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Downwards movement invalidated both Elliott wave counts and broke below support.

Summary: Strong sharp movements are very commonly quickly reversed. How high the bounce goes may tell us which wave count is correct. A new high above 1,306.70 would add confidence to the main wave count. A new low below 1,200.07 would confirm a new downwards trend.

New updates to this analysis are in bold.

Grand SuperCycle analysis is here.

MONTHLY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Monthly 2016
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Gold is expected to be within a Grand Super Cycle wave IV, counterpart to Grand Super Cycle wave II which spanned 1923 to 1931. Grand Super Cycle wave II lasted eight years and looks like a zigzag. Zigzags are often relatively quick corrections. Given the guideline of alternation, Grand Super Cycle wave IV may be expected to most likely be a flat, triangle or combination. These are usually more time consuming structures than zigzags.

To see a discussion on the duration of the different degrees of waves, please see the Grand Super Cycle analysis linked to at the beginning of each day’s analysis.

Grand Super Cycle wave IV has a complete super cycle wave (a). Super cycle wave (b) upwards is now unfolding.

If Grand Super Cycle wave IV is to be a flat or combination or triangle, then the first wave down within it is most likely to subdivide as a three and not a five. This is indeed how this movement fits best.

Super cycle wave (a) fits best as a double zigzag, which is classified as a “three”. It is a corrective structure and not a five wave motive structure.

A larger combination may be eliminated for Grand Super Cycle wave IV because the first movement within it is itself a multiple. The maximum number of multiples within a correction is three, so to label multiples within multiples increases the maximum beyond three violating the rule. This downwards wave labelled super cycle wave (a) may not be labelled as a double zigzag for super cycle wave (w) because such labelling would violate the Elliott wave rule.

This means that if the downwards wave labelled super cycle wave (a) is a double zigzag, then there are only two possible structures now for Grand Super Cycle wave IV: either a flat correction or a triangle. Both are very common structures for fourth waves and would see alternation with the zigzag of Grand Super Cycle wave II.

Within a flat correction, both waves A and B must be three wave structures, and they may be any kind of three wave structure (except wave A may not be a triangle). Within a flat correction, wave B must retrace a minimum 0.9 length of wave A. In this instance, super cycle wave (b) would need to reach up to 1,832.79 or above to reach 0.9 the length of super cycle wave (a). Super cycle wave (b) may make a new high above the start of super cycle wave (a) at 1,920.18 as in an expanded flat. Super cycle wave (b) may be any one of more than 23 possible corrective structures, but to achieve the depth required a single or multiple zigzag would be most likely. An expanded flat would be the third possibility which may achieve the required depth.

Within a triangle, all the sub-waves must subdivide as “threes” and four of the five sub-waves must be single or multiple zigzags. One of the sub-waves may be a three that is not a zigzag; sometimes flats are part of triangles. A common length for triangle sub-waves is about 0.8 to 0.85 the length of the prior wave. This would give an expectation for super cycle wave (b) of about 1,745 to 1,789. Again, to achieve this depth the most likely structure for super cycle wave (b) would be a single or multiple zigzag, or possibly an expanded flat correction.

B waves exhibit the greatest variety in form and structure. They are the hardest to analyse and trade, and that is proving the case here.

WEEKLY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Weekly 2016
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The first two weekly charts will both see super cycle wave (a) as a completed double zigzag, which is classified as a three wave structure.

So far from the low at 1,046 on the 3rd of December, 2015, there is a 5-3-5 structure upwards. This is either a completed zigzag (this main wave count) or a series of two first and second waves (the first alternate below). Both possibilities must be considered.

If a zigzag upwards was complete at the last high, then it may be the first zigzag in a double for cycle wave a.

If cycle wave a is subdividing as a double zigzag, then that indicates a larger flat correction for super cycle wave (b). Super cycle wave (b) may be unfolding as an expanded flat in order to reach the depth required for it within Grand Super Cycle wave IV discussed with the monthly chart.

The first zigzag in the double is labelled primary wave W. The double is joined by a three in the opposite direction labelled primary wave X, which subdivides as a zigzag, the most common structure for X waves. X waves within double zigzags are normally relatively brief and shallow and so far this one is 12 weeks to the 30 weeks of primary wave W, and so far it is relatively brief and corrected only 0.328 of primary wave W, so it is relatively shallow. So far this has a typical look.

The second zigzag in the double for primary wave Y may reasonably be expected to be about even in length and duration with primary wave A.

DAILY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Daily 2016
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There is no rule stating a limit for X waves within double zigzags or double combinations. To achieve the purpose of a double zigzag, which is to deepen a correction, their X waves should be relatively brief and shallow. It would be highly unusual and defeat the purpose if primary wave X moved beyond the start of intermediate wave (C) of primary wave W below 1,200.07. This wave count should be discarded below that point.

Primary wave X is seen as a zigzag. Within primary wave X, intermediate wave (B) fits neatly as a triangle. This is supported by MACD hovering about zero as it unfolded. Any wave count which sees a triangle in this position should have a higher probability than a wave count which does not.

If primary wave Y is even in length with primary wave W, then a target for it to end would be about 1,596. This is close the round number pivot of 1,600, so it appears to be a reasonable target. Primary wave Y may last about 30 weeks if it is even in duration with primary wave W.

HOURLY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Hourly 2016
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A five wave structure downwards is complete for intermediate wave (C). Minor wave 5 within it may have unfolded as an explosive fifth wave, typical of commodities.

Ratios within intermediate wave (C) are: minor wave 3 is 0.12 longer than 2.618 the length of minor wave 1, and minor wave 5 is 3.69 short of 2.618 the length of minor wave 3.

A new high short term above 1,306.7 would invalidate the second alternate below, so provide some confidence in this main wave count. At that stage, price would be back within the prior consolidation zone and the downwards breakout following the triangle would look complete.

The cyan trend line is a short term line, which previously offered resistance, so it may do so again. If price breaks above this line, then look for a backtest to support. If that is how price behaves, then it would be highly likely to move up and away from the line after finding support. And if it does that, then some confidence may be had in this wave count prior to price confirmation.

ALTERNATE WEEKLY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Weekly 2016
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What if the 5-3-5 upwards is not a zigzag, but is a series of two overlapping first and second waves?

A base channel is drawn first from the start of the first wave to the end of the first second wave. A parallel copy is then placed on the end of the first wave. A base channel most often works to show where following second wave corrections find resistance or support. When the base channel is breached on the opposite side, in the trend direction, it is used to confirm a third wave. Third waves should have the power to breach base channels in the trend direction.

The base channel about primary waves 1 and 2 is drawn in light maroon — lines. Today’s strong downwards movement has substantially breached the base channel to the downside where it should have provided support. This has necessarily reduced the probability of this wave count to an alternate.

Base channels provide a guideline for resistance or support. They are not an Elliott wave rule. This wave count still meets all Elliott wave rules.

Intermediate wave (2) may not move beyond the start of intermediate wave (1) below 1,200.07

ALTERNATE DAILY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Daily 2016
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If intermediate wave (2) is complete, it may have ended just short of the 0.618 Fibonacci ratio for intermediate wave (1).

At 1,550 intermediate wave (3) would reach 1.618 the length of intermediate wave (1). Intermediate wave (3) may end in either a Fibonacci 34 or 55 days, with 55 more likely. It should show its subdivisions clearly at the daily chart level.

SECOND ALTERNATE WEEKLY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Weekly 2016
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I will consider all possibilities that I can see that meet all Elliott wave rules.

What if super cycle wave (a) is a completed five and not a three? Does that fit?

This wave count meets all Elliott wave rules, but the proportions of cycle and primary degree waves are wrong. Primary wave 2 at 40 weeks duration is almost seven times the duration of cycle wave II, which lasted only six weeks.

This poor proportion, because it is so exaggerated, must necessarily substantially reduce the probability of this wave count.

A base channel is drawn about cycle waves I and II. Not only did primary wave 2, a second wave one degree lower, breach the base channel but the entire following movement including the third wave down is above the base channel. Cycle wave III should have been able to break below the lower edge of the base channel. This must also further reduce the probability of this wave count.

If super cycle wave (a) is a five wave structure, then Grand Super Cycle wave IV would be a zigzag. This would offer no structural alternation with the zigzag of Grand Super Cycle wave II. This also reduces the probability of this wave count.

Upwards movement from the low on 3rd of December, 2015, is seen as a completed zigzag. This is possible. Sometimes B waves are surprisingly short and quick; they exhibit the greatest variety in form and structure.

If the upwards movement is a completed zigzag, then there may have been a large trend change there. A new five down for super cycle wave (c) may have begun.

SECOND ALTERNATE DAILY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Daily 2016
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If there has been a large trend change, then a new five down should be unfolding. If this is the case, then the triangle, which looks like it completed on 22nd of September, must be ignored. This overlapping movement must be seen as a series of first and second waves.

At 1,248 intermediate wave (3) would reach 1.618 the length of intermediate wave (1). Intermediate wave (3) may only subdivide as an impulse. Within Intermediate wave (3), minor wave 4 may not move back up into minor wave 1 price territory above 1,306.70.

If this wave count is invalidated with a new high above 1,306.70, that would offer reasonable confidence in the first two wave counts.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

WEEKLY CHART

Gold Weekly 2016
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

Gold is no longer range bound. This week has clearly broken below prior support at 1,305. Price may find some support here about the 40 week moving average.

The bullish signal from divergence between price and RSI at the weekly chart level as proven to be unreliable in this instance. Unfortunately, this is the nature of technical analysis; no signal is going to be always reliable. All technical analysis is an effort based on probability.

DAILY CHART

Gold Daily 2016
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

The only weakness or bearish signal I can see in hindsight, which was ignored, may have been the close below the triangle trend line yesterday. The red daily candlestick for the 3rd of October closed below the yellow support line. On its own though this small piece of evidence does not look to be enough to predict what happened next.

A triangle pattern developed and price has broken out of the triangle downwards. Using a triangle measurement, the movement after the breakout may be expected to be about 65 in length giving a target about 1,250. So far price has reached down to 1,269, so a further 19 down may be expected using this approach.

A very strong downwards day comes with a strong increase in volume. The fall in price has good support from volume. This may be part of a larger more sustained trend, or it may be a capitulation bottom typical of commodities. It is reasonable to expect this very strong movement to be mostly (or all) reversed in the short term. This is commonly what happens to blow off tops and capitulation bottoms.

In the fist instance, now that price has broken below support, a back test to find resistance about 1,305 may be expected. This would be typical behaviour. How price behaves about this resistance line may indicate whether or not a new downwards trend is developing. If price can find strong resistance about 1,305 and move back down from there, then a new downwards trend should be expected. If price breaks above 1,305 and moves back upwards, then the breakout following the triangle may be over.

On Balance Volume has today come down to almost touch the yellow support line. This line has reasonable technical significance. It has been touched three times and is reasonably long held. This line may assist to halt the fall in price here.

RSI is just in oversold territory. If a new downwards trend is developing, then RSI may remain extreme for reasonable periods of time. If this downwards move is a spike to be quickly reversed, then it may still not be over. RSI may yet move a little further into oversold before price turns.

ADX is increasing but still below 15. It is still not indicating a trend in place. ATR disagrees today as it is strongly increasing. Bollinger Bands have widened as volatility has returned. A new downwards trend may be developing, but ADX needs to move above 15 to provide confidence.

Stochastics is breaking below its support line and moving into oversold. Stochastics may move further into oversold before it turns.

This analysis is published @ 10:15 p.m. EST.