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A new high above 1,262.47 invalidated the main hourly Elliott wave count and confirmed the alternate.

I have three Elliott wave counts for you today.

Summary: Gold is still range bound. There are still at least two valid wave counts for this correction and they encompass four possible structures which may unfold over the next week. This means that short term price swings within the consolidation will be impossible to accurately predict. The safest approach to a range bound market is to wait for a breakout and the resumption of a trend before joining the trend.

New updates to this analysis are in bold.

Last published weekly chart is here.

FIRST DAILY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Daily 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

Intermediate wave (1) is a complete impulse. Intermediate wave (2) has begun and is most likely incomplete.

The first movement down within intermediate wave (2) fits as a zigzag.

Upwards movement labelled minor wave X may be a complete double zigzag. Subwaves W, Y and Z within multiples may only be single corrections. The maximum number of corrective structures within a multiple is three. To label W, Y and Z multiples themselves increases the maximum beyond three and violates the rule. But X waves are movements in the opposite direction and are not included in the count of the number of corrective structures, so they may take any corrective form.

Occasionally X waves subdivide as multiples themselves. This may have happened here. All possibilities should be considered.

Minor wave X is a 0.83 length of minor wave W. This may not be a B wave within a flat correction for intermediate wave (2) because it falls short of 0.9 the length of the the first zigzag down labelled minor wave W.

Intermediate wave (2) may be unfolding as a double combination or double zigzag. Because minor wave X is relatively deep, a double combination would be more likely now. Double zigzags more commonly have shallow (and relatively brief) X waves than this one.

If intermediate wave (2) is a double zigzag, then minor wave Y downwards must be a zigzag and must deepen the correction so that the structure has a downwards slope. The most likely point for this to end would be about the 0.618 Fibonacci ratio of intermediate wave (1) at 1,131. This scenario is still possible but today has reduced in probability due to the depth and duration of minor wave X.

If intermediate wave (2) is a double combination, then the first structure in the double is a zigzag labelled minor wave W. The double is joined by a three in the opposite direction, a double zigzag labelled minor wave X. The second structure in the double may be either a flat or triangle labelled minor wave Y. It would most likely end close to the same level as minor wave W at 1,208 so that the whole structure moves sideways. This is now more likely.

Intermediate wave (2) may not move beyond the start of intermediate wave (1) below 1,046.27.

FIRST HOURLY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Hourly 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

Minor wave Y may be a zigzag if intermediate wave (2) is a double zigzag. Within the zigzag, no second wave nor B wave may move beyond its start above 1,270.08. A new high above this point at any stage would invalidate the idea of a double zigzag.

Minor wave Y is more likely to be a flat or triangle to complete a double combination for intermediate wave (2). Within an expanded flat or running triangle, the B wave may move beyond the start of the A wave which here would begin at 1,270.08. A new high above 1,270.08 may be part of minor wave Y for this wave count and would not invalidate this wave count at this stage.

A flat or triangle for minor wave Y would most likely end about 1,208, so that it ends close to the end of minor wave W.

Both flats and triangles are essentially sideways structures as are double combinations. The purpose of combinations is to take up time. They test our patience.

SECOND DAILY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Daily 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

I am labelling these wave counts “one” and “two” rather than main and alternate because it is my judgement that they have a close to even probability.

Intermediate wave (2) may be a double combination with minor wave X ending earlier as labelled.

Minor wave W is a zigzag, the first structure in a double. The two structures in the double may be joined by a simple zigzag for minor wave X in the opposite direction.

Minor wave Y may be underway as an expanded flat correction.

At 1,207 minute wave c would reach 1.618 the length of minute wave a within the expanded flat of minor wave Y. This target would see minor wave Y end very close to the end of minor wave W. The whole structure for intermediate wave (2) would have a sideways look, typical of a combination.

Minute wave c downwards must subdivide as a five wave structure.

SECOND HOURLY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Hourly 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

This wave count now expects a quicker end to the correction for intermediate wave (2).

Within the flat correction for minor wave Y, minute wave b is a 1.20 length of minute wave a. This is within the normal range for a B wave within a flat of 1 to 1.38.

At 1,207 minute wave c would reach 1.618 the length of minute wave a.

Minute wave c must subdivide as a five wave structure, either an impulse or an ending diagonal. An impulse would be quicker. A diagonal would be more time consuming. Within both an impulse or diagonal, the second wave correction to come may not move beyond the start of the first wave above 1,270.08.

ALTERNATE DAILY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Daily 2016
Click chart to enlarge.

It is technically possible but highly unlikely that intermediate wave (2) is over. This wave count requires confirmation with a five up on the hourly chart for confidence. A new high is not confirmation of this wave count. If price exhibits a classic breakout, a strong upwards day closing comfortably above 1,282.68 on high volume, then this wave count would increase in probability and should be used.

If intermediate wave (2) is over, then it is a very brief and shallow 0.31 zigzag lasting only eleven days (intermediate wave (1) lasted 69 days). The probability of this is very low.

At 1,591 intermediate wave (3) would reach 1.618 the length of intermediate wave (1).

Minuette wave (ii) may not move beyond the start of minuette wave (i) at 1,209.08.

The best fit black channel about this upwards movement contains all except the end of minute wave iii within intermediate wave (1). It is very common for the ends of third waves to overshoot channels as they are the strongest movement within a trend. Minuette wave (iii) overshoots the upper edge giving this channel a typical look.

It is indicative that the lower edge of this channel is now being breached. If a big third wave up has begun, price should be finding support at the lower trend line. For this reason with now two full daily candlesticks below the line the probability of this alternate wave count at this stage is reduced.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Hourly 2016
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

The bottom line is price remains range bound and has been so since February. During a range bound market, price will swing from resistance to support and back again. It won’t move in a straight line and it may overshoot resistance or support before turning around and moving back within the range. The safest approach to a range bound market is to exercise patience and wait for price to breakout, and then join the trend. Only the most highly experienced traders should attempt to trade a range bound market; mean reverting systems are characterised by a few large losses and many small profits; it is more difficult to profit in a range bound market using a mean reverting system. Trend following systems are easier to profit from but require a trending market.

During this consolidation, it remains a downwards day with strongest volume. This indicates a downwards breakout is more likely than upwards. Recently, volume has been rising overall as price has overall moved higher. This gives slight cause for concern to the breakout direction indicated by volume. More normally, during a consolidation volume declines particularly towards the end. Here it is not.

The strong volume for the upwards day of 21st April supports the idea of more upwards movement to come short term at least.

ADX indicates there is a trend and it is up. ATR may be beginning to agree; it is also increasing. These two indicators today along with strong volume for 21st April offer some support to the alternate daily Elliott wave count.

However, the candlestick for 21st of April does not. The long upper wick is a warning that upwards movement may be over. This wick is bearish. Heavy volume may be a volume spike for the end of a movement, typical of commodities, although more often seen at the end of a larger trend than a smaller movement within a consolidation.

The trend lines on On Balance Volume are redrawn today to better reflect the current consolidation. A break above or below the orange lines by OBV would indicate the more likely direction for price.

There is divergence today short term between the new high from price and RSI and Stochastics (short yellow lines). This indicates weakness in price. Along with the long upper wick on today’s candlestick, on balance it would be more likely that upwards movement is over for now and one to three downwards days may be seen here to move lower until price finds support.

This analysis is published @ 08:56 p.m. EST.