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A downwards breakout from a small pennant pattern has unfolded exactly as expected.

Summary: The trend is still up. A multi day correction against the trend is unfolding and still looks incomplete. A target for it to end is either 1,300 or just below 1,249.94. In the short term, the volume profile is still more bearish than bullish. A small pennant pattern suggests more downwards movement is likely.

New updates to this analysis are in bold.

Last weekly chart can be found here.

Grand SuperCycle analysis is here.

DAILY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT I

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Daily 2016
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There are two wave counts today presented in order of probability.

Intermediate wave (2) is a complete expanded flat correction. Price from the low labelled intermediate wave (2) has now moved too far upwards to be reasonably considered a continuation of intermediate wave (2). Intermediate wave (3) is very likely to have begun and would reach 1.618 the length of intermediate wave (1) at 1,582.

Intermediate wave (3) may only subdivide as an impulse.

So far minor waves 1 and 2 may be complete within intermediate wave (3). The middle of intermediate wave (3) may have begun and may also only subdivide as an impulse.

Within minor wave 3, minute wave i is complete. Minute wave ii may be continuing as an expanded flat correction. Expanded flats are very common structures.

Within minute wave ii, minuette wave (a) subdivides as a quick three wave structure. Minuette wave (b) subdivides perfectly as a zigzag and is a 1.34 length of minuette wave (a), within the normal range of 1 to 1.38.

It would be highly likely for minuette wave (c) to make at least a slight new low below the end of minuette wave (a) at 1,305.59 to avoid a truncation and a very rare running flat.

The target is now recalculated at subminuette degree at the hourly chart level. If this target is wrong, it may be a little too high. If price drops through 1,300, then the next target would be at 1,291 – 1,290 where minuette wave (c) would reach 1.618 the length of minuette wave (a), and minute wave ii would end at the 0.618 Fibonacci ratio of minute wave i.

Minuette wave (c) may only subdivide as a five wave structure, either an impulse or ending diagonal. So far it looks like the more common impulse.

Minute wave ii may not move beyond the start of minute wave i below 1,249.94.

HOURLY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT I

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Hourly 2016
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The triangle for subminuette wave iv did not end as expected. Micro wave C moved further sideways with a whipsaw that breached the triangle invalidation point.

On the five minute chart, this is how subdivisions fit best for the triangle. All subwaves are zigzags or double zigzags; they all fit as threes.

The triangle is supported by MACD hovering at zero while it unfolded.

If subminuette wave v begins at 1,333.60, then at 1,290 it would reach equality in length with subminuette wave i. The second target is now calculated at two wave degrees and is also the 0.618 Fibonacci ratio. The second target now has a higher probability than the first target. It would also allow more room for subminuette wave v to unfold.

I keep the first target here though because it serves as a warning: if price reaches about 1,300, it should find support there. A small bounce at least may be expected at this area. If the structure of subminuette wave v could be seen as complete at 1,300, then it should be expected as very likely to be over. Gold often exhibits surprisingly short and brief fifth waves out of its fourth wave triangles. We have been surprised by this tendency before. I want us to all be prepared for this possibility in this instance.

Draw a channel about minuette wave (c) using Elliott’s first technique: draw the first trend line from the low labelled subminuette wave i (see this on the daily chart) to the low labelled here subminuette wave iii, then place a parallel copy on the high of subminuette wave ii (again, see this on the daily chart). Look for subminuette wave v to find support at the lower edge of this channel.

If the lower edge of this channel is clearly breached by strong downwards movement, then expect that targets are too high. That would be an indication that Gold may be ready to complete a swift strong fifth wave down.

Minute wave ii may not move beyond the start of minute wave i below 1,249.94.

DAILY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT II

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Daily 2016
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My bottom line is that intermediate wave (2) is highly likely to be over, so I must consider all possibilities for how intermediate wave (3) is starting from the low labelled intermediate wave (2).

What if minor wave 2 is not over? It may be continuing as an expanded flat correction. Again, these are very common structures.

The target for intermediate wave (3) is still the same at 1,582.

Minute wave b is a 1.91 length of minute wave a within the expanded flat of minor wave 2. This is longer than the common range for a B wave within a flat of 1 to 1.38, but still within the allowable convention of up to 2 times the length of wave A. However, it is close to the maximum, so this must reduce the probability of this wave count.

Minute wave c of the flat would be very likely to make at least a slight new low below the end of minute wave a at 1,249.94 to avoid a truncation and a very rare running flat. The 0.618 Fibonacci ratio of minor wave 1 at 1,243 would be a reasonable expectation to achieve this.

Minute wave c must subdivide as a five wave structure, either an impulse or an ending diagonal. So far an impulse looks more likely, and it is more common, so it should be expected in the first instance.

Within the impulse of minute wave c, the third wave of minuette wave (iii) looks like it may be extending. Again, this is a very common tendency for third waves, so this should be expected.

The target expects that minor wave 2 may overshoot the lower edge of the base channel about intermediate waves (1) and (2). This is possible, but it does reduce the probability of the target. The base channel is fairly likely to be respected and should offer strong support.

Minor wave 2 may not move beyond the stat of minor wave 1 below 1,200.07.

HOURLY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT II

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Hourly 2016
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Structure and subdivisions at the hourly chart level for wave counts I and II are essentially the same.

This second wave count has different degrees of labelling, but the idea is the same.

The target for this second wave count is for minute wave c to move at least slightly below the end of minute wave a at 1,249.94 to avoid a truncation and a very rare running flat.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

WEEKLY CHART

Gold Weekly 2016
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Last weekly candlestick completes a bearish engulfing candlestick pattern with higher volume. This is a strong bearish signal and strongly supports the wave count in expecting more downwards movement. If targets are wrong, they may be too high.

On Balance Volume has come down to find support at the upper purple trend line. This may offer some support. If OBV moves up and away from this line this week, it would be a reasonable bullish signal. A break below this line would be a reasonable bearish signal. The next line to offer support is not too far away but would still allow for a reasonable fall in price.

DAILY CHART

Gold Daily 2016
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Price has broken lower out of the small pennant pattern noted yesterday. A target for this downwards movement to end, using the measured rule, would be about 1,271.

The large difference in volume data for yesterday’s session between StockCharts and COMEX data is resolved. They now agree. Yesterday’s upwards session completed with lighter volume.

StockCharts data today shows an increase in volume for a downwards day. Overall, though volume is still falling as price falls, this market is overall falling of its own weight. There is not enough support from volume in this downwards trend to pull price strongly and sustainably lower at this stage. This looks still like a counter trend movement.

On Balance Volume may be breaking below the lower purple line. If the next session closes red with OBV moving lower, then the break would be clearer and that would then be a strong bearish signal. The next line to offer support for OBV is the yellow line, which is some distance away and which would allow for a reasonable fall in price.

RSI is now neutral. There is again plenty of room for this market to rise or fall.

ADX is strongly declining indicating the market is not trending. Overall, ATR still agrees although it is turning up today. This uptick needs to be longer lasting and stronger for ATR to disagree.

With ADX and ATR mostly in agreement, it should be expected that this downwards movement is a counter trend movement particularly as this view is supported by declining volume. Look for support about 1,300 and the Fibonacci 55 day moving average. Expect price to continue lower to find support and not end the fall until Stochastics is oversold at the same time.

Stochastics is not yet oversold. Price has not yet found support. More downwards movement is indicated. This fits with the Elliott wave count.

This analysis is published @ 09:25 p.m. EST.