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S&P 500: Elliott Wave and Technical Analysis | Charts – June 30, 2020

by | Jun 30, 2020 | S&P 500, S&P 500 + DJIA

Upwards movement breached the very short-term invalidation point. Price remains below identified resistance at the Abandoned Baby pattern.

Summary: The bounce may be over. Downwards movement may resume. A mid-term target is at 2,723. The gap that forms the Abandoned Baby pattern may provide resistance at 3,127.12.

For the long term, a sustainable high may now be in place on June 8th. The main wave count has two final targets at 2,031 and 1,708. The daily alternate wave count has a target at 1,289 for a third wave down.

A new low below 2,954.86 would invalidate the third alternate wave count and provide confidence in downwards targets.

The third alternate wave count outlines a bullish scenario. A new high above 3,233.13 would be required for confidence in this wave count.

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

Last monthly charts are here. Video is here.

ELLIOTT WAVE COUNTS

MAIN WEEKLY CHART

S&P 500 Weekly 2020
Click chart to enlarge.

This main Elliott wave count expects that the bull market beginning in March 2009 was cycle wave I of Super Cycle wave (V). The trend change in February 2020 may have been only at cycle degree. Cycle wave II may last from one to a few years.

Cycle wave II would most likely subdivide as a zigzag; thus far that looks like what is unfolding. Primary waves A and B may both be complete. A second target is calculated at primary degree.

Cycle wave II may not move beyond the start of cycle wave I below 666.79.

MAIN DAILY CHART

S&P 500 Daily 2020
Click chart to enlarge.

Draw the wide maroon trend channel carefully: draw the first trend line from the end of primary wave 1 at 2,093.55 (December 26, 2014), to the end of primary wave 3 at 2,940.91 (September 21, 2018), then place a parallel copy on the end of primary wave 2 at 1,810.10 (February 11, 2016). The channel was fully breached in March 2020 indicating a trend change from the multi-year bull trend to a new bear trend. Resistance at the lower edge has been overcome; price has closed above this trend line. During the next downwards wave this line may offer some support.

Cycle wave II may subdivide as any Elliott wave corrective structure except a triangle. It would most likely be a zigzag (zigzags subdivide 5-3-5). It may now be complete.

Draw a channel about cycle wave II using Elliott’s technique for a correction. Draw the first trend line from the start of primary wave A to the end of primary wave B, then place a parallel copy on the end of primary wave A. Primary wave C may find support about the lower edge of this channel.

Intermediate waves (1) and (2) within primary wave C may now be complete. Intermediate wave (3) downwards may have begun. Minor wave 2 within intermediate wave (3) may not move beyond the start of minor wave 1 above 3,155.53.

Two targets are calculated now for primary wave C. If price approaches the first target and either the structure of primary wave C is incomplete or price keeps falling, then attention would turn to the second target.

The last two gaps which may provide resistance are noted on this chart. At this time, the lower price point at 3,127.12 may now provide resistance.

HOURLY CHART

S&P 500 Hourly 2020
Click chart to enlarge.

Intermediate wave (2) may now be a complete zigzag. Intermediate wave (3) may have begun.

A target is calculated for intermediate wave (3).

Intermediate wave (3) may only subdivide as an impulse. Minor wave 1 within intermediate wave (3) may be incomplete. When minor wave 1 may be complete, then minor wave 2 may be a multi-day bounce that may not move beyond the start of minor wave 1. When minor wave 1 may be complete, then the short-term invalidation point must move up to the start of minor wave 1 at 3,155.53. Minor wave 2 may not move beyond the start of minor wave 1. However, the gap that forms the Abandoned Baby may still provide resistance at 3,127.12.

Minute waves i and ii within minor wave 1 may be complete. Minute wave iii may only subdivide as an impulse.

Within minute wave iii, minuette wave (i) may be complete and minuette wave (ii) may have moved higher today as an expanded flat correction. Minuette wave (ii) may not move beyond the start of minuette wave (i) above 3,154.90.

Look for strong resistance at the gap which forms the Abandoned Baby at 3,127.12.

FIRST ALTERNATE DAILY CHART

S&P 500 Daily 2020
Click chart to enlarge.

This alternate daily chart follows the First Alternate Monthly chart.

By simply moving the degree of labelling in the bull market beginning March 2009 up one degree, it is possible that a Grand Super Cycle trend change occurred on February 19, 2020. The bull market from March 2009 to February 2020 may have been a complete fifth wave labelled Super Cycle wave (V).

A bear market at Grand Super Cycle degree may be expected to last at least a decade, possibly longer. Corrections for this market tend to be much quicker than bullish moves, and so a fair amount of flexibility is required in expectations for duration of the different degrees.

Grand Super Cycle II would most likely subdivide as a zigzag, although it may be any corrective structure except a triangle. It should begin with a five down at the weekly chart time frame, which would be incomplete.

The first wave down on the daily chart is labelled cycle wave I. If this degree of labelling is wrong, it may be too high; it may need to be moved down one degree.

Following cycle wave I, cycle wave II may be a complete zigzag. A target for cycle wave III is now calculated.

No second wave correction within intermediate wave (3) may move beyond its start above 3,155.53.

A target is calculated for intermediate wave (3).

FIRST ALTERNATE HOURLY CHART

S&P 500 Hourly 2020
Click chart to enlarge.

Cycle wave II may be a complete single zigzag. Hourly wave counts for the main daily chart work in the same way for this alternate. The degree of labelling for this alternate is all one degree higher.

Intermediate wave (2) may be complete.

THIRD ALTERNATE DAILY CHART

S&P 500 Daily 2020
Click chart to enlarge.

This alternate daily chart follows the third alternate monthly chart. It will be published daily because the structure of the current upwards wave is different and so the invalidation point is different. This alternate chart labels the subdivisions of the long bull market differently. The channel is a best fit.

The target for the end of this bull market is provisional. It would best be calculated at primary degree, but that cannot be done until all of primary waves 1 through to 4 are complete. At that stage, the target will be recalculated and will very likely change.

Cycle wave V must subdivide as a five wave motive structure, most likely an impulse. Primary wave 1 within cycle wave V may be nearing completion.

Within primary wave 1: intermediate waves (1) through to (3) may be complete and intermediate wave (4) may not move into intermediate wave (1) price territory below 2,954.86.

Use Elliott’s first technique to draw a channel about primary wave 1. Draw the first trend line from the ends of intermediate waves (1) to (3), then place a parallel copy on the end of intermediate wave (2). Intermediate wave (4) remains within the channel and may have found support about the lower edge.

When primary wave 1 may be a complete five wave structure, then primary wave 2 should then unfold as a multi-week pullback and may not move beyond the start of primary wave 1 below 2,191.86.

In the short term, invalidation of this wave count by a new low below 2,954.86 would add confidence to the first two wave counts.

This alternate wave count is bullish.

Cycle wave V may last from one to several years.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

WEEKLY CHART

S&P 500 Weekly 2020
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

The long upper wick and close near lows for this last week suggest more downwards movement immediately ahead.

DAILY CHART

Daily 2020
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

The breakaway gap of 24th February has its upper edge at 3,328.45. A bearish analysis remains reasonable while this gap remains open. If this gap is closed, then a more bullish analysis that would expect new all time highs would increase in probability.

Towards the high of 8th of June were a 90% and an 80% up day. Those have now been followed by a very strong 90% down day (98.4% of volume was down and 99.6% of points were down) within three sessions. This represents a 180° reversal in sentiment from bullish to bearish, supporting the view of a sustainable high in place.

The island reversal is comprised of an exhaustion gap created on June 5th and now a possible breakaway gap created on June 11th.

Now another candlestick reversal pattern is complete almost at the same high. An Abandoned Baby pattern is formed when the 24th of June gaped down upon the open; this is a very rare pattern. The gap may offer resistance at 3,127.12.

On Balance Volume may today be breaking above resistance. If On Balance Volume continues higher tomorrow, then a break would be confirmed. If On Balance Volume turns lower tomorrow, then the resistance line would need to be slightly adjusted. 

There is a slight support today from volume for upwards movement, but volume remains well below the prior downwards day.

90% and 80% days are used to indicate a shift in sentiment from bearish to bullish, and vice versa. A sentiment shift occurs when one 90% or two back to back 80% days in one direction are then followed within three to four sessions by one 90% or two back to back 80% days in the opposite direction. This has occurred only twice on this chart.

The first instance is a 90% down day on the 18th of March followed by a 90% up day four sessions later on the 24th of March. It was this technical evidence that was primarily used to identify a sustainable low on the 23rd of March.

The second instance was a 90% up day on the 5th of June then an 80% up day on the 8th of June followed three sessions later by a very strong 90% down day on the 11th of June. This indicates a good probability that the high on the 8th of June may be sustainable.

BREADTH – AD LINE

WEEKLY CHART

AD Line Weekly 2020
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 four weeks ago remains.

Last week the AD line has made a new short-term low, but price has not. This divergence is bearish.

Large caps all time high: 3,393.52 on 19th February 2020.

Mid caps all time high: 2,109.43 on 20th February 2020.

Small caps all time high: 1,100.58 on 27th August 2018.

Of all large, mid and small caps, it is small caps that are furthest off their all time highs and large caps that are closest. This rise is led by large caps, which is normally a feature of an aged bull market and not a new bull market.

DAILY CHART

AD Line daily 2020
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.

Although the NYSE AD line has made new all time highs on the 8th of June 2020, Lowry’s OCO AD line did not. Bullish divergence may still support a bullish wave count.

The AD line has made a new swing low, but price has not. This divergence is bearish.

Short-term bullish divergence noted yesterday has now been followed by an upwards day, so it may now be resolved.

Today both price and the AD line have moved higher. Neither have made new short-term swing highs. There is no new divergence.

VOLATILITY – INVERTED VIX CHART

WEEKLY CHART

VIX Weekly 2020
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.

Last week, price has moved overall sideways with an inside week, and inverted VIX has moved slightly higher. Downwards movement within this week has not come with a normal corresponding increase in VIX as VIX has declined. There is some small bullish divergence.

However, inverted VIX remains well below all time highs. There remains over two years of strong bearish divergence between price and inverted VIX.

DAILY CHART

VIX daily 2020
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.

VIX has made a new swing low below the prior swing low of March 13th / 14th, but price has not. This divergence is bearish for the short to mid term and supports either the main or first alternate Elliott wave counts.

Bullish divergence noted in yesterday’s analysis has been followed by an upwards day, so it may now be resolved.

Today inverted VIX has made a new short-term swing high above the prior high of the 18th of June, but price has not. This divergence is bullish for the short term.

DOW THEORY

Dow Theory has confirmed a bear market with the following lows made on a closing basis:

DJIA: 21,712.53 – a close below this point has been made on the March 12, 2020.

DJT: 8,636.79 – a close below this point has been made on March 9, 2020.

Adding in the S&P and Nasdaq for an extended Dow Theory, a bear market has now been confirmed:

S&P500: 2,346.58 – a close below this point has now been made on March 20, 2020.

Nasdaq: 7,292.22 – a close below this point was made on the March 12, 2020.

At this time, to shift Dow Theory from viewing a bear market to confirmation of a new bull market would require new highs made on a closing basis:

DJIA – 29,568.57

DJT – 11,623.58

Adding in the S&P and Nasdaq for an extended Dow Theory:

S&P500 – 3,393.52

Nasdaq – 9,838.37 – closed above on June 8, 2020.

Published @ 07:03 p.m. ET


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New updates to this analysis are in bold.

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