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Sideways movement of the last two sessions looks like an Elliott wave contracting triangle.

In the short term, the wave count is changed. In the mid term, the expected direction is the same.

Summary: This is still a bear market rally until proven otherwise. A final fifth wave up is required to complete the structure. A new high reasonably above 2,075.07 would confirm a fifth wave is underway, with a target now at 2,117. It may end on 19th April, 2016.

To see last published monthly charts click here.

To see how each of the bull and bear wave counts fit within a larger time frame see the Grand Supercycle Analysis.

To see detail of the bull market from 2009 to the all time high on weekly charts, click here.

New updates to this analysis are in bold.

BEAR ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

WEEKLY CHART

S&P 500 weekly bear 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

This bear wave count fits better than the bull with the even larger picture, super cycle analysis found here. It is also well supported by regular technical analysis at the monthly chart level.

Importantly, there is no lower invalidation point for this wave count. That means there is no lower limit to this bear market.

Primary wave 1 may be complete and may have lasted 19 weeks, two short of a Fibonacci 21. So far primary wave 2 has begun its 27th week. It looks unlikely to continue for another 7 weeks to total a Fibonacci 34, so it may end in about one to two weeks time. This would still give reasonable proportion between primary waves 1 and 2. Corrections (particularly more time consuming flat corrections) do have a tendency to be longer lasting than impulses.

Primary wave 2 may be unfolding as an expanded or running flat. Within primary wave 2, intermediate wave (A) was a deep zigzag (which will also subdivide as a double zigzag). Intermediate wave (B) fits perfectly as a zigzag and is a 1.21 length of intermediate wave (A). This is within the normal range for a B wave of a flat of 1 to 1.38.

Intermediate wave (C) is likely to make at least a slight new high above the end of intermediate wave (A) at 2,116.48 to avoid a truncation and a very rare running flat. However, price may find very strong resistance at the final bear market trend line. This line may hold price down and it may not be able to avoid a truncation. A rare running flat may occur before a very strong third wave down.

If price moves above 2,116.48, then the new alternate bear wave count would be invalidated. At that stage, if there is no new alternate for the bear, then this would be the only bear wave count.

Primary wave 2 may not move beyond the start of primary wave 1 above 2,134.72.

DAILY CHART

S&P 500 daily bear 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

Intermediate wave (A) fits as a single or double zigzag.

Intermediate wave (B) fits perfectly as a zigzag. There is no Fibonacci ratio between minor waves A and C.

Intermediate wave (C) must subdivide as a five wave structure. It is unfolding as an impulse.

Intermediate wave (C) does not have to move above the end of intermediate wave (A) at 2,116.48, but it is likely to do so to avoid a truncation. If it is truncated and primary wave 2 is a rare running flat, then the truncation is not likely to be very large. As soon as price is very close to 2,116.48 this wave count looks at the possibility of a trend change.

The next wave down for this wave count would be a strong third wave at primary wave degree.

At this stage, it looks very much like a triangle is unfolding for minor wave 4. While technically this means the invalidation point at the daily chart level must be moved down to the end of minor wave 1 at 1,930.68, movement below 2,033.8 would substantially reduce the probability of more upwards movement well before final invalidation of minor wave 4.

Minor wave 4 may not move into minor wave 1 price territory below 1,930.68.

The channel is redrawn because minor wave 4 breached the lower edge. Draw the channel now using Elliott’s second technique: draw the first trend line from the ends of minor waves 2 to 4, then place a parallel copy on the end of minor wave 3. If minor wave 4 continues further sideways, redraw the channel.

About 2,117 minor wave 5 would reach 0.618 the length of minor wave 1, and intermediate wave (C) would just avoid a truncation.

The point in time at which triangle trend lines cross over sometimes sees a trend change, and sometimes this is where a fifth wave ends. That point at this stage is on 19th April. This may be when minor wave 5 ends. If the triangle continues further, this point may change.

HOURLY CHART

S&P 500 daily bear 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

A running contracting triangle may now be complete for minor wave 4. This wave count resolves the problem the last hourly wave count had of a lack of upwards movement and momentum for a third wave.

Both minute waves d and e may now be complete. Because minute wave b subdivides best as a double zigzag, it is unlikely that either of minute waves d or e could continue further as double zigzags (there may be only one multiple subwave within a triangle).

If minute wave e continues any further, it may not move beyond the end of minute wave c below 2,033.80.

If minute wave d does continue further (if my labelling of minute wave b as a double zigzag is wrong and it is seen as a single zigzag), then it may not move reasonably beyond the end of minute wave b at 2,075.07. Minor wave 4 could be a barrier triangle as long as the b-d trend line remains essentially flat.

The movement out of triangles is often swift and sharp. If tomorrow gaps up on the open and price continues upwards strongly, then an upwards breakout should be on the way.

ALTERNATE WEEKLY CHART

S&P 500 weekly bear 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

Primary wave 1 may subdivide as one of two possible structures. The main bear count sees it as a complete impulse. This alternate sees it as an incomplete leading diagonal.

The diagonal must be expanding because intermediate wave (3) is longer than intermediate wave (1). Leading expanding diagonals are not common structures, so that reduces the probability of this wave count to an alternate.

Intermediate wave (4) may continue higher now and may find resistance at the bear market trend line.

ALTERNATE DAILY CHART

S&P 500 daily bear 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

Within a leading diagonal, subwaves 2 and 4 must subdivide as zigzags. Subwaves 1, 3 and 5 are most commonly zigzags but may also sometimes appear to be impulses.

Intermediate wave (3) down fits best as a zigzag.

In a diagonal the fourth wave must overlap first wave price territory. The rule for the end of a fourth wave is it may not move beyond the end of the second wave.

Expanding diagonals are not very common. Leading expanding diagonals are less common.

Intermediate wave (4) must be longer than intermediate wave (2), so it must end above 2,059.57. This minimum has been met. The trend lines diverge.

The subdivisions within intermediate wave (4) are changed today. The triangle which may have just ended is seen as minor wave B. Intermediate wave (4) now has a clearer three wave look to it. At 2,100 minor wave C would reach 0.236 the length of minor wave A.

For this alternate, the bear market trend line would be a better guide than the price target. If price comes up to that trend line, then for this alternate it should end there. If that is where price turns, this alternate would have a reasonable probability and would continue to be published alongside the main wave count.

Leading diagonals may not have truncated fifth waves. Intermediate wave (5) would most likely be a zigzag, must end below 1,810.10, and must be longer in length than intermediate wave (3) which was 306.38 points.

BULL ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

WEEKLY CHART

S&P 500 weekly 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

Cycle wave II was a shallow 0.41 zigzag lasting three months. Cycle wave IV may be a complete shallow 0.19 regular flat correction, exhibiting some alternation with cycle wave II.

At 2,500 cycle wave V would reach equality in length with cycle wave I.

Price remains below the final bear market trend line. This line is drawn from the all time high at 2,134.72 to the swing high labelled primary wave B at 2,116.48 on November 2015. This line is drawn using the approach outlined by Magee in the classic “Technical Analysis of Stock Trends”. To use it correctly we should assume that a bear market remains intact until this line is breached by a close of 3% or more of market value. In practice, that price point would be a new all time high which would invalidate any bear wave count.

This wave count requires price confirmation with a new all time high above 2,134.72.

While price has not made a new high, while it remains below the final bear market trend line and while technical indicators point to weakness in upwards movement, this very bullish wave count comes with a strong caveat. I do not have confidence in it.

DAILY CHART

S&P 500 daily 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

Intermediate wave (2) is seen as an atypical double zigzag. It is atypical in that it moves sideways. Double zigzags should have a clear slope against the prior trend to have the right look. Within a double zigzag, the second zigzag exists to deepen the correction when the first zigzag does not move price deep enough. Not only does this second zigzag not deepen the correction, it fails to move at all beyond the end of the first zigzag. This structure technically meets rules, but it looks completely wrong. This gives the wave count a low probability.

If the bull market has resumed, it must begin with a five wave structure upwards at the daily and weekly chart level. So far that is incomplete.

At 2,143 minor wave 5 would reach equality in length with minor wave 1.

Within minor wave 5, no second wave correction may move beyond the start of its first wave below 2,022.49.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

DAILY CHART

S&P 500 daily 2016
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

Volume data on StockCharts is different to that given from NYSE, the home of this index. Comments on volume will be based on NYSE volume data when it differs from StockCharts.

Price has been trending upwards for 40 days. The 13 day moving average is mostly showing where downwards corrections are finding support, but this support may be breaking down. Price is finding resistance at the horizontal trend line about 2,075.

The downwards movement in price today had some small support from volume which was higher than the prior day. However, volume is still light and overall declining. This supports the Elliott wave count short term; as a triangle completes volume and momentum should both decline.

As price moves upwards, it comes overall with declining volume. The trend is weak. It is not supported by volume, so is unsustainable.

ADX is now declining, indicating the market is no longer trending. This happens about the time of a trend change. The +DX line is still above the -DX line, but only just. A trend change has not been indicated yet.

ATR consistently declined while price moved higher. Normally, during a trending market ATR increases. This trend is abnormal. With declining ATR, the trend looks weak.

ATR is now flattening off. It should be expected that ATR will again start to increase. If it can’t do it when price is moving upwards, it may again do it when the next downwards wave arrives.

On Balance Volume is now contained within two purple short term lines. A break out of this small zone, above or below, may precede price direction. For OBV to give a clear bearish signal it needs to break below the pink line which has strong technical significance.

RSI has not managed to reach overbought during this trend. I would have expected upwards movement to only end when RSI reached overbought and then exhibited divergence with price at the final high. This may yet happen. If it does, I would have some confidence in calling a trend change.

Stochastics did reach overbought and did exhibit divergence with price. This indicates weakness in price at the end of upwards movement.

INVERTED VIX DAILY CHART

S&P 500 daily 2016
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

Volatility declines as inverted VIX climbs. This is normal for an upwards trend.

What is not normal here is the divergence over a reasonable time period between price and inverted VIX. The decline in volatility is not translating to a corresponding increase in price. Price is weak. This divergence is bearish.

BULLISH PERCENT DAILY CHART

S&P 500 daily 2016
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

There is strong hidden bearish divergence between price and the Bullish Percent Index. The increase in the percentage of bullish traders is more substantial than the last high in price. As bullish percent increases, it is not translating to a corresponding rise in price. Price is weak.

This looks like an overabundance of optimism which is not supported by price.

ADVANCE DECLINE LINE

S&P 500 daily 2016
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

With the AD line increasing, this indicates the number of advancing stocks exceeds the number of declining stocks. This indicates that there is breadth to this upwards movement.

From November 2015 to now, the AD line is making new highs while price has so far failed to make a corresponding new high. This indicates weakness in price; the increase in market breadth is unable to be translated to increase in price.

It remains to be seen if price can make new highs beyond the prior highs of 3rd November, 2015. If price can manage to do that, then this hidden bearish divergence will no longer be correct, but the fact that it is so strong at this stage is significant. The AD line will be watched daily to see if this bearish divergence continues or disappears.

The 200 day moving average for the AD line is now increasing. This alone is not enough to indicate a new bull market. During November 2015 the 200 day MA for the AD line turned upwards and yet price still made subsequent new lows.

DOW THEORY

I am choosing to use the S&P500, Dow Industrials, Dow Transportation, Nasdaq and the Russell 2000 index. Major swing lows are noted below. So far the Industrials, Transportation and Russell 2000 have made new major swing lows. None of these indices have made new highs.

I am aware that this approach is extremely conservative. Original Dow Theory has already confirmed a major trend change as both the industrials and transportation indexes have made new major lows.

At this stage, if the S&P500 and Nasdaq also make new major swing lows, then my modified Dow Theory would confirm a major new bear market. At that stage, my only wave count would be the bear wave count.

The lows below are from October 2014. These lows were the last secondary correction within the primary trend which was the bull market from 2009.

These lows must be breached by a daily close below each point.

S&P500: 1,821.61
Nasdaq: 4,117.84
DJIA: 15,855.12 – close below on 25th August 2015.
DJT: 7,700.49 – close below on 24th August 2015.
Russell 2000: 1,343.51 – close below on 25th August 2015.

This analysis is published @ 09:11 p.m. EST.