Select Page

Upwards movement was again expected. The first target was reached and passed. The second target zone is not yet met.

The AD line today gives a strong signal.

Summary: The target is now at 2,751. Strong bullish divergence between price and the AD line, reasonable divergence between price and inverted VIX, and now a bullish signal from On Balance Volume all support the wave count.

Always practice good risk management. Always trade with stops and invest only 1-5% of equity on any one trade.

New updates to this analysis are in bold.

The biggest picture, Grand Super Cycle analysis, is here.

Last historic analysis with monthly charts is here. Video is here.

An alternate idea at the monthly chart level is given here at the end of this analysis.

An historic example of a cycle degree fifth wave is given at the end of the analysis here.

MAIN ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

WEEKLY CHART

S&P 500 Weekly 2018
Click chart to enlarge.

Cycle wave V must complete as a five structure, which should look clear at the weekly chart level. It may only be an impulse or ending diagonal. At this stage, it is clear it is an impulse.

Within cycle wave V, the third waves at all degrees may only subdivide as impulses.

Intermediate wave (4) has breached an Elliott channel drawn using Elliott’s first technique. The channel is redrawn using Elliott’s second technique as if intermediate wave (4) was over at the first swing low within it. If intermediate wave (4) continues sideways, then the channel may be redrawn when it is over. The upper edge may provide resistance for intermediate wave (5).

Intermediate wave (4) may not move into intermediate wave (1) price territory below 2,193.81. However, it would be extremely likely to remain within the wider teal channel (copied over from the monthly chart) if it were to be reasonably deep. This channel contains the entire bull market since the low in March 2009, with only two small overshoots at the end of cycle wave IV. If this channel is breached, then the idea of cycle wave V continuing higher would be discarded well before the invalidation point is breached.

At this stage, it now looks like intermediate wave (4) may be continuing further sideways as a combination, triangle or flat. These three ideas are separated into separate daily charts. All three ideas would see intermediate wave (4) exhibit alternation in structure with the double zigzag of intermediate wave (2).

A double zigzag would also be possible for intermediate wave (4), but because intermediate wave (2) was a double zigzag this is the least likely structure for intermediate wave (4) to be. Alternation should be expected until price proves otherwise.

DAILY CHART – TRIANGLE

S&P 500 Daily 2018
Click chart to enlarge.

This first daily chart looks at a triangle structure for intermediate wave (4). The triangle may be either a regular contracting or regular barrier triangle. Within the triangle, minor waves A, B and C may be complete.

If intermediate wave (4) is a regular contracting triangle, the most common type, then minor wave D may not move beyond the end of minor wave B above 2,801.90.

If intermediate wave (4) is a regular barrier triangle, then minor wave D may end about the same level as minor wave B at 2,801.90. As long as the B-D trend line remains essentially flat a triangle will remain valid. In practice, this means the minor wave D can end slightly above 2,801.90 as this rule is subjective.

When a zigzag upwards for minor wave D is complete, then this wave count would expect a final smaller zigzag downwards for minor wave E, which would most likely fall reasonably short of the A-C trend line.

If this all takes a further two weeks to complete, then intermediate wave (4) may total a Fibonacci 13 weeks and would be just two weeks longer in duration than intermediate wave (2). There would be very good proportion between intermediate waves (2) and (4), which would give the wave count the right look. However, two more weeks at this time does not look like it may be long enough for a triangle to complete. It may not exhibit a Fibonacci duration.

There are now a few overshoots of the 200 day moving average. This is entirely acceptable for this wave count; the overshoots do not mean price must now continue lower. The A-C trend line for this wave count should have a slope, so minor wave C should now be over.

Within the zigzag of minor wave D, minute wave b may not move beyond the start of minute wave a below 2,553.80.

HOURLY CHART

S&P 500 Hourly 2018
Click chart to enlarge.

Minor wave D upwards should subdivide as a zigzag. Within the zigzag, minute wave b now shows up on the daily chart as a large red daily candlestick. This would give minor wave D an obvious three wave look on the daily chart, which should be expected.

Minute wave b subdivides as a completed double zigzag. Minute wave c has now passed equality in length with minute wave a; they may not exhibit a Fibonacci ratio.

Minute wave c must subdivide as a five wave structure, unfolding as an impulse and not a diagonal. Within the impulse, minuette wave (iii) is shorter than minuette wave (i). This limits minuette wave (v) to no longer than equality in length with minuette wave (iii) at 2,770.94, so that minuette wave (iii) is not the shortest actionary wave within the impulse and the core Elliott wave rule is met.

Because minuette wave (iii) exhibits no Fibonacci ratio to minuette wave (i), it is more likely that minuette wave (v) may exhibit a Fibonacci ratio to either of minuette waves (i) or (iii). A target is calculated using a Fibonacci ratio to minuette wave (i).

If minuette wave (iv) continues further, then it may not move into minuette wave (i) price territory below 2,665.45.

DAILY CHART – COMBINATION

S&P 500 Daily 2018
Click chart to enlarge.

Double combinations are very common structures. The first structure in a possible double combination for intermediate wave (4) would be a complete zigzag labelled minor wave W. The double should be joined by a three in the opposite direction labelled minor wave X, which may be a complete zigzag. X waves within combinations are typically very deep; if minor wave X is over at the last high, then it would be a 0.79 length of minor wave W, which is fairly deep giving it a normal look. There is no minimum nor maximum requirement for X waves within combinations.

The second structure in the double would most likely be a flat correction labelled minor wave Y. It may also be a triangle, but in my experience this is very rare, so it will not be expected. The much more common flat for minor wave Y will be charted and expected.

A flat correction would subdivide 3-3-5. Minute wave a must be a three wave structure, most likely a zigzag. It may also be a double zigzag.

The subdivisions within minute waves a and b of minor wave Y are adjusted slightly today. This makes a difference to the minimum requirement for minute wave b and the target for it to end.

Minute wave b must now reach a minimum 0.90 length of minute wave a. Minute wave b must be a corrective structure. It may be any corrective structure. It may be unfolding as a zigzag. A target is calculated for it to end. Within minuette wave (b), no second wave correction may move beyond its start below 2,586.27.

The purpose of combinations is to take up time and move price sideways. To achieve this purpose the second structure in the double usually ends close to the same level as the first. Minor wave Y would be expected to end about the same level as minor wave W at 2,532.69. This would require a strong overshoot or breach of the 200 day moving average, which looks unlikely but does have precedent in this bull market.

DAILY CHART – FLAT

S&P 500 Daily 2018
Click chart to enlarge.

Flat corrections are very common. The most common type of flat is an expanded flat. This would see minor wave B move above the start of minor wave A at 2,872.87.

Within a flat correction, minor wave B must retrace a minimum 0.9 length of minor wave A at 2,838.85. The most common length for minor wave B within a flat correction would be 1 to 1.38 times the length of minor wave A at 2,872.87 to 3,002.15. An expanded flat would see minor wave B 1.05 times the length of minor wave A or longer, at 2,889.89 or above. A target is today calculated for minor wave B to end, which would see it end within the common range.

Minor wave B may be a regular flat correction, and within it minute wave a may have been a single zigzag and minute wave b may have been a double zigzag. This has a very good fit. The subdivisions at the hourly chart level at this stage would be the same for the last wave down as the main wave count.

This wave count would require a very substantial breach of the 200 day moving average for the end of intermediate wave (4). This is possible but may be less likely than a smaller breach.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

WEEKLY CHART

S&P 500 weekly 2018
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

A classic symmetrical triangle pattern may be forming. These are different to Elliott wave triangles. Symmetrical triangles may be either continuation or reversal patterns, while Elliott wave triangles are always continuation patterns and have stricter rules.

The vertical green lines are 73% to 75% of the length of the triangle from cradle to base, where a breakout most commonly occurs.

From Dhalquist and Kirkpatrick on trading triangles:

“The ideal situation for trading triangles is a definite breakout, a high trading range within the triangle, an upward-sloping volume trend during the formation of the triangle, and especially a gap on the breakout.”

For this example, the breakout has not yet happened. There is a high trading range within the triangle, but volume is declining.

The triangle may yet have another 8 – 9 weeks if it breaks out at the green lines.

Before that happens though On Balance Volume may give a signal. It must give a signal in the next one to very few weeks as the trend lines are converging.

DAILY CHART

S&P 500 daily 2018
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

The gap on today’s open has its lower edge at 2,686.49. The gap may be assumed to be a measuring gap while it remains open and may be used now to pull stops up on any long positions; stops may now be set just below 2,686.49. If this gap is closed, it would be relabelled an exhaustion gap.

The measuring gap yields a target 2,792.

The trend line broken by On Balance Volume today has reasonable technical significance; the line is close to horizontal, was not short held, and was tested four times.

With Stochastics now overbought, the target at 2,792 may be too optimistic. However, if this upwards movement is the start of a longer bull run, then Stochastics may remain overbought for reasonable periods of time.

VOLATILITY – INVERTED VIX CHART

VIX daily 2018
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

So that colour blind members are included, bearish signals will be noted with blue and bullish signals with yellow.

Normally, volatility should decline as price moves higher and increase as price moves lower. This means that normally inverted VIX should move in the same direction as price.

Inverted VIX today has made another new high above the prior high of the 21st of March, but price has still not. This divergence is interpreted as bullish, as VIX is used as a leading indicator here.

BREADTH – AD LINE

AD Line daily 2018
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

There is normally 4-6 months divergence between price and market breadth prior to a full fledged bear market. This has been so for all major bear markets within the last 90 odd years. With no longer term divergence yet at this point, any decline in price should be expected to be a pullback within an ongoing bull market and not necessarily the start of a bear market.

All of small, mid and large caps last week moved higher. There is no divergence to indicate underlying weakness. The small caps this week are rising faster than mid and large.

Breadth should be read as a leading indicator.

The AD line today has made a new high above both the 21st of March and the 13th of March, but price has not yet. This is a strong new high, and it is interpreted as a strong bullish signal. If price and the AD line both move higher tomorrow, then the AD line may make a new all time high, which would be a very bullish signal and may indicate that intermediate wave (4) could have been over at the last low.

DOW THEORY

The following lows need to be exceeded for Dow Theory to confirm the end of the bull market and a change to a bear market:

DJIA: 23,360.29.

DJT: 9,806.79.

S&P500: 2,532.69.

Nasdaq: 6,630.67.

At this stage, only DJIA has made a new major swing low. DJT also needs to make a new major swing low for Dow Theory to indicate a switch from a bull market to a bear market. For an extended Dow Theory, which includes the S&P500 and Nasdaq, these two markets also need to make new major swing lows.

Charts showing each prior major swing low used for Dow Theory may be seen at the end of this analysis here.

Published @ 11:00 p.m. EST.