ASTRAL REFLECTIONS BY TIM STEPHENS MAY 9 - 15, 2004 All times/dates are PDT. Well, my timing wasn't the best, but REITS (Real Estate Investment Trusts) finally did fall as I forecast. They just did it half a year late! (Note that most income trusts of any kind have tended to follow REITS down.) As of mid-April (as I write this) North American REITS had fallen about twenty per cent, thereby wiping out two or more years of income for holders who recently bought them. This doesn't hold true for those who bought six months ago, however, as most REITS are only falling from recently achieved peaks, and returning to the levels they were at about six months ago. (They remain higher than a year ago.) So the recent fall is merely blowing off the top of the bubble. If you bought REITS six months to a year ago, you're back to what you paid for them, and you've pocketed the 8 to 10 per cent interest in the meantime. REITS fell recently, of course, because interest rates rose - rates rose about 25 per cent, and REITS fell about 20 per cent. If this relationship holds, then a doubling of interest rates (to, say, 9 per cent on 10-year bonds) should cut the value of REITS by about half. That's actually a rosy outlook, for a 9 per cent bond rate could throw a lot of REITS into default. If rates surge to the 17 per cent level, as they did about 25 years ago, kiss your REIT goodbye. On the other hand, rates could decline, boosting REITS values again. In my "Year Ahead" I forecast that the markets would gyrate in April, opening opportunities for brave souls. In the second week of April, when the interest rate scare came, many income trusts fell by 15 to 25 per cent over two days, then recovered 70 to 90 per cent of that fall. Buyers who bought culd have realized a pretty snappy 10 to 25 per cent in one or two days. But something bothers me about buying REITS now. Before October '04, there will tend to be at least two - possibly more - repetitions of financial phenomena. So there could be another steep REIT decline, followed by another upsurge in price. Despite this, I think the long-term picture is down, as October '04 into November 2006 signals an economic slowdown or difficulty. It starts in the housing/consumer/food sectors. I told a client recently that Nortel, the telecommunications giant-mouse-giant, would have "two peaks" in 2004. That's when Nortel was about $ 10 Canadian. Of course, it could only have two peaks if it fell in the interim. So look for Nortel's interim bottom. This pattern might show in a fair number of stocks beginning with "N" and "G." (Of course, this bottom might have already occurred in March/April. You judge.) Start Nothing: 6:03 a.m. to 3:46 p.m. Sun., 12:31 p.m. to 7:52 p.m. Tues., and 7:14 p.m. Thurs. to 3:02 a.m. Fri. Aries March 21-April 19 Chase money, buy/sell, seek more clients, ask for a raise. Stay away from "deep money" (debt, mortgages, investments, etc.). Similarly, light friendly sex is good but deep, consequential sex could saddle you with a heavier commitment than you want. Your home will be a bit more friction-prone than usual for the six weeks ahead - resolve now to cool your demands/temper. This won't be a good period to move in with anyone - but it's an excellent time for demolition, construction, carving out a new personal world or business territory. Taurus April 20-May 20 Your charisma, energy and effectiveness ride high! Ask favors, show up in person, call important people, start significant new ventures. You make your world now, as destiny lets you take the reins for a week or two! Recent slightly hectic wasting of money stops now, letting funds accumulate. Buy a luxury item. Ask for a pay raise. (These might come later this spring/summer, but now's the best time to prepare and/or impress everyone.) Charge into your career, ambitions Sunday eve to Tuesday noon. Social delights arrive Wednesday/Thursday. Retreat Friday/Saturday. Gemini May 21-June 20 Continue to lie low, rest, contemplate and plan. This won't be entirely easy, as your magnetism is still radiating, and others seek you out. But generally watch rather than push matters. In head office, red tape, spiritual and institutional areas, you can make progress. The six weeks ahead bring a rush of money your way - save, bank it, or you could waste this gift. Don't impulsively overspend nor contract debt. Love, wisdom, intellectual, legal and far travel matters intrigue you Sunday-Tuesday. Live up to career demands Wednesday/Thursday. Happiness Saturday! Cancer June 21-July 22 Popularity, social joys, optimism and a sense of life's freshness fill your days! You grow more sexually magnetic now through late June - more ambitious, more assured - and perhaps more forceful, less patient. Use your confidence to advantage this week, while career and business news is fresh, and higher-ups are willing to talk. Chase a commitment Sunday night to Tuesday noon - research, seek hidden gems. Invest Tuesday morning (dawn to 11 a.m. PDT) not before. Wisdom, understanding, and a mellow mood flow over you Wednesday, but disruptions emerge Thursday/Friday. Leo July 23-Aug. 22 Be ambitious, start important projects, seek approval of higher-ups. Your social skills are high, you're charming, affectionate. Wrap up old legal agreements, international travel, or educational programs this week (in a quick, light way, Saturday May 15 - NOT Friday). Avoid new ventures in these areas for the six weeks ahead (to late June). Opportunities arise late Sunday through noon Tuesday - you could meet someone exciting, or a new business contact. You're asked for a commitment, or an investment or deepening relationship looms, Wednesday (lucky before noon) and Thursday (difficulties). Virgo Aug. 23-Sept. 22 A tolerant, wise, mellow mood flows through your days. Plunge into legal, international, scholarly, publishing, intellectual, linguistic, philosophical or religious endeavors - they're lucky! Love flows smoothly. Recent weeks caused friction on career or community fronts, but these zones will now blossom to your benefit for the months ahead. Your social life heats up for nine weeks. New contacts could become important to your financial progress. Someone met socially could also fire up your lust - careful, follow society's rules. Work Sunday-Tuesday. Relationships trigger luck Wednesday! DON'T invest Friday, do Saturday. Libra Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Sexual temptations, subconscious urgings, financial commitments, lifestyle changes, investigations, health concerns - these continue. So does a "conversation" with a co-operator, partner, exciting person, or "honorable enemy." Wrap up negotiations, sign contracts, seal deals, especially Tuesday morning and Saturday. The six weeks ahead "heat up" your career sector, could make parents and higher-ups snappish and critical. Keep your sense of humor! (Particularly around May 24, when a competitor tries to put you under pressure.) You might quit a job between now and August - do so only for ambition, not laziness. Scorpio Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Relationships remain paramount. Be diplomatic yet eager to "merge." Your intimate side blossoms with gentle, affectionate sensuality now through late July - your financial, investment interests turn steadily lucky, too. March/April's impulsivity and "burn up money" influences now end. The next six weeks could spawn a job-related involvement with law, far travel, higher education, or philosophical groups - by late June into July, this will turn into something even bigger, and more personally satisfying. But during these first six weeks (to late June) strictly avoid legal hassles, law suits, etc. Sagittarius Nov. 22-Dec. 21 You'll be a lot more decisive during the eight months ahead than you have been for the last four. Your will power, confidence and assertiveness will increase - use these on career fronts, in business and in dealings with higher-ups. You're favored - proposals will be accepted, promotions granted. Opportunities are already here! This week, finish a creative, speculative, child-related project, or make a romantic move. For the six weeks ahead, relationships grow more affectionate, gracious, while intimacy heats up. In business, debt and investments, "the rush is on." Be careful, sure-footed! Capricorn Dec. 22-Jan. 19 The romantic atmosphere intensifies. For the next six weeks, relationships take on a serious, heated tone. This can produce ardent "lust," valid attraction, a desire to co-habit, argument, enmity, even a break-up. Much depends on the situation and personalities. Whatever the outcome, relationships will dominate your life for awhile! (Actually, to July 2005.) Keep an eye open, in the weeks ahead, for opportunities involving real estate, food-shelter businesses, or expansion of business territory. Seek employment. Co-workers remain pleasant, affectionate. Chase money Monday to Tuesday noon. Be quiet, restful Friday/Saturday. Aquarius Jan. 20-Feb. 18 Romance and creative projects - and dealings with children - will "gentle down" through the weeks ahead. Sweet affection will replace the heated atmosphere of recent weeks. Soon, enthusiasm and joy will join that affection. Continue to rest and bolster your family this week. Follow safety procedures around machinery, now through late June. Extra duties flow toward you; you'll feel pretty overburdened in about two weeks. Just work through this. Your efforts are increasing your value, your net worth - but in truth, you could profit as much by "smart investing." Pisces Feb.19-March 20 Recent home tension turns to light, happy affection. Your romantic life picks up - for the ten weeks ahead, heat replaces caution - maybe. When these two feelings "fight" around May 24, you might be thrown back a little, might retreat to think things over. Your gambling urges rise in the months ahead - don't throw money away in the next two weeks. Chase a small cash prize this week by telephoning, emailing or visiting. Rest, plan Sunday eve to Tuesday. Your energy and charisma surge Tuesday night to Thursday. Money caution Friday! For a reading: 604-261-1337. www.astralreflections.com. Email: timstephens@shaw.ca. /30/