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Sideways movement was expected. A small red doji fits the expecatation for the session.

Summary: The probability that the upwards wave is over and the next wave down has begun is very high indeed. If the bear wave count is right (and it is supported by technical analysis), the target for primary wave 3 is at 1,423. Tomorrow may print a small green candlestick or maybe a doji as a small correction completes. It should remain below 2,077.52 and be followed by a fifth wave down.

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 is complete and lasted 19 weeks. Primary wave 2 is either over lasting 28 weeks, or it may continue for another one or two weeks.

An expectation for duration of primary wave 3 would be for it to be longer in duration than primary wave 1. If it lasts about 31 weeks, it would be 1.618 the duration of primary wave 1. It may last about a Fibonacci 34 weeks in total, depending on how time consuming the corrections within it are.

The long upper shadow on the green weekly candlestick at the last high is bearish. Last week completes a bearish engulfing candlestick pattern.

Primary wave 2 may be complete as a rare running flat. Just prior to a strong primary degree third wave is the kind of situation in which a running flat may appear. 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.

It is possible but highly unlikely that primary wave 2 could yet move a little higher. If it does, then intermediate wave (C) should end above 2,116.48 to avoid a truncation. Primary wave 2 would then be a very common expanded flat.

Primary wave 2 may not move beyond the start of primary wave 1 above 2,134.72. When there is some price confirmation that primary wave 2 is over, then the invalidation point may be moved down to its end. Price is the ultimate determinator. This is the risk while we do not have final price confirmation.

DAILY CHART

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

If intermediate wave (C) is over, then the truncation is small at only 5.43 points. This may occur right before a very strong third wave pulls the end of intermediate wave (C) downwards. Price confirmation of a trend change would come with a new low below 2,039.74.

The next wave down for this wave count would be a strong third wave at primary wave degree. At 1,423 primary wave 3 would reach 2.618 the length of primary wave 1. This is the appropriate ratio for this target because primary wave 2 is very deep at 0.91 of primary wave 1. If this target is wrong, it may be too high. The next Fibonacci ratio in the sequence would be 4.236 which calculates to a target at 998. That looks too low, unless the degree of labelling is moved up one and this may be a third wave down at cycle degree just beginning. I know that possibility right now may seem absurd, but it is possible.

Alternatively, primary wave 3 may not exhibit a Fibonacci ratio to primary wave 1. When intermediate waves (1) through to (4) within the impulse of primary wave 3 are complete, then the target may be calculated at a second wave degree. At that stage, it may change or widen to a small zone.

Draw the channel about the impulse of intermediate wave (C) using Elliott’s second technique: draw the first trend line from the ends of the second to fourth waves at minor degree, then place a parallel copy on the end of minor wave 3. Minor wave 5 may have ended midway within the channel. The channel is now breached decisively at the daily chart level. This provides some reasonable confidence in a trend change.

Because expanded flats do not fit nicely within trend channels, a channel about their C waves may be used to indicate when the expanded flat is over. After a breach of the lower edge of the channel, if price then exhibits a typical throwback to the trend line, then it may offer a perfect opportunity to join primary wave 3 down. At this stage, price may not move high enough to touch the dark blue trend line. It may find strong resistance at the cyan bear market trend line which is now just below 2,100. It looks like the typical throwback to resistance was quick and completed on the 28th of April.

Within minor wave 5, no second wave correction may move beyond the start of its first wave below 2,039.74. A new low below 2,039.74 could not be a second wave correction within minor wave 5, so at that stage minor wave 5 would have to be over. This would confirm a trend change.

HOURLY CHART

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

Minute waves i, ii and now iii may be complete within minor wave 1. Minute wave iii is just 0.09 points longer than 1.618 times the length of minute wave i. Minute wave iii shows an increase in momentum beyond minute wave i, and the strongest part is the middle of the third wave.

A channel drawn using Elliott’s first technique sees the middle of the third wave overshoot the lower edge. This looks typical. The upper edge of the channel may show where minute wave iv finds resistance.

Minute wave ii was a deep 0.67 double zigzag correction. Given the guideline of alternation, minute wave iv may be expected to be more shallow and a sideways type of correction such as a flat, combination or triangle. At this stage, all three options are open. Minuette wave (a) fits as a three on the five minute chart. Minuette wave (b) fits well as a three on the five minute chart and it is over 0.9 the length of minuette wave (a), so the minimum for a flat correction is met.

If minute wave iv is a running triangle or an expanded flat, then minuette wave (b) could move lower and make a new low below the start of minuette wave (a) at 2,045.55. A new low early tomorrow does not mean minute wave iv is over; it would more likely be part of the B wave within minute wave iv.

If price continues sideways in an ever decreasing range tomorrow, then minute wave iv may be a triangle. Triangles take time to unfold. If this happens, it may last another two or even three sessions.

If price moves upwards above the end of minuette wave (a) tomorrow at 2,060.23, then minute wave iv may be completing as a regular flat correction. If that happens, then it may be over relatively quickly and be followed by a downwards breakout for minute wave v.

If price moves sideways in a wider range, then minute wave iv may be unfolding as a combination. The first structure in a double may be a zigzag labelled minuette wave (w), over at the high labelled on this chart minuette wave (a). The second structure may be joined by a three in the opposite direction labelled minuette wave (x), over at the low labelled on this chart minuette wave (b). A second structure in a double would most likely be a flat correction labelled minuette wave (y).

If minute wave iv is time consuming enough, it may end when price finds resistance at the upper edge of the pink Elliott channel.

Minute wave iv may not move into minute wave i price territory above 2,077.52.

Stops may be set just above this invalidation point at this stage.

The most likely target for minute wave iv is the 0.382 Fibonacci ratio at 2,066.

Minute wave ii lasted for two days producing two small green daily doji. Minute wave iv may be expected to last one to three days to maybe produce one or two doji or small green candlesticks.

At this stage, a target for minute wave v downwards to complete the impulse of minor wave 1 cannot be calculated because it is not known where it starts. Minute wave v is most likely to be equal in length with minute wave i at 33.53 points.

The S&P can behave like a commodity during its bear markets in that it can exhibit swift strong fifth waves. However, this behaviour is seen more often for third wave impulses (the fifth wave to end the third is swift and strong) and during the last bear market did not show up until the middle to end of the whole bear market. I would not necessarily expect this tendency to show up here for minute wave v, but it is a possibility to be aware of.

ALTERNATE HOURLY CHART

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

It is still just possible that primary wave 2 may not be complete. Intermediate wave (C) may yet be able to move above 2,116.48 to avoid a truncation and a rare running flat.

The degree of labelling within minor wave 5 is moved down one degree. The upwards wave to the last high may be only minute wave i within minor wave 5.

Minute wave ii may not move beyond the start of minute wave i below 2,039.74.

The problem of the strong breach of the dark blue channel remains. If minor wave 5 is incomplete, that channel should not be so strongly breached.

Within minute wave ii, minuette wave (c) is just 0.09 points longer than 1.618 the length of minuette wave (a).

This wave count requires a new high above 2,111.05 for confirmation. Classic technical analysis has reduced the probability of this wave count. The probability is low. Low probability is not the same as no probability; this wave count still illustrates the risk to any short positions here.

At this stage, a new high above 2,077.52 would invalidate the main hourly wave count and provide some confidence in this alternate.

BULL ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

WEEKLY CHART

S&P 500 weekly 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

Within primary wave C downwards, 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.

This part of the structure is highly problematic for the bull wave count. It is not possible to see cycle wave IV as complete without a big problem in terms of Elliott wave structure.

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 still do not have confidence in it.

DAILY CHART

S&P 500 daily 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

If the bull market has resumed, it must begin with a five wave structure upwards at the daily and weekly chart level. That may today be complete. The possible trend change at intermediate degree still requires confirmation in the same way as the alternate hourly bear wave count outlines before any confidence may be had in it.

If intermediate wave (2) begins here, then a reasonable target for it to end would be the 0.618 Fibonacci ratio of intermediate wave (1) about 1,920. Intermediate wave (2) must subdivide as a corrective structure. It may not move beyond the start of intermediate wave (1) below 1,810.10.

In the long term, this wave count absolutely requires a new high above 2,134.72 for confirmation. This would be the only wave count in the unlikely event of a new all time high. All bear wave counts would be fully and finally invalidated.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

WEEKLY CHART

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

We have a bearish engulfing candlestick pattern at the end of last week. This has occurred at the round number of 2,100 which increases the significance. Volume on the second candlestick is higher than volume on the first candlestick, which further increases the significance. That it is at the weekly chart level is further significance.

Engulfing patterns are the strongest reversal patterns.

This is a very strong bearish signal. It adds significant weight to the expectation of a trend change. It does not tell us how low the following movement must go, only that it is likely to be at least of a few weeks duration.

There is a weak bearish signal from On Balance Volume at the weekly chart level with a break below the green line. A stronger bearish signal would be a break below the purple line. OBV looks bearish.

There is hidden bearish divergence between Stochastics and price at the last high and the high of November 2015. Stochastics has moved further into overbought territory, but this has failed to translate into a corresponding new high in price. Price is weak. MACD exhibits the same hidden bearish divergence.

After a period of declining ATR, it should be expected to turn and begin to increase.

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.

The decisive breach of the purple support line strongly indicates a trend change for the S&P.

For the first two downwards days, volume increased as price fell. Volume for these two days is stronger than any prior day back to 4th of March (ignoring the options expiry date of 18th March). This is significant. As price rose to the last high on 20th April, it came with light and declining volume. Now volume shows an increase as price falls.

For the last two days in a row, price has fallen overall but volume is declining. The market may fall of its own weight, but this does indicate some caution short term. A small bounce as expected from the Elliott wave count may resolve this. An upcoming larger bounce for a second wave correction at minor degree would certainly resolve this.

Price is finding some support just above the horizontal support line at 2,040.

ADX is above 15 and slightly increasing. ADX is indicating a downwards trend may be beginning.

ATR may overall agree as it looks like it may be beginning to turn up after a long period of decline.

On Balance Volume is today giving a strong signal. It has come down to find support at the purple line. This line is almost horizontal, repeatedly tested and has been held for a wee while now. It offers reasonable technical significance. This may serve to hold price up and prevent a new low tomorrow. OBV may be expected to find support here before any break through may be attempted. A break by OBV below the purple or pink lines would be a strong bearish signal, particularly the pink line.

A new green line is added to OBV. It may find some support when it gets down to that line.

RSI is just below neutral. There is plenty of room for price to fall.

Stochastics is entering oversold but this oscillator may remain extreme for periods of time during a trending market. Its best use in a trending market is for divergence to indicate trend weakness.

MACD is indicating increasing downwards momentum.

VOLATILITY – 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 (green lines). The decline in volatility is not translating to a corresponding increase in price. Price is weak. This divergence is bearish.

Price made a new short term high, but VIX has failed to make a corresponding high (pink lines). This is regular bearish divergence. It indicates further weakness in the trend.

BREADTH – 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 (orange lines).

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.

The AD line is now declining and has breached a support line (cyan). There is breadth to downwards movement; more stocks are declining than advancing which supports the fall in price.

SENTIMENT – COMMITMENT OF TRADERS (COT)

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

This first COT chart shows commercials. Commercial traders are more often on the right side of the market. Currently, more commercials are short the S&P than long. This has increased last week while long positions have decreased. This supports a bearish Elliott wave count, but it may also support the bullish Elliott wave count which would be expecting a big second wave correction to come soon. Either way points to a likely end to this upwards trend sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, it does not tell exactly when upwards movement must end.

*Note: these COT figures are for futures only markets. This is not the same as the cash market I am analysing, but it is closely related enough to be highly relevant.

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

Non commercials are more often on the wrong side of the market than the right side of the market. Currently, non commercials are predominantly long, and increasing. This supports the expectation of a trend change soon.

ANALYSIS OF LAST MAJOR BEAR MARKET OCTOBER 2007 – MARCH 2009

Bear Market 2007 - 2009
Click to enlarge.

In looking back to see how a primary degree third wave should behave in a bear market, the last example may be useful.

Currently, the start of primary wave 3 now may be underway for this current bear market. Currently, ATR sits about 19. With the last primary degree third wave (blue highlighted) having an ATR range of about 18 to 76, so far this one looks about right.

The current wave count sees price in an intermediate degree first wave within a primary degree third wave. The equivalent in the last bear market (yellow highlighted) lasted 39 days and had a range of ATR from 16 – 27.

Bear Market 2007 - 2009
Click chart to enlarge.

This chart is shown on an arithmetic scale, so that the differences in daily range travelled from the start of primary wave 3 to the end of primary wave 3 is clear.

Primary wave 3 within the last bear market from October 2007 to March 2009 is shown here. It started out somewhat slowly with relatively small range days. I am confident of the labelling at primary degree, reasonably confident of labelling at intermediate degree, and uncertain of labelling at minor degree. It is the larger degrees with which we are concerned at this stage.

During intermediate wave (1), there were a fair few small daily doji and ATR only increased slowly. The strongest movements within primary wave 3 came at its end.

It appears that the S&P behaves somewhat like a commodity during its bear markets. That tendency should be considered again here.

This chart will be republished daily for reference. The current primary degree third wave which this analysis expects does not have to unfold in the same way, but it is likely that there may be similarities.

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.

To the upside, DJIA has made a new major swing high above its prior major high of 3rd November, 2015, at 17,977.85. But DJT has so far failed to confirm because it has not yet made a new major swing high above its prior swing high of 20th November, 2015, at 8,358.20. Dow Theory has therefore not yet confirmed a new bull market. Neither the S&P500, Russell 2000 nor Nasdaq have made new major swing highs.

This analysis is published @ 08:50 p.m. EST.