A consolidation was expected.

Downwards movement remains above the invalidation point on the main Elliott wave count.

Summary: A consolidation is expected to move sideways for about three weeks. This may be a B wave within a B wave, which do not present good trading opportunities. At this stage, a new high above 1,336.14 at any stage would invalidate the bearish alternate and confirm the main bullish wave count.

New updates to this analysis are in bold.

Grand SuperCycle analysis is here.

The last published monthly chart may be seen here.

DAILY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

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The zigzag downwards for primary wave X may be complete, at all time frames. A target for primary wave Y upwards would be about 1,569 where primary wave Y would be about even in length with primary wave W.

There is now a five wave structure upwards for this wave count labelled intermediate wave (A). Minor wave 5 ended quickly with a blowoff top that was just as quickly reversed.

Within intermediate wave (A), there is only a very little alternation between minor waves 2 and 4: minor wave 2 was a deep 0.78 single zigzag and minor wave 4 was a deep 0.63 double zigzag.

Intermediate wave (A) lasted 23 days, two longer than a Fibonacci 21. Intermediate wave (B) may be about the same duration.

Intermediate wave (B) may not move beyond the start of intermediate wave (A) below 1,242.87.

HOURLY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

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Minor wave 5 ended with a blowoff top, typical of commodities. There are no Fibonacci ratios between minor waves 1, 3 and 5.

So far, within intermediate wave (B), it now looks like minor wave A may be subdividing as a zigzag downwards that looks incomplete.

Minor wave B may be any one of more than 23 possible corrective structures. It should be expected to be a choppy overlapping consolidation that could last several days, or it may last about two weeks or a bit longer. B waves most often do not present good trading opportunities. B waves within B waves, as this one is, most often are exceptionally complicated and choppy movements. The labelling within it will change as this structure unfolds. It is impossible at this early stage to tell with any reasonable level of confidence which structure it will be.

When the first movement in a correction subdivides as a three, then either a flat, triangle or combination is indicated. These are the most likely structures at this stage for intermediate wave (B).

Within these structures, an expanded flat, running triangle or combination may see a new high above 1,336.14 as part of the correction. There is no upper invalidation point for this wave count at this stage; a new high does not mean it is over. Patience is required with B waves. This one is incomplete.

ALTERNATE DAILY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

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This wave count sees a correction downwards as incomplete.

Within multiple corrections labelled W-X-Y (X-Z), the rule states the maximum number of corrective structures is three. This maximum applies only to the corrective structures of W, Y and Z. Otherwise the maximum would need to be five, not three.

Within multiples, each corrective structure of W, Y and Z may only themselves be labelled as simple corrective structures: A-B-C, or A-B-C-D-E in the case of triangles. They may not themselves be labelled W-X-Y (X-Z). That would increase the maximum beyond three and violate the rule.

This rule does not apply to the joining structures labelled X. They may be any corrective structure including multiples.

The most common mistake for those new to Elliott wave or sometimes those who do not appear to have understood the rule, is to label long movements as W-X-Y-X-Z, with each of W, Y and Z also labelled as multiples. Such labelling of multiples within multiples violates the Elliott wave rule. Such analysis is of no predictive use and should not be seriously considered.

Here, the second zigzag in the double is relatively close to completion.

Minor wave B moved higher, remaining just below the start of minor wave A. Minor wave B here is seen as a three wave zigzag. The subdivisions will all fit at the hourly chart level. The blowoff top may have been minute wave c. While it is entirely possible for C waves to behave like this, it is not as common as fifth waves. This slightly reduces the probability of this wave count today.

At 1,174 minor wave C would reach 1.618 the length of minor wave A. Within minor wave C, no second wave correction may move beyond the start of its first wave above 1,336.14.

At this stage, only a new low below 1,242.87 would invalidate the main wave count and provide confidence in this alternate.

ALTERNATE HOURLY ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

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Minor wave C must subdivide as a five wave structure. So far only minute waves i and ii may be complete.

This wave count now expects to see an increase in downwards momentum tomorrow as a third wave unfolds. If this bearish wave count is correct, then we should see it confirmed with a new low below 1,242.87 tomorrow or the day after.

At 1,184 minute wave iii would reach 1.618 the length of minute wave i.

Within minute wave iii, the second wave correction of minuette wave (ii) may not move beyond the start of minuette wave (i) above 1,290.91.

The pink channel is drawn in the same way on both hourly charts today. Here, the channel is a base channel about minute waves i and ii. Lower degree second waves should not breach base channels drawn about higher degree first and second waves. A breach of the upper edge of this channel would put doubt on this wave count before invalidation.

Final invalidation of this idea at this stage must still be with a new high above 1,336.14. It is possible that my labelling of minute wave ii as over is premature. If it continues higher, it may not move beyond the start of minute wave i.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

WEEKLY CHART

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Following bullish divergence between price and RSI (yellow lines), price has been moving upwards for three weeks on increasing volume.

RSI at the weekly chart level is above 50, which is bullish. It has a long way to go before it would reach extreme, so there is plenty of room still for price to rise.

Price is finding some resistance at an area of prior support at 1,305 – 1,310. If price can break above 1,310, that would be a strong bullish signal. The next line of resistance would then be about 1,350.

DAILY CHART

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A downwards day with long upper and lower wicks and lighter volume looks mostly corrective. However, volume is still relatively heavy. This may favour slightly the alternate wave count over the main wave count.

On Balance Volume is very bearish with a breach of the yellow trend line. There is now strong divergence between OBV and price from the last swing low on the 7th of October: OBV has made a new low, but price so far has failed to make a corresponding low. This divergence is bullish and indicates weakness in price. This favours the main Elliott wave count.

ADX is today slightly increasing, indicating an upwards trend. This may be due to this indicator being based on a 14 day average, so it is lagging. ATR is also increasing, indicating the market is trending.

Bollinger Bands today slightly contracted indicating the market may be consolidating.

RSI and Stochastics are both declining, but neither is yet oversold. There is room for price to fall further.

This analysis is published @ 04:09 p.m. EST. Technical analysis section updated @ 05:30 p.m. EST.