Update on US financial market

November 21, 2007

AP

Stocks Fall Amid Economic Jitters

Wednesday November 21, 5:48 pm ET

By Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer

Stocks Fall Ahead of Thanksgiving Amid Worries About the Mortgage

Market, Record-High Oil

NEW YORK (AP) -- Wall Street resumed its slide Wednesday as unease

about the wilting mortgage market and the broader economy triggered

selling ahead of the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index and the Dow Jones industrial average

each fell by more than 1.5 percent, with the Dow giving up more than

210 points.

The decline in the S & P 500 left the index in negative territory for

the year. Many investments such as mutual funds either track or are

measured against the S & P.

The worries over the economy sent investors rushing to the safety of

government securities. The yield on the Treasury's 10-year note fell

below 4 percent for the first time since 2005. The shift into bonds

came as the Dow briefly sank below the lows seen in the market's

August pullback.

The stock market has been thrashing about recently as investors

attempt to gauge how companies will fare amid a further slowdown in

the U.S. housing market, a deterioration of credit and record oil

prices that crested above $99 a barrel ahead of Wednesday's session.

Including Wednesday's slide stocks have fallen in eight of the 11

last sessions -- forgoing the boost seen in recent years during

Thanksgiving week, which is capped by the retail bonanza Black Friday.

Economic readings did little to instill confidence among investors.

The Mortgage Bankers Association said mortgage application volume

fell 3.6 percent last week. Meanwhile, the slump in housing suggested

banks will continue to face souring mortgage debt.

Government-sponsored lender Freddie Mac, which reported a $2 billion

quarterly loss Tuesday and saw shares plummet nearly 29 percent,

declined again Wednesday after an analyst downgrade. Countrywide

Financial Corp., the nation's largest mortgage lender, also lost

further ground.

In other economic news, the Conference Board suggested an economic

slowdown could accelerate in the coming months amid rising costs and

further weakness in the housing market. Also, the Reuters/University

of Michigan consumer sentiment survey showed its lowest reading in

two years -- an unwelcome development for retailers entering what is

for many the most important period of the year.

The Commerce Department said jobless claims fell by 11,000 last week,

a positive sign for U.S. employment, but the report didn't appear to

alleviate anxiety about the potential for weaker consumer spending.

" People are buying and selling off the headlines. The market is so

emotional, " said Neil Hennessy, president and portfolio manager of

Hennessy Funds. " You look at oil approaching $100. People are taking

their money and going to the sidelines. "

The Dow fell 211.10, or 1.62 percent, to 12,799.04. Several financial

companies that are part of the 30-stock index hit fresh 52-week lows

Wednesday and the blue chip index is now down 9.85 percent from its

mid-October trading high. A 10 percent decline would meet the

technical definition of a correction.

Broader stock indicators also fell. The S & P 500 index dropped 22.93,

or 1.59 percent, to 1,416.77.

Meanwhile, the Nasdaq composite index tumbled 34.66, or 1.33 percent,

to 2,562.15.

Investors turned to government bonds amid the uncertainty. The yield

on the 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to its price,

fell to 4.01 percent from 4.09 percent late Tuesday.

The dollar was mixed against most other major currencies, while gold

advanced.

And with oil prices briefly reaching a high of $99.29 a barrel in

overnight electronic trading, the question among investors is no

longer if oil will reach $100 a barrel, but when -- and how long it

will stay there. Crude futures fell 74 cents to settle at $97.29 per

barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange after an Energy Department

report showed supplies at a closely watched oil terminal in the

Midwest rose for the first time in weeks.

" The high price of oil has hurt retail, entertainment, restaurants

and clothing, " said Don Hodges, chairman of Hodges Capital Management

in Dallas. He attributes the market's recent retrenchment to concerns

about energy, the consumer, housing and banking among other factors

and notes that previous sharp drops in the market have occurred when

investors have faced a similar confluence of worries.

An examination of the economic news offered little to boost investor

sentiment. The Conference Board said its index of leading indicators

fell by 0.5 percent in October to a two-year low, after ticking up by

0.1 percent in September and falling by 0.9 percent in August. And

the Reuters/University of Michigan survey's final reading for

November found consumer sentiment fell to 76.1 from 80.9 in October.

Wednesday's pullback ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday came after

stocks finished with a gain Tuesday following a somewhat baffling

pair of reports from the Federal Reserve. The Fed's minutes from its

last meeting called its last rate reduction a " close call, " but the

central bank's economic forecast seemed to imply it is willing to

keep lowering rates.

Wall Street is fairly confident the Fed will lower rates at its Dec.

11 meeting to keep the tight credit markets liquid, but it is

uncertain about the health of the economy -- particularly given big

losses at Freddie Mac and its counterpart Fannie Mae, and possible

liquidity problems at Countrywide.

Citigroup Inc., which has already announced write-downs of bad debt

tied to mortgages, fell 67 cents, or 2.1 percent, to $30.73. The

stock hit a fresh 52-week low of $30.50; its earlier low was $30.80.

Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase & Co. fell 95 cents, or 2.3 percent, to

$40.68. It hit a low of $40.15, falling below an earlier 52-week low

of $40.28.

Amid worries that both the private and government lending industries

are struggling with the mortgage market implosion, Freddie shares

fell 74 cents, or 2.8 percent, to $26. However, Fannie Mae, which had

been down in the session, finished up 98 cents, or 3.5 percent, at

$29.23; and Countrywide fell 86 cents, or 8.4 percent, to $9.42.

General Motors Corp. rose 10 cents to $26.39 and was the only Dow

component to advance after GMAC's Residential Capital LLC said it had

hired advisers to explore the possible sale of certain parts of its

operations among other options. GM last year sold 51 percent of its

GMAC financial services operation to Cerberus Capital Management LP.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers by 3 to 1 on the New York

Stock Exchange, where consolidated volume came to 4.02 billion shares

compared with 4.74 billion traded Tuesday.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 9.03, or 1.21

percent, to 740.30.

Overseas, Japan's Nikkei stock average closed down 2.46 percent and

Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 4.15 percent. Britain's FTSE 100

fell 2.50 percent, Germany's DAX index declined 1.47 percent, and

France's CAC-40 lost 2.28 percent.

New York Stock Exchange: http://www.nyse.com

Nasdaq Stock Market: http://www.nasdaq.com

SAMVA , Cosmologer <cosmologer wrote:

>

> Dear friends,

>

> The US financial market has been very nervous in recent days -

consistent with the transit impacts in the SAMVA USA chart that I

pointed out in a message on 16 November.

>

> The situation is basically that share prices and the value of the

dollar have continued volatile and are today below the lows reached

on 12 November. The concern is that housing debt in the USA is

unraveling. There is also some concern about the high oil price,

again close to $100 per barrel, and the low value of the dollar. The

risk of a recession appears to have grown.

>

> In the SAMVA USA chart

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAMVA_USA_chart) the sub-period lord,

L6 Jupiter is almost powerless in transit at 30° Scorpio H5 and

still conjunct natal L8 Saturn at 27° Scorpio. The weakness of

Jupiter in transit situation means that things are not progressing

well for the country during this period, given especially the ongoing

transit affliction of Jupiter by natal Saturn. Fortunately, Jupiter

will tonight shift into its own sign, Sagittarius, where it is

indications are expected to do well, also for those signs where it is

a functional malefic (Cancer, Capricorn and Pisces) and, more

importantly, that it will have moved out of the conjunction aspect of

Saturn by the end of November.

>

> As for the US stock market, it does not help that L10 Mars is going

retrograde (and thus slow moving) at 18° Gemini H12 while under the

exact aspect from natal Ketu at 18° Libra H4. This has produced a lot

of stress for investor sentiments, especially concerning industrial

companies but also for real estate. This unhappy state of affairs

will likely continue for the remainder of the month. The transit

affliction of Mars also suggests the US military abroad may

experience a setback.

>

> On the upside is the fact that transit L2 Sun at 5° Scorpio H5 has

begun to seperate from natal L6 Jupiter at 4° Scorpio. Moreover, as

it will soon become exactly opposite natal L1 Moon at 8° Taurus H11

and then become conjunct natal L10 Mars at 10° Scorpio, giving some

support to wealth and confidence, linked to actions of the State,

especially early next week.

>

> As notes in his weekly prediction until 2

December 2007, for Cancer born (the SAMVA USA chart has 20° Cancer

rising), in a general sense, " things have started looking up. "

>

> According to the SAMVA USA chart, early December promises real

improvement.

>

> Best wishes,

>

> Thor

>

> CANCER

>

> Predictions for the current week.

> at www.YourNetAstrologer.com

>

> Things have started looking up. Handle relationships with care.

Some of you may go in for long journeys. Avoid haste, conflicts and

exercise patience in the wake of obstructions to avoid

accidents/mishaps/loss of reputation. Health and financial position

of parents cause stress. Propitiatory astral remedies help.

>

____________________

______________

> Get easy, one-click access to your favorites.

> Make your homepage.

> http://www./r/hs

>

November 22, 2007

Dear friends,

Two list members have advised me off-list that transit Jupiter will enter into a state of combustion in December and will then also become afflicted by transit Ketu from the middle of the month. I have examined this and attach a graph showing the strength of Jupiter in transit along with the strength of two afflicting aspects that Jupiter is or has been involved with.

The first aspect is the conjunction of transit L6 Jupiter with natal L8 Saturn at 26° 46' Scorpio H5 in the SAMVA USA chart. This aspect peaked on 18 November, but was felt longer as the transit strength of Jupiter became very week since this aspect peaked.

The second is also a mutual afflicting aspect of transit L6 Jupiter in Sagittarius H6 and transit Ketu in Leo H2. This aspect peaks on 19 December when the combustion of transit Jupiter will have begun to be felt. As a result, Jupiter does not reach full strength until early January 2008.

There will be a few days in early December when Jupiter is gaining strength, notably from 4-11 December, when it has above 50% strength and the aspect of Ketu is still felt by less than 50%. After that, Jupiter will be more strongly afflicted at the same time the combustion with the transit Sun becomes more felt, weakening Jupiter.

Interestingly, as transit L2 Sun is a functional benefic in the Cancer rising SAMVA USA chart, the close combustion of such a benefic with another planet should have a positive effect on that planet. However, as Jupiter is a functional malefic planet in the chart, it is the indications of the Sun that will be harmed and its power to help the functional malefic Jupiter thus also reduced.

In short, the upswing in December is not as straight forward as I thought and likely we will have to wait until the beginning of 2008 for the stock market to begin a recovery.

Best wishes,

Thor

Cosmologer <cosmologersamva Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 11:23:08 PM Update on US financial market

Dear friends,

The US financial market has been very nervous in recent days - consistent with the transit impacts in the SAMVA USA chart that I pointed out in a message on 16 November.

The situation is basically that share prices and the value of the dollar have continued volatile and are today below the lows reached on 12 November. The concern is that housing debt in the USA is unraveling. There is also some concern about the high oil price, again close to $100 per barrel, and the low value of the dollar. The risk of a recession appears to have grown.

In the SAMVA USA chart (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAMVA_USA_chart) the sub-period lord, L6 Jupiter is almost powerless in transit at 30° Scorpio H5 and still conjunct natal L8 Saturn at 27° Scorpio. The weakness of Jupiter in transit situation means that things are not progressing well for the country during this period, given especially the ongoing transit affliction of Jupiter by natal Saturn. Fortunately, Jupiter will tonight shift into its own sign, Sagittarius, where it is indications are expected to do well, also for those signs where it is a functional malefic (Cancer, Capricorn and Pisces) and, more importantly, that it will have moved out of the conjunction aspect of Saturn by the end of November.

As for the US stock market, it does not help that L10 Mars is going retrograde (and thus slow moving) at 18° Gemini H12 while under the exact aspect from natal Ketu at 18° Libra H4. This has produced a lot of stress for investor sentiments, especially concerning industrial companies but also for real estate. This unhappy state of affairs will likely continue for the remainder of the month. The transit affliction of Mars also suggests the US military abroad may experience a setback.

On the upside is the fact that transit L2 Sun at 5° Scorpio H5 has begun to seperate from natal L6 Jupiter at 4° Scorpio. Moreover, as it will soon become exactly opposite natal L1 Moon at 8° Taurus H11 and then become conjunct natal L10 Mars at 10° Scorpio, giving some support to wealth and confidence, linked to actions of the State, especially early next week.

As notes in his weekly prediction until 2 December 2007, for Cancer born (the SAMVA USA chart has 20° Cancer rising), in a general sense, "things have started looking up."

According to the SAMVA USA chart, early December promises real improvement.

Best wishes,

Thor

CANCER

Predictions for the current week. at www.YourNetAstrologer.com

Things have started looking up. Handle relationships with care. Some of you may go in for long journeys. Avoid haste, conflicts and exercise patience in the wake of obstructions to avoid accidents/mishaps/loss of reputation. Health and financial position of parents cause stress. Propitiatory astral remedies help.

Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Mail. See how.

November 23, 2007

Dear and list members,

I recall your prediction, , from 26 September,

where you predicted the markets would begin to recover from

mid November. Well, today is 23 November and the US stock market is

in a convincing rally after a period of downside volatility.

It is my understanding that at the basis of your prediction is the

view that the adverse influence of the conjunction aspect of natal L8

Saturn in the SAMVA USA chart and transit L6 Jupiter would begin to

diminish as Jupiter moved away as it has. This seems to be the case.

Congratulations!

The graph I showed recently of the strength of Jupiter in transit

and the influence of the abovementioned aspect, suggest the aspect

has become quite weak and that Jupiter is now strengthening while in

its own MT sign. Under these conditions, the market is apparently

recovering.

This development suggests the coming few weeks will be OK for

the financial market, even if a setback is to be expected as the

combustion of transit Juptier and the mutual affliction of transit

Ketu begins to be felt towards the middle of December. However, even

then, this aspect will be relatively fleeting as both planets will be

moving under normal speed - and in opposite directions.

I therefore think my somewhat hastily revised prediction of yesterday

needs to be ammended further. I know think that the proper

interpretation of the aspects, in line with what

has earlier suggested, indicates that we could see more favourable

conditions in the stock market in the coming few weeks. Then a

temporary setback could develop in the second half of the month.

However, as Jupiter returns to full strength in January 2008 the

market should have regained its sure footing by then.

That said, I have yet to perform a careful analysis of the aspects in

the new year. However, I think I will stick with the above reading

for the month of December.

, I would be interested to hear if you consider the

SAMVA USA chart to be reflecting the recent mundane developments in a

satisfactory manner.

Finally, I hope the list members are learning something of value from

this exercise, as I believe I am.

Best wishes,

Thor

SAMVA , Cosmologer <cosmologer wrote:

>

> Dear friends,

>

> Two list members have advised me off-list that transit Jupiter will

enter into a state of combustion in December and will then also

become afflicted by transit Ketu from the middle of the month. I have

examined this and attach a graph showing the strength of Jupiter in

transit along with the strength of two afflicting aspects that

Jupiter is or has been involved with.

>

> The first aspect is the conjunction of transit L6 Jupiter with

natal L8 Saturn at 26° 46' Scorpio H5 in the SAMVA USA chart. This

aspect peaked on 18 November, but was felt longer as the transit

strength of Jupiter became very week since this aspect peaked.

>

> The second is also a mutual afflicting aspect of transit L6 Jupiter

in Sagittarius H6 and transit Ketu in Leo H2. This aspect peaks on 19

December when the combustion of transit Jupiter will have begun to be

felt. As a result, Jupiter does not reach full strength until early

January 2008.

>

> There will be a few days in early December when Jupiter is gaining

strength, notably from 4-11 December, when it has above 50% strength

and the aspect of Ketu is still felt by less than 50%. After that,

Jupiter will be more strongly afflicted at the same time the

combustion with the transit Sun becomes more felt, weakening Jupiter.

>

> Interestingly, as transit L2 Sun is a functional benefic in the

Cancer rising SAMVA USA chart, the close combustion of such a benefic

with another planet should have a positive effect on that planet.

However, as Jupiter is a functional malefic planet in the chart, it

is the indications of the Sun that will be harmed and its power to

help the functional malefic Jupiter thus also reduced.

>

> In short, the upswing in December is not as straight forward as I

thought and likely we will have to wait until the beginning of 2008

for the stock market to begin a recovery.

>

> Best wishes,

>

> Thor

>

> Cosmologer <cosmologer

> samva

> Wednesday, November 21, 2007 11:23:08 PM

> Update on US financial market