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Downwards movement was expected for Friday’s session and is exactly what happened.

Summary: One more day of downwards movement to about 2,155 may be expected. Thereafter, price should move higher. It is possible that in the next one to few weeks this market may make a new all time high.

Last monthly chart for the main wave count is here.

New updates to this analysis are in bold.

MAIN WAVE COUNT

WEEKLY CHART

S&P 500 weekly 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

Cycle wave V must subdivide as a five wave structure. I have two wave counts for upwards movement of cycle wave V. This main wave count is presented first only because we should assume the trend remains the same until proven otherwise. Assume that downwards movement is a correction within the upwards trend, until proven it is not.

Primary wave 3 is shorter than primary wave 1, but shows stronger momentum and volume as a third wave normally does. Because primary wave 3 is shorter than primary wave 1 this will limit primary wave 5 to no longer than equality in length with primary wave 3, so that the core Elliott wave rule stating a third wave may not be the shortest is met. Primary wave 5 has a limit at 2,302.47.

Primary wave 2 was a shallow 0.40 expanded flat correction. Primary wave 4 may be exhibiting alternation as a more shallow combination.

Primary wave 4 may not move into primary wave 1 price territory below 2,111.05.

It is also possible to move the degree of labelling within cycle wave V all down one degree. It may be only primary wave 1 unfolding. The invalidation point for this idea is at 1,810.10. That chart will not be published at this time in order to keep the number of charts manageable. The probability that this upwards impulse is only primary wave 1 is even with the probability that it is cycle wave V in its entirety.

DAILY CHART

S&P 500 daily 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

Primary wave 4 may be now complete as a double combination.

It is possible now that primary wave 4 could continue further as a triple, but because triples are very rare the probability of this is very low. If it is over here, then the proportion with primary wave 2 looks right. Within primary wave 5, no second wave correction may move beyond the start of its first wave below 2,119.12.

Primary wave 1 lasted 47 days, primary wave 2 was even in duration at 47 days, primary wave 3 lasted 16 days, and primary wave 4 has lasted 37 days. The proportions between these waves are acceptable.

If primary wave 5 has begun here, then at 2,233 it would reach 0.618 the length of primary wave 1.

There are two possible structures for primary wave 5: either an impulse (more likely) or an ending diagonal (less likely). It is now time to separate these two possibilities into two separate charts at the hourly chart level.

FIRST HOURLY CHART

S&P 500 hourly 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

The more common structure for a fifth wave is an impulse, so this is the first hourly wave count. It has a higher probability than the second based upon being a more common structure.

If an impulse upwards is unfolding for primary wave 5, then within it intermediate waves (1) and (2) would be complete. Intermediate wave (3) may only subdivide as a five wave impulse and must move above the end of intermediate wave (1) at 2,163.30. So far it has done this, meeting the Elliott wave rule.

Minor wave 3 within intermediate wave (3) may now be complete, and it exhibits stronger momentum than minor wave 1.

Minor wave 2 was a shallow 0.37 double combination. Given the guideline of alternation, minor wave 4 may be expected to be relatively deep and is most likely to be a single or multiple zigzag. Minor wave 2 lasted 30 hours. So far minor wave 4 has lasted only nine hours, and it is reasonable to expect it to move lower and last longer. Minor wave 4 may not move into minor wave 1 price territory below 2,151.31.

Draw a channel about intermediate wave (3): draw the first trend line from the end of minor wave 1 to the end of minor wave 3, then place a parallel copy on the end of minor wave 2. The lower edge should provide support for minor wave 4.

SECOND HOURLY CHART

S&P 500 hourly 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

If primary wave 5 is subdividing as an ending diagonal, then all sub-waves must subdivide as zigzags. Intermediate wave (1) may be a completed zigzag.

Second and fourth waves within diagonals have a normal depth of from 0.66 to 0.81 the prior wave. This gives a target range for intermediate wave (2) from 2,140 to 2,131.

Intermediate wave (2) must subdivide as a zigzag. It may not move beyond the start of intermediate wave (1) below 2,119.12.

ALTERNATE WAVE COUNT

WEEKLY CHART

S&P 500 weekly 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

What if an impulse upwards is complete? The implications are important. If this is possible, then primary wave 1 within cycle wave V may be complete.

With downwards movement from the high of primary wave 1 now clearly a three and not a five, the possibility that cycle wave V and Super Cycle wave (V) are over has substantially reduced. This possibility would be eliminated if price can make a new all time high above 2,193.81.

If an impulse upwards is complete, then a second wave correction may be unfolding for primary wave 2. Expectations on how deep primary wave 2 is likely to be are now adjusted. It may be expected now to more likely only reach the 0.382 Fibonacci ratio about 2,038.

At this stage, it looks like price has found strong support at the lilac trend line.

Primary wave 2 may not move beyond the start of primary wave 1 below 1,810.10.

DAILY CHART

S&P 500 daily 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

If an impulse upwards is complete, then how may it subdivide and are proportions good?

Intermediate wave (1) was an impulse lasting 47 days. Intermediate wave (2) was an expanded flat lasting 47 days. Intermediate wave (3) fits as an impulse lasting 16 days, and it is 2.04 points short of 0.618 the length of intermediate wave (1). So far this alternate wave count is identical to the main wave count (with the exception of the degree of labelling, but here it may also be moved up one degree).

Intermediate wave (4) may have been a running contracting triangle lasting 22 days and very shallow at only 0.0027 the depth of intermediate wave (3). At its end it effected only a 0.5 point retracement. There is perfect alternation between the deeper expanded flat of intermediate wave (2) and the very shallow triangle of intermediate wave (4). All subdivisions fit and the proportion is good.

Intermediate wave (5) would be very brief at only 18.29 points. Intermediate wave (5) is 1.43 points longer than 0.056 the length of intermediate wave (1).

At this stage, primary wave 2 now has a completed zigzag downwards that did not reach the 0.236 Fibonacci ratio. It is very unlikely for this wave count that primary wave 2 is over there; the correction is too brief and shallow. Upwards movement labelled intermediate wave (X) is so far less than 0.9 the length of the prior wave down labelled intermediate wave (W). The minimum for a flat correction has not yet been met. Primary wave 2 may continue lower as a double zigzag. A second zigzag in the double may be required to deepen the correction closer to the 0.382 Fibonacci ratio.

Intermediate wave (W) lasted a Fibonacci 13 sessions. Intermediate wave (X) has now lasted a Fibonacci eight sessions. If intermediate wave (Y) is equal in duration with intermediate wave (W), that would give the wave count a satisfying look.

Primary wave 2 may not move beyond the start of primary wave 1 below 1,810.10. A new low below this point would see the degree of labelling within cycle wave V moved up one degree. At that stage, a trend change at Super Cycle degree would be expected and a new bear market to span several years would be confirmed.

HOURLY CHART

S&P 500 hourly 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

The subdivisions for this hourly chart are the same as for the second hourly chart which looks at a diagonal. A zigzag upwards may have completed and the triangle may be minute wave b within the zigzag.

This wave count now expects downwards movement for a Fibonacci 13 sessions overall most likely, to end about 2,038.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

WEEKLY CHART

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

The lilac trend line has provided very strong support whereas previously provided strong resistance. The strength of this line is reinforced. If price turns down from here, it should be again expected to provide support. A break below it would be a strong bearish signal.

Last week completed a green weekly candlestick with strong volume but a long upper wick. This week completes another green candlestick but volume is lighter. The rise in price is not supported by volume, so it is suspicious.

On Balance Volume has made a new high above the high for the week of the 6th of August, but price has failed to make a corresponding new high. This divergence is bearish and indicates weakness in price. It does not say that price must turn down from here, only that price is weak. The bull market is unhealthy.

RSI is not extreme. There is room for price to rise further. There is no divergence between RSI and price at the weekly chart level to indicate weakness.

DAILY CHART

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

A downwards day for Friday was a reasonable expectation after the prior upwards day showed a decline in volume. Now Friday shows a further decline in volume. It would now be reasonable to expect that downwards movement may be either over here, or may continue for only another one or two days at the most. The fall in price is not supported by volume, so this is likely to be only a small pullback.

Price is again back in a heavy congestion zone, with resistance about 2,190 and support about 2,155. ADX is declining, indicating the market is not trending. ATR is again flat to declining and Bollinger Bands are not expanding. This market is range bound with low volatility.

Stochastics is close to but not yet overbought. Some overall upwards movement would be a reasonable expectation for next week, to continue until Stochastics is closer to overbought and price is closer to resistance.

RSI is neutral. There is plenty of room for price to rise or fall. It exhibits no short term divergence with price to indicate any weakness.

On Balance Volume gave an important bullish signal this week as it broke above the purple trend line. Friday’s session has brought it down, closing in on this trend line. This line should offer support for OBV and assist to halt any further fall in price from becoming too deep. This bullish signal from OBV supports the main Elliott wave count and the first hourly chart. It is not a very strong signal though because the line is too steeply sloped.

VOLATILITY – INVERTED VIX CHART

VIX daily 2016
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

There are a few instances of multi day divergence between price and inverted VIX noted here. Bearish divergence is blue. Bullish divergence is yellow. It appears so far that divergence between inverted VIX and price is again working to indicate short term movements spanning one or two days.

At this stage, no further short term divergence is noted between price and VIX to indicate any weakness either way.

BREADTH – AD LINE

AD Line daily 2016
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

There is support from market breadth as price is rising.

Short term bullish and bearish divergence is again working between price and the AD line to show the direction for the following one or two days.

There is mid term bearish divergence between price and the AD line. The AD line made a new all time high, but price has not yet followed. This divergence suggests weakness in price. So far it has been followed by one day of downwards movement. It may yet need one more day of downwards movement before it is resolved, or it may be resolved now.

DOW THEORY

Major lows within the old bull market:

DJIA: 15,855.12 (15th October, 2014) – closed below on 25th August, 2015.

DJT: 7,700.49 (12th October, 2014) – closed below on 24th August, 2015.

S&P500: 1,821.61 (15th October, 2014) – has not closed below this point yet.

Nasdaq: 4,117.84 (15th October, 2014) – has not closed below this point yet.

Major highs within the bear market from November 2014:

DJIA: 17,977.85 (4th November, 2015) – closed above on 18th April, 2016.

DJT: 8,358.20 (20th November, 2015) – has not closed above this point yet.

S&P500: 2,116.48 (3rd November, 2015) – closed above this point on 8th June, 2016.

Nasdaq: 5,176.77 (2nd December, 2015) – closed above this point on 1st August, 2016.

Dow Theory Conclusion: Original Dow Theory still sees price in a bear market because the transportations have failed to confirm an end to that bear market. Modified Dow Theory (adding S&P and Nasdaq) has failed still to confirm an end to the old bull market, modified Dow Theory sees price still in a bull market.

This analysis is published @ 12:44 a.m. EST on 24th September, 2016.