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Upwards movement continues as expected from the main Elliott wave count. This wave count has support from classic technical analysis, particularly signals from the AD line and On Balance Volume.

Summary: Yesterday’s low may be the end of a multi week consolidation. A new bull run may begin here to a target at 2,940. However, the risk still remains that a low is not yet in place. If price does move a little lower, then risk is at 2,553.80.

Look for a breach of the Elliott channel on the hourly chart by upwards movement for confidence in a low. Thereafter, a new high above 2,683.55 would add confidence that a low is in place. At that point, the invalidation point may be pulled up to 2,617.32.

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
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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 today using Elliott’s second technique: the first trend line from the ends of intermediate waves (2) to (4) at today’s low, then a parallel copy on the end of intermediate wave (3). Intermediate wave (5) may end either midway within the channel, or about the upper edge.

At least three wave counts remain valid at the daily chart level. It is possible still that a low may not be in place; intermediate wave (4) could still continue further. 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.

If intermediate wave (4) ends anytime within this week, then it would total a Fibonacci 13 weeks. It would have excellent proportion with intermediate wave (2), and there would be perfect alternation if it is over as a shallow triangle.

At this stage, there are still three possible structures for intermediate wave (4): a triangle, a combination, and a flat correction. All three will be published. The triangle is preferred because that would see price continue to find support about the 200 day moving average. While this average continues to provide support, it is reasonable to expect it to continue (until it is clearly breached).

DAILY CHART

S&P 500 Daily 2018
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It is possible that intermediate wave (4) is a complete regular contracting triangle, the most common type of triangle. Minor wave E may have ended at yesterday’s low, finding support just above the 200 day moving average and ending reasonably short of the A-C trend line. This is the most common look for E waves of triangles.

Intermediate wave (3) exhibits no Fibonacci ratio to intermediate wave (1). It is more likely then that intermediate wave (5) may exhibit a Fibonacci ratio to either of intermediate waves (1) or (3). The most common Fibonacci ratio would be equality in length with intermediate wave (1), but in this instance that would expect a truncation. The next common Fibonacci ratio is used to calculate a target for intermediate wave (5) to end.

It must still be accepted that the risk with this wave count is that a low may not yet be in place; intermediate wave (4) could continue lower. For this triangle wave count, minor wave E may not move beyond the end of minor wave C below 2,553.80.

HOURLY CHART

S&P 500 Hourly 2018
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Minor wave E subdivides as a complete zigzag.

A new high above 2,683.55 would add further confidence that a low may be in place. This point is the start of minute wave c within minor wave E. A new high above the start of minute wave c could not be a second wave correction within minute wave c, so at that stage minute wave c would have to be over.

Intermediate wave (5) must subdivide as a five wave structure. At the hourly chart level, the structure should begin to unfold with a five up. So far this is labelled minor wave 1, which is incomplete.

Within minor wave 1, minute waves i through to iv may be complete. A small Elliott channel is drawn about this upwards impulse using Elliott’s first technique. If minute wave iv moves lower tomorrow, then it may find support about the lower edge of this channel. A target is calculated for minute wave v to end; if minute wave v moves lower, then this target must also move correspondingly lower.

Minute wave iv may not move into minute wave i price territory below 2,636.32.

While price remains within the Elliott channel, assume that minor wave 1 is incomplete and expect more upwards movement. If price breaks below the lower edge of the channel with clearly downwards movement (not sideways), then assume that minor wave 1 is over and minor wave 2 has arrived. At that stage, draw a Fibonacci retracement along the length of minor wave 1 and use the 0.382 and 0.618 Fibonacci ratios as targets for minor wave 2.

Looking back at some second wave corrections on the S&P from the start of cycle wave V on the 11th February, 2016 (the low on the weekly chart), they are at depths of 0.41, 0.40, 0.30, 0.54, 0.25, 0.88 and 0.44. Clearly this market has a wide range of depths for its second wave corrections, so neither Fibonacci ratio may be favoured. Minor wave 2 may be very shallow, but it may also be very deep. On balance, it does seem that shallow corrections are more common than deep corrections in current market conditions.

Minor wave 1 may be over in one more session. Minor wave 2 may unfold over about one or two sessions. Minor wave 2 may not move beyond the start of minor wave 1 below 2,612.67.

ALTERNATE WAVE COUNTS

DAILY CHART – COMBINATION

S&P 500 Daily 2018
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I have charted a triangle a great many times over the years, sometimes even to completion, only to see the structure subsequently invalidated by price. When that has happened, the correction has turned out to be something else, usually a combination. Therefore, it is important to always consider an alternate when a triangle may be unfolding or complete.

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.

Minute wave b must now reach a minimum 0.90 length of minute wave a. Minute wave b may be unfolding as a double zigzag. Within a double zigzag, the second zigzag exists to deepen the correction when the first zigzag did not move price deep enough. Double zigzags normally have a strong slope like single zigzags. To achieve a strong slope the X wave within a double zigzag is normally brief and shallow, most importantly shallow (it rarely moves beyond the start of the first zigzag). A new low now below 2,586.27 should see the idea of a double zigzag for minute wave b discarded.

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.

Minute wave b may make a new high above the start of minute wave a if minor wave Y is an expanded flat. There is no maximum length for minute wave b, but there is a convention within Elliott wave that states when minute wave b is longer than twice the length of minute wave a the idea of a flat correction continuing should be discarded based upon a very low probability. That price point would be at 3,050. However, if price makes a new all time high and upwards movement exhibits strength, then this idea would be discarded at that point. Minute wave b should exhibit obvious internal weakness, not strength.

At this stage, the very bullish signal this week from the AD line making a new all time high puts substantial doubt on this wave count. It has very little support from classic technical analysis.

DAILY CHART – FLAT

S&P 500 Daily 2018
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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 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.

However, minute wave c must be a five wave structure for this wave count and now the depth and duration of subminuette wave ii looks wrong. The probability that minute wave c upwards is unfolding as an impulse is now reduced. It is possible that it could be a diagonal, but that too has a relatively low probability as the diagonal would need to be expanding to achieve the minimum price target for minor wave B, and expanding ending diagonals are not very common.

At its end minor wave B should exhibit obvious weakness. If price makes a new all time high and exhibits strength, then this wave count should be discarded.

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 7 – 8 weeks if it breaks out at the green lines.

On Balance Volume gives a reasonable bullish signal last week with a breakout from a small range, above resistance. The signal is neither strong nor weak. The trend line broken has a shallow slope, is somewhat long held, and has been tested three or four times before.

A bullish signal from On Balance Volume and support last week for upwards movement offer good support to the main Elliott wave count. The bearish long upper wick though suggests a pullback for the short term, which is also what the main Elliott wave count expects.

DAILY CHART

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

Volume and On Balance Volume support the main Elliott wave count.

VOLATILITY – INVERTED VIX CHART

VIX daily 2018
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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 has made a small new swing high above the prior high of the 23rd of April, but price has not. If VIX is a leading indicator, then this divergence is bullish.

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. A new all time high from the AD line this week means that any bear market may now be an absolute minimum of 4 months away.

All of small, mid and large caps have made at least slight new lows below their prior swing lows of the 13th of April. This pullback has support from falling market breadth.

Breadth should be read as a leading indicator.

The new all time high from the AD line remains very strongly bullish and supports the main Elliott wave count.This new all time high from the AD line will be given much weight in this analysis. This is the piece of technical evidence on which I am today relying most heavily in expecting a low may be in place here or very soon.

There has been a cluster of bullish signals from the AD line in the last few weeks. This also overall offers good support to the main Elliott wave count.

Both price and the AD line have moved higher. The rise in price has support from rising market breadth. There is no divergence.

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 @ 08:42 p.m. EST.