Debate on Astrology (AN v HWS)

Ok, my main contention is there is neither a plausible way that the movements of the planets can have an effect upon the markets, nor (more importantly) is there any evidence that they do so.

Anyway, back in other sides' corner

Sweet our very own debate thread!

OK, let me ask you a question...

What would YOU consider evidence that the planets have an effect on the markets?
I mean what would have to be shown for you to think that it may be possible?

At the very minimum, statistically significan correlation between market prices (in some sense, not necessarily naked prices) and between the alignment of the heavens.

Then, once that was discovered I would want some statistically significant predicitions made based upon that. And I would like to see said predicitions fulfilled.

Basically if it requires interpretation from yourself, then it's actually you making the market calls. Which you should be proud of, not giving the credit to travellers in the sky

On June 13, 2010, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mercury will be lined up on one side of the Sun while Venus, Mars, and Saturn will be lined up on the other side.

I can therefore predict a market crash happening around this time.

Not to sound thinker than I already do but what would you consider a statistically significant correlation?
Like every time this planet is here or there the market reacts?
Or are you looking for more?

Then I guess the same question about the predictions?

Dull so far I know

FYI

Sunspots

OK, what would you say to an event in the heavens that when it happens times the follow:
The day the event happens is the last day of a market move up or down. Sometimes sideways but mostly up and down.
That means the day after it happens the market changes direction for between 1 and 3 days (once in a while more than 3 days).
Some times the day of the event is the only day that is counter trend.

One might build the following system around it:
Right before closing the day of the event the person would enter the market in the direction that is counter the current trend. The day of the astro event would be what constitutes the current trend. The person would then exit the trade at the end of the day after the astro event if they were in profit.
If they were not in profit they would stay in the trade for up to four trading days.
The four trading day rule would take care of most sideways markets I would think.
Now if you wanted to include other things like reading price after you are in the trade you could but then the system would not be 100% mechanical.
Doing so could increase the winning but then again it would not be 100% mechanical.

I would use the S&P500 cash index as the market of choice and trade the cash index options.
Trading the cash options in stead of the futures for the S&P500 would protect you during the four days if the market just went 100% against you.
That way you could stay in for the full four days and not have a stop loss to deal with as the options expiring worthless would be your stop loss.
The most money you would loose would be what you paid for the options.

Being that you would only be in the trade for no longer than a week you could simply set the rules to be that you buy options that are at the money between 30 and 60 days to expiration. Then time value would be of little effect on you.
And spending only 2,3, or 5% of your account balance on each trade would dictate how much you buy.