FinancialCyclesWeekly.com #0519 -- May 8-14, 02005 with Tim Bost

COMMENT: Last week we noted that "despite the likelihood of treacherous trading conditions and sharp declines early this week, we are anticipating a fairly decisive shift into a short-term rally in U.S. equities as we work our way into the weekend." That's exactly what proved to be the case. Stocks managed to post some respectable gains by the end of a choppy week, in spite of yet another interest rate increase from the Fed and some mixed reports on the economic front.


"Mixed reports" means a bad news/good news situation. Of course the biggest good news was the fact that a lot of new jobs were created in the U.S. economy last month, some 240,000 of them according to the numbers released by the government. That figure was a good bit higher than most of the pundits had predicted, and the markets obviously loved it. As one of the most widely watched economic indicators, the jobs number not only gives succor and support to those who are optimistically see a bright new dawn ahead after a long night of frustrations and disappointments; it also gives us no reason to suspect that Mr. Greenspan and his friends at the Fed will relent from their program of interest rate hikes.


There are, however, a few concerns that this amazingly rosy job creation number raises. First, there didn't seem to be much impact on the unemployment figures, in spite of a lot of new jobs being added. In other words, a lot more jobs are still needed to put everyone back to work. Secondly, the jobs that were created were primarily in the health care and food service areas, so they weren't especially lucrative employment opportunities. And finally it's quite likely that the numbers released on Friday will undergo a revision before the next month's figures are released.


ON THE ROAD AGAIN?

There's much to explore in the recent market mutterings about General Motors. Along with Ford, GM was downgraded by Standard and Poor's last week; both companies now officially have junk status. Add to that the lousy earnings reports and the move by billionaire Kirk Kerkorian to acquire more GM stock at premium prices, and you have the makings of a real Wall Street soap opera!

What's been largely overlooked, however, is that the GM story is really one of a health care crisis. One of the big reasons the company is in such deep doo-doo now is that it has commitments, not only to big pension plans, but also to providing health care for its current and former employees. The costs of this kind of benefit package aren't going down, of course, and with a big company like GM the employees tend to regard it as essentially some sort of entitlement program. If the company was actually building automobiles that were in demand, or at least as much in demand as the products put on the market by the likes of Hyundai, Toyota, and Kia, it might be a bit easier to pay for the costly benefits, but that isn't happening either.


TAKE ANOTHER DEEP BREATH

Last week we suggested that the best strategy for traders in this current market was "to keep meditating regularly, to take lots of deep breaths during the trading day, and to stay very, very alert." Apparently this was extremely good advice. It was echoed in this week's issue of Barron's (May 9), which reports that Transcendental Meditation has been shown to be an effective prevention modality for hypertension and heart disease, and can thus increase longevity. The publication notes that the TM "technique may have other fringe benefits, including helping some traders improve their performance."

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THE WEEK AHEAD

This week we will be watching for earnings reports from Atmos Energy (ATO), Cisco Systems (CSCO), Fossil (FOSL), Disney (DIS), May Department Stores (MAY), Federated Department Stores (FD), Wal-Mart Stores (WMT), Dell Inc. (DELL), Target Corporation (TGT), American Eagle Outfitters (AEOS), Urban Outfitters (URBN), Pacific Sunwear of California (PSUN), and Tiffany and Company (TIF).


On the economic front, we'll expect to see reports on March Wholesale Inventories, March International Trade, March Business Inventories, and April Retail Sales, as well as the preliminary May figures on Consumer Sentiment from the University of Michigan. The Bank of England will be making an interest rate announcement on Monday, and two Federal Reserve presidents (Thomas Hoenig of Kansas City and Richard Fisher of Dallas) will be making public remarks on Tuesday.


The astrological calendar includes an intraday void-of-course Moon on Wednesday (watch for choppy, congested trading) and another lunar void on Friday afternoon, giving us an excuse to start the weekend early. Venus and Mercury both change zodiac signs this week, so be on the alert for shifts in trend.


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.


Because we are perpetually surrounded by such amazing abundance in our lives, at times it may be difficult for us to comprehend its true dimensions, much less respond with appropriate levels of appreciation and gratitude. However, if we use this opportunity to purify our awareness and step outside of our ego limitations, we will soon remember that life provides us with everything we need to move forward boldly and claim new victories.


"You must learn day by day, year by year, to broaden your horizon. The more things you love, the more you are interested in, the more you enjoy, the more you are indignant about, the more you have left when anything happens." -- Ethel Barrymore

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GLOBAL EQUITIES MARKETS LAST WEEK

Right on schedule, stock markets in all corners of the world reversed direction last week and moved back into positive territory. Only the Dow Utilities and the All Ordinaries Index in Sydney showed any sign of weakness.

Dow Jones Industrial Average -- up 1.50%
Dow Jones Transportation Average -- up 3.13%
Dow Jones Utilities Average -- down 1.77%
S+P 500 -- up 1.25%
NASDAQ Composite Index -- up 2.38%
Russell 2000 -- up 2.96%
London FTSE-100 -- up 2.44%
Paris CAC-40 -- up 3.11%
Frankfurt DAX -- up 3.02%
Sydney All Ordinaries -- down 0.08%
Tokyo Nikkei Index -- up 1.66%
Hong Kong Hang Seng Index -- up 0.90%
Singapore Straits Times Index -- up 1.69%

*****


FINANCIAL CYCLES MODEL PORTFOLIO


POSITION CLOSED DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK: WWCA, TXU.

We closed two Model Portfolio positions during the past week, with two losers producing a net loss of $667.00.

On May 3 we sold 300 shares of Western Wireless Corporation Class A (WWCA) at 38.17, taking a loss of $303.00 (a 2.58% loss in 2 trading days).

On May 5 we sold 100 shares of TXU Corporation (TXU) at 78.25, taking a loss of $364.00 (a 4.44% loss in 2 trading days).

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POSITIONS ADDED TO THE PORTFOLIO DURING THE PREVIOUS WEEK: CNXS, CYN, EFX, TXU.

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

We bought 500 shares of C N S Inc. (CNXS) at 18.86 on 05/03/05, setting our initial stop at 13.95.

We bought 100 shares of City National Corporation (CYN) at 71.04 on 05/03/05, setting our initial stop at 66.75.

We bought 300 shares of Equifax Inc. (EFX) at 34.49 on 05/03/05, setting our initial stop at 29.50.

We bought 100 shares of TXU Corporation (TXU) at 81.89 on 05/03/05, setting our initial stop at 78.25.

*****


YEAR-IN-REVIEW MODEL PORTFOLIO ACTIVITY

So far this year we have had a total of 75 completed trades, with 24 winners and 51 losers bringing us a total net profit of $5,242.00. The largest profit for a single trade has been $2,875.00, with our winners averaging $833.83; the largest single-trade loss has been $956.00, with our losers averaging $329.90. The overall average profit per trade has been $69.89, and the mean duration of our trades has been 10.1 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

Bowater Inc. (BOW) -- sold short 300 shares at 33.41 on 04/18/05; currently 32.56. Lower buy stop to 33.35.

Carbo Ceramics Inc. (CRR) -- sold short 100 shares at 66.43 on 04/29/05; currently 69.88. Lower buy stop to 70.40.

CB Richard Ellis Services (CBG) -- bought 300 shares at 35.08 on 04/25/05; currently 34.38. Raise stop to 33.98.

C N S Inc. (CNXS) -- bought 500 shares at 18.86 on 05/03/05; currently 19.00. Raise stop to 18.46.

City National Corporation (CYN) -- bought 100 shares at 71.04 on 05/03/05; currently 70.36. Raise stop to 69.20.

Equifax Inc. (EFX) -- bought at 34.49 on 05/03/05; currently 34.80. Raise stop to 33.64.

Lincoln National Corporation (LNC) -- bought 200 shares at 42.78 on 04/18/05; currently 43.44. Raise stop to 42.98.

SRA International Inc. (SRX) -- bought 100 shares at 67.79 on 04/25/05; currently 64.90. Raise stop to 62.99.


*****

STRONGEST MARKET SECTORS LAST WEEK

Security Software and Services; Wholesale Industrial Equipment; Department Stores; Nonmetallic Mineral Mining; Technical Services.

*****

WEAKEST MARKET SECTORS LAST WEEK

Long Distance Carriers; Education and Training Services; Generic Drugs; Computer Peripherals; Research Services.

*****


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

May 8
Moon parallel Admetos 00:46 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Uranus 00:58 EDT
Moon biquintile Jupiter 01:29 EDT
Moon semisquare Kronos 01:32 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury biquintile Heliocentric Kronos 02:25 EDT
Moon quintile Mars 03:33 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury semisquare Heliocentric Pluto 03:58 EDT
Moon square Neptune 04:13 EDT
New Moon 04:45 EDT
Moon crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 05:01 EDT
Moon biquintile Pluto 05:08 EDT
Moon parallel Venus 06:08 EDT
Mercury crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 06:57 EDT
Mercury trine Pluto 07:59 EDT
Heliocentric Earth biquintile Heliocentric Hades 08:07 EDT
Sun crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 08:14 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Zeus 09:43 EDT
Sun biquintile Pluto 09:46 EDT
Mercury conjunct 10/17/2005 Lunar Eclipse Point 10:30 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Hades 11:34 EDT
Moon quintile Uranus 12:51 EDT
Moon sextile Saturn 13:10 EDT
Heliocentric Mars semisquare Heliocentric Uranus 13:16 EDT
Moon sextile Vulcanus 13:29 EDT
Moon semisextile True Lunar Node 13:44 EDT
Moon conjunct Admetos 13:54 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Zeus 14:33 EDT
Moon contraparallel Cupido 14:56 EDT
Moon semisextile Hades 14:58 EDT
Moon quincunx Apollon 15:19 EDT
Sun biquintile Jupiter in right ascension 15:32 EDT
Moon quincunx Pluto 16:18 EDT
Heliocentric Venus biquintile Heliocentric Poseidon 16:48 EDT
Moon parallel Vulcanus 17:10 EDT
Moon semisextile Mercury 17:23 EDT
Mercury trine Pluto in right ascension 18:08 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Jupiter 18:08 EDT
Moon parallel Saturn 18:17 EDT
Chiron retrograde station in right ascension 20:07 EDT
Moon parallel Hades 21:30 EDT
Chiron retrograde station 21:49 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Cupido 22:31 EDT
Mercury square Saturn in right ascension 23:53 EDT

May 9
Heliocentric Mars trine Heliocentric Admetos 01:01 EDT
Moon conjunct Venus 01:16 EDT
Void-of-Course Moon 01:16-03:29 EDT
Sun semisquare Kronos in right ascension 01:28 EDT
Heliocentric Venus semisquare Heliocentric Saturn 01:48 EDT
Mercury square Vulcanus in right ascension 01:50 EDT
Moon biquintile Apollon 02:34 EDT
Mercury semisquare Uranus 02:55 EDT
Moon enters Gemini 03:29 EDT
Mars quintile Admetos in right ascension 03:30 EDT
Moon parallel Kronos 04:53 EDT
Moon semisextile Kronos 05:36 EDT
Heliocentric Mars semisextile Heliocentric Pluto 05:43 EDT
Mars crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 05:48 EDT
Mars quintile Pluto 07:16 EDT
Moon trine Chiron 09:42 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Sun 11:13 EDT
Venus biquintile Apollon 14:46 EDT
Moon square Mars 15:24 EDT
Moon quincunx Poseidon 15:36 EDT
Heliocentric Mars opposition Heliocentric Vulcanus 16:17 EDT
Heliocentric Venus sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Chiron 16:20 EDT
Mercury sesquiquadrate Cupido 16:25 EDT
Moon semisquare Saturn 17:39 EDT
Moon semisquare Vulcanus 17:48 EDT
Moon semisquare True Lunar Node 17:55 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Admetos 18:15 EDT
Mars trine Poseidon 18:47 EDT
Moon trine Zeus 18:51 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Hades 19:21 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Apollon 19:39 EDT
Moon trine Jupiter 22:24 EDT
Venus biquintile Apollon in right ascension 22:54 EDT
Moon square Uranus 22:59 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th Harmonic to Heliocentric Chiron 23:43 EDT

May 10
Venus enters Gemini 00:14 EDT
Moon opposition Cupido 00:32 EDT
Moon semisquare Mercury 01:40 EDT
Moon crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 02:20 EDT
Moon biquintile Poseidon 03:04 EDT
Venus square 4/19/2004 Solar Eclipse Antiscion 03:48 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Venus 06:03 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Venus 08:58 EDT
Saturn conjunct Vulcanus in right ascension 09:44 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury conjunct Heliocentric Neptune 10:19 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Kronos 10:19 EDT
Moon trine Neptune 13:06 EDT
True Lunar Node square Vulcanus 13:30 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Chiron 14:28 EDT
Heliocentric Venus trine Heliocentric Neptune 15:14 EDT
Saturn square True Lunar Node 16:22 EDT
Sun biquintile Pluto in right ascension 17:31 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Kronos 17:41 EDT
Heliocentric Mars square Heliocentric Apollon 17:57 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Jupiter 17:59 EDT
Moon semisextile Sun 18:27 EDT
Saturn conjunct Vulcanus 19:34 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Poseidon 20:28 EDT
Moon sextile True Lunar Node 22:42 EDT
Venus semisextile Kronos 22:44 EDT
Moon semisextile Vulcanus 22:46 EDT
Moon semisextile Saturn 22:47 EDT
Mars square Cupido in right ascension 23:05 EDT
Heliocentric Mars quincunx Heliocentric Hades 23:13 EDT
Moon semisextile Admetos 23:14 EDT

May 11
Venus opposition 11/13/2003 Solar Eclipse Point 00:18 EDT
Moon conjunct Hades 00:22 EDT
Mars quincunx Jupiter in right ascension 00:29 EDT
Mercury semisquare Uranus in right ascension 00:29 EDT
Moon trine Apollon 00:36 EDT
Moon opposition Pluto 01:36 EDT
Mercury contraparallel Uranus 05:16 EDT
Heliocentric Venus in 24th Harmonic to Heliocentric Kronos 07:20 EDT
Mars semisquare True Lunar Node 07:30 EDT
Moon biquintile Chiron 08:00 EDT
Heliocentric Venus trine Heliocentric Jupiter 08:39 EDT
Mars sesquiquadrate Vulcanus 09:40 EDT
Mercury square 11/23/2003 Solar Eclipse Antiscion 10:30 EDT
Moon sextile Mercury 10:59 EDT
Void-of-Course Moon 10:59-13:21 EDT
Pluto crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 11:00 EDT
Mars sesquiquadrate Saturn 11:20 EDT
Heliocentric Jupiter biquintile Heliocentric Admetos 12:23 8:00
Moon enters Cancer 13:21 EDT
Moon conjunct Kronos 15:38 EDT
Venus enters Gemini in right ascension 17:05 EDT
Moon semisextile Venus 17:30 EDT
Mercury parallel True Lunar Node 18:00 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Neptune 18:26 EDT
Moon quincunx Chiron 19:49 EDT
Jupiter sextile Cupido in right ascension 21:26 EDT
Moon quintile True Lunar Node 22:07 EDT
Mercury quintile Neptune 22:58 EDT

May 12
Heliocentric Earth in 24th Harmonic to Heliocentric Poseidon 00:13 EDT
Moon crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 01:12 EDT
Moon trine Poseidon 01:55 EDT
Mercury conjunct 04/19/2004 Solar Eclipse Point 02:24 EDT
Moon semisquare Sun 02:27 EDT
Heliocentric Earth square Heliocentric Mercury 02:29 EDT
Mars quincunx Zeus 02:52 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Vulcanus 04:18 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Saturn 04:30 EDT
Moon semisquare Admetos 04:48 EDT
Mercury enters Taurus 05:14 EDT
Moon square Zeus 05:19 EDT
Moon trine Mars 05:28 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Hades 05:57 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Cupido 08:31 EDT
Mercury contraparallel Apollon 08:41 EDT
Moon square Jupiter 08:41 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th Harmonic to Heliocentric Uranus 08:43 EDT
Moon trine Uranus 09:46 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury square Heliocentric Admetos 10:26 EDT
Moon quincunx Cupido 11:10 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury sextile Heliocentric Pluto 11:19 EDT
Moon biquintile Neptune 12:18 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury quincunx Heliocentric Vulcanus 12:57 EDT
Moon quintile Mercury 14:20 EDT
Venus trine Chiron 16:16 EDT
Mars sesquiquadrate Apollon 16:17 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Zeus 16:20 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Apollon 17:07 EDT
Venus semisextile Kronos in right ascension 17:13 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Hades 17:59 EDT
Heliocentric Venus biquintile Heliocentric Mars 18:27 EDT
Sun quintile Uranus 19:41 EDT
Sun semisextile True Lunar Node 20:54 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Kronos 21:28 EDT
Mercury sextile Kronos 22:48 EDT
Moon biquintile Cupido 23:08 EDT
Sun square Neptune in right ascension 23:31 EDT
Mercury enters Taurus in right ascension 23:53 EDT

May 13
Moon quincunx Neptune 00:18 EDT
Sun sextile Vulcanus 01:48 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Mars 02:17 EDT
Moon semisquare Venus 02:46 EDT
Mars conjunct 10/14/2004 Solar Eclipse Antiscion 06:13 EDT
Sun sextile Saturn 06:29 EDT
Sun conjunct Admetos 08:20 EDT
Sun conjunct Admetos in right ascension 08:21 EDT
Heliocentric Earth opposition Heliocentric Admetos 08:28 EDT
Sun parallel Admetos 09:27 EDT
Moon square True Lunar Node 09:51 EDT
Moon conjunct Vulcanus 10:19 EDT
Moon conjunct Saturn 10:43 EDT
Moon sextile Admetos 10:51 EDT
Moon sextile Sun 11:04 EDT
Void-of-Course Moon begins 11:04 EDT
Heliocentric Earth semisextile Heliocentric Pluto 11:54 EDT
Moon semisextile Hades 12:02 EDT
Moon square Apollon 12:07 EDT
Mercury contraparallel Mars 12:08 EDT
Heliocentric Mars semisquare Heliocentric Cupido 12:27 EDT
Moon quincunx Pluto 13:06 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Mars 13:25 EDT
Sun sesquiquadrate Zeus 13:59 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Uranus 15:54 EDT
Venus contraparallel Cupido 17:03 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Cupido 17:12 EDT
Moon quintile Zeus 17:20 EDT
Heliocentric Earth trine Heliocentric Vulcanus 18:02 EDT
Mercury sextile Kronos in right ascension 20:23 EDT
Mars square 05/31/2003 Solar Eclipse Point 20:38 EDT
Moon quintile Jupiter 20:35 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury quincunx Heliocentric Saturn 21:30 EDT
Sun semisextile Hades 23:14 EDT

May 14
Sun quincunx Apollon 00:02 EDT
Moon biquintile Pluto 01:10 EDT
Moon enters Leo 01:17 EDT
Moon crossing Universal Clock 24 Line 01:17 EDT
Void-of-Course Moon ends 01:17 EDT.
Heliocentric Mercury semisextile Heliocentric Chiron 03:01 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury biquintile Heliocentric Vulcanus 03:10 EDT
Moon semisextile Kronos 03:42 EDT
Mercury square Chiron 05:24 EDT
Heliocentric Venus sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Poseidon 06:54 EDT
Mars quincunx Jupiter 06:55 EDT
Saturn sextile Admetos 07:02 EDT
Heliocentric Earth semisquare Heliocentric Zeus 07:07 EDT
Moon opposition Chiron 07:53 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury enters Pisces 08:00 EDT
Moon square Mercury 08:18 EDT
Mercury quintile Neptune in right ascension 08:20 EDT
Moon biquintile Mars 08:45 EDT
Moon biquintile Uranus 10:06 EDT
Heliocentric Earth semisextile Heliocentric Apollon 10:10 EDT
Moon quintile Admetos 11:05 EDT
Sun quincunx Pluto 11:40 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury in 24th Harmonic to Heliocentric Neptune 12:16 EDT
Moon sextile Venus 12:29 EDT
Moon quintile Sun 13:25 EDT
Heliocentric Earth quincunx Heliocentric Hades 13:35 EDT
Moon square Poseidon 14:06 EDT
Moon parallel Kronos 14:49 EDT
Sun quincunx Apollon in right ascension 15:25 EDT
Mars conjunct Uranus in right ascension 16:28 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Vulcanus 16:36 EDT
Moon in 24th harmonic to Saturn 17:13 EDT
Venus trine Chiron in right ascension 17:32 EDT
Moon sextile Zeus 17:33 EDT
Moon semisquare Hades 18:21 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Kronos 18:45 EDT
Moon sesquiquadrate Pluto 19:19 EDT
Venus quincunx Poseidon in right ascension 20:05 EDT
Mercury opposition 04/24/2005 Lunar Eclipse Point 20:32 EDT
Moon sextile Jupiter 20:41 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury sesquiquadrate Heliocentric Jupiter 20:52 EDT
Moon quincunx Mars 21:39 EDT
Moon quincunx Uranus 22:15 EDT
Moon parallel Hades 22:50 EDT
Moon trine Cupido 23:27 EDT

May 15
Moon quintile Apollon 00:26 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury biquintile Heliocentric Zeus 00:54 EDT
Hades trine Apollon 01:37 EDT
Heliocentric Venus semisextile Heliocentric Admetos 02:11 EDT
Moon parallel Saturn 02:44 EDT
Moon parallel Vulcanus 03:32 EDT
Moon parallel Venus 03:47 EDT
Sun sesquiquadrate Jupiter 03:53 EDT
Venus quincunx Poseidon 03:56 EDT
Mercury biquintile Cupido 05:31 EDT
Moon contraparallel Cupido 06:14 EDT
Mercury biquintile Cupido in right ascension 06:30 EDT
Venus parallel Vulcanus 07:24 EDT
Mercury square 05/16/2003 Lunar Eclipse Antiscion 07:39 EDT
Mars conjunct Uranus 07:52 EDT
Heliocentric Venus biquintile Heliocentric Chiron 07:52 EDT
Heliocentric Venus semisextile Heliocentric Vulcanus 07:54 EDT
Moon semisquare Kronos 10:02 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury biquintile Heliocentric Saturn 10:48 EDT
Sun opposition 5/16/2003 Lunar Eclipse Point 11:15 EDT
Mercury square Chiron in right ascension 11:33 EDT
Moon opposition Neptune 12:50 EDT
Sun square 10/28/2004 Lunar Eclipse Antiscion 13:20 EDT
Mercury opposition Poseidon in right ascension 13:36 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury quintile Heliocentric Pluto 14:28 EDT
Moon quintile Venus 15:31 EDT
Heliocentric Venus trine Heliocentric Apollon 17:33 EDT
Moon parallel Sun 18:21 EDT
Venus parallel Saturn 18:32 EDT
Heliocentric Venus conjunct Heliocentric Hades 19:37 EDT
Moon parallel Admetos 21:19 EDT
Sun semisextile Hades in right ascension 21:22 EDT
Venus semisquare True Lunar Node 21:52 EDT
Moon trine True Lunar Node 22:13 EDT
Moon semisextile Vulcanus 22:54 EDT
Moon square Admetos 23:28 EDT
Heliocentric Mercury trine Heliocentric Poseidon 23:41 EDT
Moon semisextile Saturn 23:43 EDT
Moon semisquare Zeus 23:48 EDT

*****


STOCKS TO WATCH: BAX, CMX, ITRI, ITU, LUFK.

Baxter International Inc. (BAX)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 05/15/1961; 10:00 a.m.
Trading Strategy: Transiting Jupiter is moving retrograde towards its direct station in early June, and passing slowly over the BAX First-Trade IC as it does so. That gives this solid stock a good opportunity to extend its current rally, so we plan to add a long position to the Model Portfolio early this week. Our initial stop will be set at 32.98.


Caremark Rx Inc. (CMX)
NYSE; optionable
First Trade Date: 02/22/1996; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: CMX currently has an interesting combination of astrological factors at work on its First-Trade horoscope: transiting Saturn is closing in on a conjunction to the First-Trade IC, transiting Jupiter is square First-Trade Jupiter, and transiting Mars is returning to its First-Trade position. With these conflicting indications, it's no wonder it has been confined to a well-articulated trading channel lately! Even so, it looks like CMX has some strong potential for a bolder move upward, so our plan is to put on a long position early this week. We will set a fairly tight stop on this trade at 40.75; if CMX fails to break out as we expect and we get stopped out, we will reverse position and sell CMX short as it heads back toward the bottom of its current trading channel.


Itron Inc. (ITRI)
NASDAQ; optionable
First Trade Date: 11/05/1993; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: ITRI has transiting Jupiter moving into position on its First-Trade Midheaven, but there's an added kicker here: transiting Saturn is currently conjoining the ITRI First-Trade Moon. That could provide a dampening effect, but nevertheless our plan is to add a long position in this stock early this week, since on balance the indicators suggest that a major move is possible. Our initial stop will be set at 32.50.


Banco Itau S A ADR (ITU)
NYSE
First Trade Date: 02/21/2002; 09:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: There's certainly a lot of action going on with this First-Trade chart! Transiting Saturn is conjoining the ITU First-Trade IC, suggesting that this stock could be ready for a breakout into an even higher trading range. At the same time, transiting Uranus is conjoining First-Trade Venus, adding some extra potential for volatility which could allow this stock to take off dramatically if a breakout actually takes place. And that's not all. Transiting Pluto is conjoining the First-Trade South Lunar Node, while the transiting South Lunar Node is conjoining First-Trade Apollon. Could this be a big merger or acquisition in the works? It's truly an interesting mix. Our expectation is that ITU will experience a fairly strong price pull-back as this trading week gets underway; our plan is to put in a limit order to buy this stock at 86.25, with an initial stop set at 79.08.


Lufkin Industries Inc. (LUFK)
NASDAQ
First Trade Date: 11/05/1990; 9:30 a.m.
Trading Strategy: This stock may go through some price turmoil during the next couple of weeks, but as transiting Jupiter closes in on the First-Trade Midheaven and then resumes direct motion in early June to head for a conjunction with First-Trade Apollon, we expect a strong positive trend to emerge. Our plan is to add a long position in LUFK to the Model Portfolio toward the end of this week; we will set our initial stop at 25.80 to allow for some of the potential for price fluctuation during the coming weeks.

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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 @ 5/08/2005 04:28:00 AM