brings a Void-of-Course Moon throughout the day until just before the closing bell, so we will step aside from active trading that day. On Friday we may see a shift in market energy to a more positive dynamic with Mars trine Apollon as we move into a very powerful weekend--it features a Mars/Pluto sextile, a Venus/Uranus sextile, and a Lunar Eclipse, so short-term traders might be prudent to close out positions by the end of the trading day on Friday.

Have a great week!

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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.

There is nothing we would like to have more right now than a renewed sense of safety and security, but we can only hope to achieve it if we are willing to let go of the artificial boundaries and barriers that we use to separate ourselves from others. By allowing the light of creative imagination into our hearts, we can discover ways of transforming even the most challenging external circumstances.

"It's easier to put on slippers than to carpet the whole world." -- Al Franken

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GLOBAL EQUITIES MARKETS LAST WEEK

The bottom fell out of stock markets around the world last week, with selling pressure pulling all of the world's indices down. The sell-off was particularly strong in Japan and Australia, while in the U.S. transports and tech issues led the rush into negative territory.

Dow Jones Industrial Average -- down 3.57%
Dow Jones Transportation Average -- down 5.94%
Dow Jones Utilities Average -- down 1.48%
S+P 500 -- down 3.27%
NASDAQ Composite Index -- down 4.56%
Russell 2000 -- down 4.91%
London FTSE-100 -- down 1.85%
Paris CAC-40 -- down 2.23%
Frankfurt DAX -- down 2.01%
Sydney All Ordinaries -- down 3.74%
Tokyo Nikkei Index -- down 4.24%
Hong Kong Hang Seng Index -- down 0.20%
Singapore Straits Times Index -- down 1.33%

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FINANCIAL CYCLES MODEL PORTFOLIO


POSITIONS CLOSED DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK: ASCA, EENC, HIBB, STTX, ANN, HUM, KSU, GMR, TWP, MDZ, VDSI.

We closed eleven Model Portfolio positions during the past week, with two winners and nine losers producing a net loss of $3,059.00.

On April 11 we sold 200 shares of Ameristar Casinos Inc. (ASCA) at 54.00, taking a loss of $250.00 (a 2.26% loss in 10 trading days).

On April 11 we sold 500 shares of Enterra Energy Trust (EENC) at 20.70, taking a profit of $100.00 (a 0.98% gain in 10 trading days).

On April 11 we sold 300 shares of Hibbett Sporting Goods (HIBB) at 29.70, taking a loss of $249.00 (a 2.72% loss in 14 trading days).

On April 11 we sold 400 shares of Steel Technologies Inc. (STTX) at 23.20, taking a loss of $320.00 (a 3.33% loss in 8 trading days).

On April 12 we sold 400 shares of Ann Taylor Stores (ANN) at 24.44, taking a loss of $672.00 (a 6.43% loss in 15 trading days).

On April 12 we sold 300 shares of Humana Inc. (HUM) at 33.50, taking a profit of $225.00 (a 2.29% gain in 6 trading days).

On April 13 we sold 500 shares of Kansas City Southern Railroad (KSU) at 19.75, taking a loss of $175.00 (a 1.74% loss in 7 trading days).

On April 14 we sold 200 shares of General Maritime (GMR) at 46.90, taking a loss of $520.00 (a 5.25% loss in 5 trading days).

On April 14 we sold 200 shares of Trex Company Inc. (TWP) at 39.89, taking a loss of $368.00 (a 4.53% loss in 2 trading days).

On April 15 we sold 500 shares of MDS Inc. (MDZ) at 13.98, taking a loss of $300.00 (a 4.12% loss in 3 trading days).

On April 15 we sold 1,000 shares of Vasco Data Security International (VDSI) at 6.69, taking a loss of $530.00 (a 7.34% loss in 3 trading days).

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POSITIONS ADDED TO THE PORTFOLIO DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK: FOSL, MDZ, TWP, VDSI.

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

We bought 400 shares of Fossil Inc. (FOSL) at 25.35 on 04/12/05, setting our initial stop at 24.00.

We bought 500 shares of MDS Inc. (MDZ) at 14.58 on 04/12/05, setting our initial stop at 14.05.

We bought 200 shares of Trex Company Inc. (TWP) at 41.73 on 04/12/05, setting our initial stop at 39.89.

We bought 1,000 shares of Vasco Data Security International (VDSI) at 7.22 on 04/12/05, setting our initial stop at 6.80.

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YEAR-IN-REVIEW MODEL PORTFOLIO ACTIVITY

So far this year we have had a total of 68 completed trades, with 23 winners and 45 losers bringing us a total net profit of $7,447.00. The largest profit for a single trade has been $2,875.00, with our winners averaging $833.57; the largest single-trade loss has been $956.00, with our losers averaging $306.67. The overall average profit per trade has been $109.51, and the mean duration of our trades has been 10.6 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

Fossil Inc. (FOSL) -- bought 400 shares at 25.35 on 04/12/05; currently 24.51. Raise stop to 24.10.

Thor Industries, Inc. (THO) -- sold short 400 shares at 31.00 on 04/06/05; currently 26.93. Lower buy stop to 28.90.

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STRONGEST MARKET SECTORS LAST WEEK

Major Drug Manufacturers; Biotechnology; Diversified Industrial REITs; Retail REITs; Drug Delivery.

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WEAKEST MARKET SECTORS LAST WEEK

Recreational Vehicles; Printed Circuit Boards; Personal Computers; Steel and Iron; Industrial Metals and Minerals.

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

April 17
Mars quincunx Saturn in right ascension 00:22 EDT
Moon biquintile Uranus 00:12 EDT
Heliocentric Venus in 24th Harmonic to Heliocentric Admetos 01:24 EDT
Heliocentric Venus sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Pluto 01:40 EDT
Heliocentric Earth square Heliocentric Saturn 02:03 EDT
Moon quintile Admetos 02:17 EDT
Venus enters Taurus in right ascension 04:34 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Saturn 05:26 EDT
Moon square Poseidon 06:39 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Uranus 06:42 EDT
Moon parallel Kronos 07:28 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Vulcanus 08:18 EDT
Moon semisquare Hades 09:26 EDT
Moon sextile Zeus 10:11 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th Harmonic to Heliocentric Pluto 11:07 EDT
Venus quintile Mars 11:49 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Pluto 12:14 EDT
Moon quincunx Uranus 12:21 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Vulcanus 14:19 EDT
Heliocentric Venus quincunx Heliocentric Zeus 14:49 EDT
Moon parallel Hades 15:36 EDT
Mercury sextile Chiron 15:37 EDT
Moon trine Cupido 16:20 EDT
Moon quintile Apollon 17:02 EDT
Moon parallel Saturn 17:39 EDT
Moon sextile Jupiter 17:50 EDT
Heliocentric Venus semisquare Heliocentric Hades 18:29 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Zeus 18:44 EDT
Moon parallel Vulcanus 19:53 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Apollon 19:55 EDT
Moon contraparallel Cupido 22:07 EDT

April 18
Heliocentric Mercury quincunx Heliocentric Venus 00:10 EDT
Venus sextile Kronos in right ascension 00:50 EDT
Moon semisquare Kronos 01:20 EDT
Heliocentric Earth quintile Heliocentric Mars 02:44 EDT
Sun semisquare Uranus in right ascension 02:47 EDT
Venus square Chiron 03:17 EDT
Pluto quincunx Vulcanus in right ascension 03:46 EDT
Moon opposition Neptune 04:12 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Mercury 06:08 EDT
Mercury sextile Chiron in right ascension 06:39 EDT
Heliocentric Mars semisextile Heliocentric Cupido 07:41 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury conjunct Heliocentric Cupido 10:06 EDT
Mercury semisextile Venus 10:10 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Mars 10:46 EDT
Moon opposition Mars 11:25 EDT
Moon semisextile Saturn 11:42 EDT
Heliocentric Earth square Heliocentric Chiron 12:11 EDT
Jupiter parallel Zeus 13:09 EDT
Sun square 11/23/03 Solar Eclipse Antiscion 13:18 EDT
Moon parallel Admetos 14:07 EDT
Moon semisextile Vulcanus 14:26 EDT
Moon square Admetos 14:30 EDT
Moon trine True Lunar Node 15:03 EDT
Moon sextile Hades 15:34 EDT
Moon semisquare Zeus 16:15 EDT
Mars quincunx Saturn 16:22 EDT
Moon sextile Apollon 17:03 EDT
Heliocentric Venus quincunx Heliocentric Cupido 17:17 EDT
Moon crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 17:32 EDT
Venus quintile Neptune in right ascension 17:48 EDT
Moon trine Pluto 18:17 EDT
Moon quintile Poseidon 18:44 EDT
Mars parallel Neptune 22:11 EDT
Heliocentric Venus trine Heliocentric Mars 22:50 EDT
Moon semisquare Jupiter 23:32 EDT

April 19
Moon biquintile Mercury 00:52 EDT
Mars sextile Pluto in right ascension 01:56 EDT
Mars quincunx Vulcanus in right ascension 02:24 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Saturn 03:07 EDT
Sun quintile Neptune 03:34 EDT
Moon contraparallel Neptune 03:44 EDT
Moon contraparallel Mars 04:00 EDT
Moon trine Sun 04:12 EDT
Void-of-Course Moon 04:12-05:26 EDT
Heliocentric Venus quintile Heliocentric Vulcanus 04:14 EDT
Jupiter crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 05:10 EDT
Moon enters Virgo 05:26 EDT
Moon contraparallel Pluto 07:06 EDT
Moon sextile Kronos 07:15 EDT
Mercury quincunx Poseidon in right ascension 07:56 EDT
Moon quincunx Chiron 11:28 EDT
Moon quincunx Mercury 13:18 EDT
Moon contraparallel Poseidon 13:19 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Chiron 14:47 EDT
Moon trine Venus 15:02 EDT
Sun conjunct 04/19/04 Solar Eclipse Point 15:06 EDT
Moon quintile Hades 15:21 EDT
Moon semisquare Saturn 17:33 EDT
Moon contraparallel Chiron 18:00 EDT
Moon sextile Poseidon 18:26 EDT
Moon parallel Venus 19:13 EDT
Sun enters Taurus 19:37 EDT
Moon semisquare Vulcanus 20:06 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate True Lunar Node 20:44 EDT
Moon semisextile Zeus 21:51 EDT
Moon semisquare Apollon 22:38 EDT
Moon biquintile Chiron 23:16 EDT
Moon parallel Sun 23:19 EDT

April 20
Moon opposition Uranus 00:12 EDT
Heliocentric Earth in 24th Harmonic to Heliocentric Jupiter 00:57 EDT
Venus biquintile Cupido 01:19 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Jupiter 03:46 EDT
Moon square Cupido 03:48 EDT
Moon semisextile Jupiter 04:45 EDT
Heliocentric Earth semisquare Heliocentric Mercury 05:12 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Neptune 06:28 EDT
Mercury semisquare Neptune in right ascension 06:35 EDT
Moon quintile Kronos 06:47 EDT
Venus square Chiron in right ascension 08:44 EDT
Moon contraparallel Apollon 09:22 EDT
Venus contraparallel Chiron 09:45 EDT
Moon parallel True Lunar Node 10:53 EDT
Moon contraparallel Uranus 11:42 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Sun 12:05 EDT
Mars quincunx Vulcanus 13:24 EDT
Venus biquintile Cupido in right ascension 13:45 EDT
Moon biquintile True Lunar Node 14:14 EDT
Mars square Admetos 15:18 EDT
Moon quincunx Neptune 15:22 EDT
Mercury semisquare Admetos in right ascension 16:07 EDT
Moon crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 16:35 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Chiron 16:45 EDT
Sun sextile Kronos 18:27 EDT
Venus opposition Poseidon in right ascension 19:15 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury biquintile Heliocentric Vulcanus 20:58 EDT
Moon sextile Saturn 22:44 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Venus 23:21 EDT
Moon semisquare Poseidon 23:27 EDT

April 21
Venus opposition Poseidon 00:27 EDT
Mars sextile True Lunar Node 00:31 EDT
Moon sextile Vulcanus 01:07 EDT
Moon trine Admetos 01:14 EDT
Moon quincunx True Lunar Node 01:45 EDT
Moon quincunx Mars 01:50 EDT
Moon square Hades 02:15 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Zeus 02:47 EDT
Moon biquintile Neptune 02:53 EDT
Jupiter quincunx Uranus in right ascension 03:27 EDT
Moon semisextile Apollon 03:34 EDT
Moon square Pluto 04:44 EDT
Void-of-Course Moon 04:44-15:26 EDT
Moon biquintile Sun 06:48 EDT
Heliocentric Venus biquintile Heliocentric Zeus 08:52 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Jupiter 09:17 EDT
Mars trine Hades 09:20 EDT
Moon contraparallel Zeus 09:45 EDT
Moon contraparallel Jupiter 10:11 EDT
Heliocentric Earth trine Heliocentric Kronos 13:27 EDT
Moon biquintile Mars 13:55 EDT
Moon quintile Cupido 14:15 EDT
Moon enters Libra 15:26 EDT
Moon square Kronos 17:12 EDT
Mars sesquiquadrate Zeus 18:02 EDT
Moon biquintile Venus 18:16 EDT
Heliocentric Venus quincunx Heliocentric Jupiter 18:32 EDT
Venus in 24th harmonic to Admetos 18:42 EDT
Moon quincunx Sun 19:04 EDT
Mars quintile Cupido 19:42 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Neptune 19:55 EDT
Heliocentric Venus quintile Heliocentric Saturn 20:56 EDT
Moon trine Chiron 21:16 EDT
Heliocentric Venus square Heliocentric Neptune 21:29 EDT
Moon quintile Saturn 21:33 EDT
Moon parallel Mercury 22:11 EDT
Moon quintile Vulcanus 23:47 EDT

April 22
Venus in 24th harmonic to True Lunar Node 00:03 EDT
Sun enters Taurus in right ascension 01:18 EDT
Mars parallel Pluto 01:39 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Zeus 03:39 EDT
Moon opposition Mercury 02:02 EDT
Moon semisextile Poseidon 03:44 EDT
Venus semisquare Hades 05:14 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Admetos 05:32 EDT
Moon quincunx Venus 06:39 EDT
Moon conjunct Zeus 06:58 EDT
Mars trine Apollon 07:14 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Apollon 07:43 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Mars 07:45 EDT
Moon quincunx Uranus 09:27 EDT
Venus quincunx Zeus 09:56 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Poseidon 10:45 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury biquintile Heliocentric Saturn 10:52 EDT
Moon parallel Jupiter 11:08 EDT
Moon parallel Zeus 11:43 EDT
Moon sextile Cupido 12:36 EDT
Moon conjunct Jupiter 13:04 EDT
Moon crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 13:47 EDT
Moon quintile Pluto 14:23 EDT
Heliocentric Venus semisquare Heliocentric Kronos 14:50 EDT
Venus contraparallel Poseidon 17:03 EDT
Heliocentric Venus biquintile Heliocentric Pluto 17:04 EDT
Mercury semisextile Venus in right ascension 18:13 EDT
Moon biquintile Uranus 20:31 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury quincunx Heliocentric Admetos 22:00 EDT
Moon biquintile Admetos 22:06 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury conjunct Heliocentric Pluto 22:23 EDT
Moon trine Neptune 23:41 EDT

April 23
Sun square Chiron 00:45 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury quincunx Heliocentric Vulcanus 01:22 EDT
Mars sextile Pluto 03:09 EDT
Sun sextile Kronos in right ascension 03:59 EDT
Venus sesquiquadrate Pluto 05:33 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury biquintile Heliocentric Venus 05:46 EDT
Venus quintile Saturn 05:48 EDT
Mercury quincunx Poseidon 06:00 EDT
Moon square Saturn 06:50 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Apollon 06:59 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Poseidon 07:15 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury opposition Heliocentric Hades 07:59 EDT
Moon parallel Uranus 08:34 EDT
Moon square Vulcanus 08:52 EDT
Moon quincunx Admetos 09:01 EDT
True Lunar Node retrograde station 09:24 EDT
Moon opposition True Lunar Node 09:29 EDT
Moon contraparallel True Lunar Node 09:32 EDT
Sun contraparallel Chiron 09:33 EDT
Moon trine Hades 09:59 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Zeus 10:22 EDT
Moon parallel Apollon 10:52 EDT
Moon conjunct Apollon 11:06 EDT
Moon sextile Pluto 12:12 EDT
Moon trine Mars 12:44 EDT
Void-of-Course Moon 12:44-22:24 EDT
Venus sextile Uranus 12:51 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Uranus 12:53 EDT
Venus semisquare Hades in right ascension 13:12 EDT
Venus quincunx Zeus in right ascension 14:57 EDT
Mars in 24th harmonic to Uranus 15:41 EDT
Moon semisquare Cupido 15:51 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Jupiter 16:07 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Uranus 20:22 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th Harmonic to Heliocentric Cupido 21:14 EDT
Moon enters Scorpio 22:24 EDT

April 24
Moon trine Kronos 00:06 EDT
Heliocentric Mars in 24th Harmonic to Heliocentric Chiron 00:27 EDT
Moon parallel Chiron 00:50 EDT
Mercury opposition Zeus in right ascension 01:18 EDT
Moon contraparallel Sun 01:47 EDT
Sun quintile Neptune in right ascension 02:01 EDT
Venus quintile Vulcanus 03:50 EDT
Moon square Chiron 04:01 EDT
Moon parallel Poseidon 05:06 EDT
Full Moon Lunar Eclipse 05:55 EDT
Moon opposition Sun 06:06 EDT
Heliocentric Venus quintile Heliocentric Uranus 06:59 EDT
Moon contraparallel Venus 08:02 EDT
Moon parallel Mars 08:35 EDT
Moon crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 09:03 EDT
Moon conjunct Poseidon 10:01 EDT
Mercury semisquare Admetos 10:30 EDT
Moon parallel Pluto 10:47 EDT
Moon quincunx Mercury 11:54 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Hades 12:45 EDT
Venus contraparallel Mars 12:57 EDT
Moon semisextile Zeus 13:04 EDT
Moon parallel Neptune 13:41 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Apollon 13:47 EDT
Heliocentric Jupiter trine Heliocentric Neptune 14:10 EDT
Moon semisquare Pluto 14:52 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Jupiter 15:18 EDT
Moon trine Uranus 15:38 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury quincunx Heliocentric Saturn 15:43 EDT
Mercury in 24th harmonic to True Lunar Node 17:00 EDT
Moon opposition Venus 18:13 EDT
Moon semisextile Cupido 18:26 EDT
Moon semisextile Jupiter 18:30 EDT
Venus quincunx Cupido 20:31 EDT
Venus quincunx Jupiter 21:08 EDT
Moon biquintile Mercury 23:09 EDT


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STOCKS TO WATCH: BOW, CW, HUM, LNC, WNC.

Bowater Inc. (BOW)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 05/17/1984; 10:0 a.m.
Trading Strategy: BOW made a significant low on a Lunar Eclipse last October; there's another Lunar Eclipse coming up within a week, and this stock has just below its October low. In our book that justifies a short sale; we'll enter this trade early in the week, setting our initial buy stop at 35.25.


Curtis-Wright Corporation (CW)
NYSE
First Trade Date: 08/22/1929; 10:00 a.m.
Trading Strategy: On four occasions since last fall, CW has tried and failed to break through resistance provided by a Uranus line (G,24,N,-1), and it has just closed below a lower increment of the same line. With Jupiter moving away from the CW First-Trade Ascendant into the twelfth house, and with transiting Mercury getting ready to hit the CW First-Trade conjunction of Hades, Admetos, and Uranus, we plan to sell this stock short this week. We will set our initial buy stop at 60.75 and then trail it tightly, since we wouldn't be surprised to see this stock reverse back sharply to the upside in May.


Humana Inc. (HUM)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 05/18/1971; 10:00 a.m.
Trading Strategy: We successfully traded HUM on the long side recently; now it's time for a short position. Jupiter is in retrograde motion, moving away from the HUM First-Trade IC, while transiting Saturn is closing in to form a square to the HUM First-Trade Cupido. With transiting Neptune conjoining the First-Trade True Lunar Node there may be some strong speculative energy associated with this stock in the next few weeks. Our plan is to sell HUM short early this week; we will set our initial buy stop at 35.25.


Lincoln National Corporation (LNC)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 08/20/1969; 10:00 a.m.
Trading Strategy: LNC has been showing a lot of weakness lately, but it has an interesting astro-trading history. Last October LNC hit a significant low right between a Solar Eclipse and a Lunar Eclipse, and then began to move up sharply in price. We're in a similar context right now, but in the current situation Jupiter is applying to an exact conjunction with the LNC First-Trade Ascendant, while Saturn is pulling away from its recent meeting with First-Trade Venus and Neptune is applying to a trine with First-Trade Poseidon. In short, we have reason to believe that this stock may snap out of its current decline, so we plan to add a long position to the Model Portfolio early this week. We will set our initial stop at 40.50.


Wabash National Corporation (WNC)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 11/08/1991; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: WNC has been getting support from an eighth-harmonic Jupiter line (G,45,N,0), but in last week's trading it began to challenge that support. That factor, combined with the fact that Jupiter's current transit to the First-Trade MC has failed to produce a price pop and with the added dynamic of transiting Mars squaring First-Trade Pluto, all leads us to believe that the short side would be the most profitable with this stock. We will sell WNC short early this week, setting our initial buy stop at 25.70.

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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 @ 4/17/2005 12:35:00 AM