The upwards trend was expected to resume. A higher high and a higher low fits this expectation. Targets remain the same.
Summary: The upwards trend should resume. The mid-term target remains the same at 3,010.
The final target remains the same at 3,045.
Only a new low below 2,722.27 would indicate a deeper and more sustained pullback would be underway.
New updates to this analysis are in bold.
The biggest picture, Grand Super Cycle analysis, is here.
Last published monthly charts are here. Video is here.
ELLIOTT WAVE COUNTS
WEEKLY CHART
This weekly chart shows all of cycle waves III, IV and V so far.
Cycle wave II fits as a time consuming double combination: flat – X – zigzag. Combinations tend to be more time consuming corrective structures than zigzags. Cycle wave IV has completed as a multiple zigzag that should be expected to be more brief than cycle wave II.
Cycle wave IV may have ended at the lower edge of the Elliott channel.
Within cycle wave V, no second wave correction may move beyond the start of its first wave below 2,346.58.
Although both cycle waves II and IV are labelled W-X-Y, they are different corrective structures. There are two broad groups of Elliott wave corrective structures: the zigzag family, which are sharp corrections, and all the rest, which are sideways corrections. Multiple zigzags belong to the zigzag family and combinations belong to the sideways family. There is perfect alternation between the possible double zigzag of cycle wave IV and the combination of cycle wave II.
Although there is gross disproportion between the duration of cycle waves II and IV, the size of cycle wave IV in terms of price makes these two corrections look like they should be labelled at the same degree. Proportion is a function of either or both of price and time.
Draw the Elliott channel about Super Cycle wave (V) with the first trend line from the end of cycle wave I (at 2,079.46 on the week beginning 30th November 2014) to the high of cycle wave III, then place a parallel copy on the low of cycle wave II. Cycle wave V may find resistance about the upper edge.
It is possible that cycle wave V may end in October 2019. If it does not end there, or if the AD line makes new all time highs during or after June 2019, then the expectation for cycle wave V to end would be pushed out to March 2020 as the next possibility. Thereafter, the next possibility may be October 2020. March and October are considered as likely months for a bull market to end as in the past they have been popular. That does not mean though that this bull market may not end during any other month.
MAIN WAVE COUNT
DAILY CHART
The daily chart will focus on the structure of cycle wave V.
Within Super Cycle wave (V), cycle wave III may not be the shortest actionary wave. Because cycle wave III is shorter than cycle wave I, this limits cycle wave V to no longer than equality in length with cycle wave III at 3,477.39. A target is calculated for cycle wave V to end prior to this point.
Cycle wave V must subdivide as a five wave motive structure, either an impulse or an ending diagonal. An impulse is much more common and that will be how it is labelled. A diagonal would be considered if overlapping suggests it.
Primary wave 2 may have been a very brief and shallow expanded flat correction.
Primary wave 3 may now exhibit an increase in upwards momentum. A target is calculated that fits with the higher target for cycle wave V to end.
Within primary wave 3, intermediate wave (2) may not move beyond the start of intermediate wave (1) below 2,722.27.
Intermediate wave (2) may be a complete expanded flat correction.> Minor wave B within intermediate wave (2) is 1.2 times the length of minor wave A, which is within the most common range for B waves of flats from 1 to 1.38. Minor wave C may now be complete. It exhibits no Fibonacci ratio to minor wave A.
The lower edge of the adjusted base channel may provide support for pullbacks along the way up. The channel was breached yesterday but not by convincing downwards movement. Today the candlestick is not fully below the channel. The lower edge of this channel is not showing exactly where price is finding support, it is approximate.
HOURLY CHART
Intermediate wave (2) may be now complete.
Minor wave C subdivides as a completed five wave impulse on the five minute chart.
The adjusted base channel is breached clearly on the hourly chart, but the S&P does not always fit well within trend channels. While a breach of this channel indicates the alternate wave count below should be considered, more weight will be given to classic technical analysis, which still favours this main wave count.
This wave count now expects to see an increase in upwards momentum as a third wave at three degrees begins.
If it continues lower, then intermediate wave (2) may not move beyond the start of intermediate wave (1) below 2,722.27.
ALTERNATE WAVE COUNT
DAILY CHART
It is also possible that primary wave 2 may continue as an expanded flat correction.
Intermediate wave (B) is 1.51 times the length of intermediate wave (A). This is longer than the common range of 1 to 1.38 but within allowable limits of up to 2.
A target is calculated for intermediate wave (C); it expects to exhibit the most common Fibonacci ratio to intermediate wave (A).
Intermediate wave (C) must subdivide as a five wave motive structure. Within intermediate wave (C), minor wave 2 may not move beyond the start of minor wave 1 above 2,860.31. This wave count would be discarded with a new high.
Primary wave 2 may not move beyond the start of primary wave 1 below 2,346.58.
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
WEEKLY CHART
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of et=”_blank”>StockCharts.com.
The long upper wick last week is bearish.
Support at 2,800 remains. Price has not closed below this point yet.
DAILY CHART
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.
The December 2018 low is expected to remain intact. The two 90% upwards days on 26th December 2018 and 6th January 2019 indicate this upwards trend has internal strength.
Lowry’s data shows rising Buying Power and falling Selling Pressure. The latter is now just one point off its low for the entire bull market (beginning March 2009). This situation is normally associated with a strong and healthy bull market. Pullbacks are normal and to be expected, and they are more likely to be short term.
While today’s candlestick has a small range and weak volume, there is some internal strength here. While the last swing low of the 8th of March remains intact, there exists a series of higher highs and higher lows from the major low in December 2018. It would be safest to assume the upwards trend remains intact despite a decline in ADX.
BREADTH – AD LINE
WEEKLY CHART
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.
Every single bear market from the Great Depression and onwards has been preceded by a minimum of 4 months divergence between price and the AD line. With the AD line making a new all time high again last week, the end of this bull market and the start of a new bear market must be a minimum of 4 months away, which is the end of July 2019 at this time.
This week both price and the AD line declined. The AD line is not declining any faster than price, there is no short term divergence.
Last week mid and large caps have declined but have not made new swing lows below the prior swing low of the 8th of March. Small caps have made a new low below their 8th of March low. There is some weakness in this downwards movement. Large caps remain strongest and the decline is focussed mostly in small caps.
DAILY CHART
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.
Breadth should be read as a leading indicator.
Bullish divergence noted yesterday has now been followed by an upwards day. Today upwards movement has good support from rising market breadth. There is no new divergence.
VOLATILITY – INVERTED VIX CHART
WEEKLY CHART
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.
Inverted VIX has made a new short-term high and a mid-term high along with price. Upwards movement comes with a decline in VIX. There is no short nor mid-term divergence.
Longer-term divergence between price and inverted VIX at the last all time high in September 2018 remains.
DAILY CHART
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.
Today price and inverted VIX both moved higher. There is no new divergence.
DOW THEORY
Dow Theory confirmed a bear market in December 2018. This does not necessarily mean a bear market at Grand Super Cycle degree though; Dow Theory makes no comment on Elliott wave counts. On the 25th of August 2015 Dow Theory also confirmed a bear market. The Elliott wave count sees that as part of cycle wave II. After Dow Theory confirmation of a bear market in August 2015, price went on to make new all time highs and the bull market continued.
DJIA: 23,344.52 – a close on the 19th of December at 23,284.97 confirms a bear market.
DJT: 9,806.79 – price has closed below this point on the 13th of December.
S&P500: 2,532.69 – a close on the 19th of December at 2,506.96 provides support to a bear market conclusion.
Nasdaq: 6,630.67 – a close on the 19th of December at 6,618.86 provides support to a bear market conclusion.
With all the indices moving now higher, Dow Theory would confirm a bull market if the following highs are made:
DJIA: 26,951.81
DJT: 11,623.58
S&P500: 2,940.91
Nasdaq: 8,133.30.
For the short term, all of the S&P500, DJIA, DJT and Nasdaq remain above the last swing low of the 8th of March. For the short term, all these markets have shown a series of higher highs and higher lows from the major low in December 2018. All remain currently in an upwards trend.
Published @ 10:20 p.m. EST.
—
Careful risk management protects your trading account(s).
Follow my two Golden Rules:
1. Always trade with stops.
2. Risk only 1-5% of equity on any one trade.
Updated hourly chart:
minor 2 now looks more clearly like a three wave structure.
this wave count remains the same.
Trying to figure out what they’re up to …
If they’re bearish, candles 1 & 2 have a bearish look, not perfect but still bearish. Candle 3 is a perfect bearish retracement. The high for candle 3 touches the close for candle 1. Candle 4 isn’t following through on the bear move but it does have 3 lowers; lower high, lower close, and lower low. I say no follow through because it has closed above the 61.8 % level (March low to March high).
Was today a bullish price grab in anticipation of end of month/quarter price jumps (maybe) tomorrow and Friday? Today’s candle for 11AM to 2PM (yellow arrow) has a 16 ½ point lower wick and a 13 point real body.
A little more info on the candle with the yellow arrow. Looking at it in regular candlestick mode (not Heikin-Ashi), the lower wick is over 5 times the size of its real body. The real body is 3 ½ points and the lower wick is 18.75 points.
I’m curious what positions you are holding …
You had larger upside targets…
And we’re standing by them
This has to be a challenging correction to stay engaged as it has been dropping
I say this with trading respect to your charting
As it helped me with my exit points around 2860
Most attempts to get long after I exited and sold my vol longs and covered shorts
Have been unsuccessful
So let me know how your navigating
Thanks CM
wake me up when one side or the other gets control.
SPX: > 2830 bull win, or <2784 bears win.
it might be awhile.
the visual definition of slop fest. spx 5 minute, about 4 days worth.
knife work time.
Lol, except that is the completely wrong chart. Sorry….
“Knife work.” Good way to put it!
I am out of the indexes this morning! Why? The US Treasury and Mortgage Debt markets are trading in a very strange way. They are seeing something that has not yet come to light. So I am taking profits.
So I am out of all market indexes for now and until there is more clarity.
Holding AG and have actually increased my positing by a third this morning!
Good Luck!
Just to be clear… I don’t believe this minor inversion has anything to do with this. Period! Only certain types of inversions show a valid signal and what is here as of today is not it!
Alternative expanded flat it is.
The move from yesterday’s low to this morning’s high at 2825.56 can be seen as a leading diagonal. This would be Minute i (pink with circle) of Minor 3 (blue). One needs to go to the 1 minute chart to verify this count.
Otherwise, we will be looking at a three wave move up off of yesterday’s low meaning Minor 2 is incomplete. But I think the former stated leading diagonal will work out to be the count.
Maaaaaybe, Wilbur!
But to my eye, the alternate looks much more likely now. The weakness is significant, and at a key point where there “should be” (in the short term bullish main model) a lot of strength gathering.
2800 in /ES is a 78.6% retrace level and strikes me as the last hope for the main. Below that, I think the alternate probability zooms up to “very high”.
Looks to me like price is in a C down of an ABC correction down. Could double bottom at 2790. Or, if A=C (white line down is the projection of A from high of B), then bottom right at the 78.6% at 2756.
Bingo!
“And Bingo was his name-O”
Now lets say that to a bullish run in the US equities markets followed by a bearish fall in the gold market.
I’d like to see an SPX Golden Cross (50 day ma cross from below to above the 200 day ma). This will lend great support to the bullish case.
Gold (GLD daily shown) continues to refuse to come down more in the theoretical E wave down (currently in a “B” up of that E down and it just…keeps…going…up). Though it did scribble on the 61.8% two days ago, and is now holding under that, but still over the ascending trend line. I can find pundits who are bearish with this triangle E wave call…and I can find pundits who are bullish too.
I never, ever seem to find a way to make money in gold. It looks so easy from a distance…but it definitely is a very challenging market.
This is most certainly true.
Signing out for the day. Have a good one.