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Downwards movement was expected, which is what happened. Friday’s session made a lower high and a lower low, the definition of downwards movement, although the candlestick closed green.

Summary: It is reasonably likely now that upwards movement is over for now and a deep correction may have begun. Price confidence would come with a new low now below 1,183.15. If the gold channel on the hourly chart is breached by downwards movement, then strong confidence may be had that a deep correction has begun. The first target is 1,155, but it may be deeper than this.

New updates to this analysis are in bold.

Last monthly and weekly charts are here. Last historic analysis video is here.

Grand SuperCycle analysis is here.

MAIN ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

DAILY CHART

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Daily 2017
Click chart to enlarge.

This main wave count has a better fit for prior movement. To see the difference between this main wave count and the alternate below please refer to last historic analysis linked to above.

This main wave count expects Gold has had a primary degree trend change in December 2016. The new upwards wave is either a primary degree third wave, or a primary degree zigzag to complete a double zigzag.

Intermediate wave (1) is reasonably likely to be over, lasting a Fibonacci 21 days / sessions. The long upper wick on Thursday’s candlestick is bearish. While price remains within the gold channel, it must be accepted that minor wave 5 may extend higher. A breach of the gold channel on the daily chart would provide strong indication of a trend change.

The first in a series of second wave corrections for Gold’s new impulses is usually very deep. Intermediate wave (2) is expected to be at least 0.618 the depth of intermediate wave (1), and very likely may be deeper. It may not move beyond the start of intermediate wave (1) below 1,123.08.

The upcoming correction for intermediate wave (2) should present an opportunity to join a new trend.

Intermediate wave (2) may be at least as long in duration as intermediate wave (1), and fairly likely it may be longer. A Fibonacci 21 or 34 sessions will be the expectation. Corrections are often more time consuming than impulses.

HOURLY CHART

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Hourly 2017
Click chart to enlarge.

Upwards movement from the low on 15th of December will subdivide as a completed five wave impulse. This may be intermediate wave (1) as labelled, or the degree may be moved down one and it may only be minor wave 1 (as noted on the daily chart).

There is no longer divergence with price and MACD for the final fifth wave. Strength is common for Gold’s fifth waves; this is not always seen, but Gold often exhibits blow off tops at all time frames. The overshoot of the upper edge of the channel looks fairly typical for a final fifth wave, but it also looks typical for the middle of a third wave. For this reason, while price remains within the channel, it must still be accepted that it is possible that it could continue yet higher.

Within intermediate wave (1), Fibonacci ratios are: minor wave 3 is 3.85 short of 6.854 the length of minor wave 1, and minor wave 5 is just 0.56 short of 0.618 the length of minor wave 3.

Ratios within minor wave 3 are: there is no Fibonacci ratio between minute waves i and iii, and minute wave v is 2.88 longer than equality with minute wave iii.

Indication of a trend change would be a breach of the lower edge of the gold channel. That would provide reasonable confidence in a trend change.

A new low below 1,183.15 would provide price confidence in a trend change. At that stage, downwards movement could not be a second wave correction within a final fifth wave of minute wave v, so minute wave v would have to be over.

If labelling on this hourly wave count is correct, then minute wave ii may not move beyond the start of minute wave i above 1,206.35. A new high on Monday or Tuesday next week would indicate intermediate wave (1) is continuing.

So far there may be a first wave down complete followed by an incomplete expanded flat correction for a second wave. Along the way down, the lower edge of the gold channel may provide support. How price behaves when it gets there will add information as to whether or not intermediate wave (1) is over. If price slices quickly through the trend line, then the probability of a trend change will be high. But if price hesitates and then bounces up from the trend line, the probability that intermediate wave (1) is not over will be reasonable.

If the trend line is breached quickly, then look for a throwback to find resistance at the trend line. If price behaves like that, it would offer a good set up for a short position to trade some of intermediate wave (2) downwards. At that stage, price would have provided some confirmation of a trend change and the trend channel breach would have added reasonable confidence.

If members choose to trade this correction downwards after some confirmation / confidence in a trend change, then always follow these two risk management rules:

1. Always use a stop loss. Trading without a stop exposes the entirety of your equity to risk. This is how novices wipe out their accounts at least once.

2. Invest no more than 1-5% of equity on any one trade. Risking more of your equity indicates trading decisions based upon greed, which is to be avoided. Most of trading is management of psychology and risk.

ALTERNATE HOURLY CHART

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Hourly 2017
Click chart to enlarge.

What if intermediate wave (1) is not over? Would that fit, does it look better or worse, and is there a difference in Fibonacci ratios?

Minor wave 1 is seen in the same place for both wave counts, as noted on the daily chart.

Here, minor wave 3 may have been the strong overshoot of the upper edge of the channel. This looks possible.

There is no longer a Fibonacci ratio between minor waves 3 and 1.

Ratios within minor wave 3 are: there is no Fibonacci ratio between minute waves i and iii, and minute wave v is 3.44 longer than 1.618 the length of minute wave iii.

Fibonacci ratios are slightly better for the main hourly wave count.

ALTERNATE ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

DAILY CHART

Gold Elliott Wave Chart Daily 2017
Click chart to enlarge.

This alternate wave count expects that Gold is still within a bear market. Targets for new lows can be seen on weekly and monthly charts.

Within the bear market, a primary degree correction is underway.

Primary wave 2 is most likely to subdivide as a zigzag. So far it looks like a five up is either complete now or very close to completion. This may be intermediate wave (A). Intermediate wave (A) may now be complete lasting a total Fibonacci 21 sessions.

It is also possible to move the degree of labelling all down one degree within upwards movement for intermediate wave (A). It is possible that only minor wave 1 within intermediate wave (A) is complete. Either way the invalidation point remains the same. If a five up is complete, then the following three down may not move beyond its start below 1,123.08.

Primary wave 2 may not move beyond the start of primary wave 1 above 1,374.81.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

WEEKLY CHART

Gold Weekly 2017
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

Gold has moved higher for three weeks in a row on increasing volume. The rise in price is well supported by volume. This upwards movement looks healthy.

A Morning Star candlestick pattern at the last low indicates a possible trend change there.

Next resistance is about 1,225.

On Balance Volume may provide resistance before that price point is reached though. It is coming up to almost touch the yellow trend line that previously provided support. However, there is some leeway in exactly how this line may be drawn, so it is not possible to tell with accuracy exactly where resistance is. It may be here or it may be just a little higher.

RSI shows increasing strength to upwards movement.

ADX does not yet indicate a trend change (this is a lagging indicator). The black ADX line is declining, indicating only a consolidation. The -DX line remains above the +DX line. No trend change is yet indicated at this time frame.

DAILY CHART

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

At this stage, it looks like price may have found resistance at about 1,210. The long upper wick for Thursday’s candlestick, and now a spinning top for Friday, looks slightly bearish followed by corrective movement.

The balance of volume for Friday was down and it showed a slight increase. Although the candlestick closed green, this is read as support for downwards movement within the session. Price made a lower high and a lower low for Friday and this is the definition of downwards movement.

There is some distance before On Balance Volume may find support.

ADX indicates still that an upwards trend is in place with the black ADX line again increasing today. The +DX line is above the -DX line, but both are below the black ADX line. This trend is now entering extreme territory. There is still room for it to run though because ADX is not yet at 35.

ATR remains flat indicating some weakness within this trend. This is normal for either a consolidation or the early stages of Gold’s new trends.

Stochastics is overbought, but this oscillator may remain extreme for reasonable periods of time during a trending market. No divergence is seen between price and Stochastics, nor between price and RSI, to indicate weakness at the last high.

Bollinger Bands continue to widen, which is normal for a healthy trend. They are not yet extreme, so there is room for the trend to continue.

The bottom line still remains that it is entirely possible price may continue higher while it is within the channel. This trend will see a pullback which should be expected to be deep, but it is not yet indicated that this has arrived.

GDX DAILY CHART

GDX Daily 2017
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

GDX has been consolidating now for six days. A small bull flag pattern may be completing. The lower edge of the flag may find support at the gold trend line.

The target using the measured rule for the flag pattern would be about 27.85.

A breakout above the upper edge of the flag pattern is required for indication that the next movement upwards has begun, and this should come with an increase in volume. Until that happens the flag pattern may continue sideways.

The balance of volume for Friday’s session was upwards and it showed a decline. The rise in price was not supported by volume. This session looks like part of the flag pattern and not the beginning of a breakout.

ADX is declining, indicating the market is trending. The pattern may be needed to continue sideways / lower to bring the ADX line back down from above both the directional lines.

ATR is now flat as price moves sideways, typical of a correction.

On Balance Volume found support today at the yellow trend line. A breakout by OBV may indicate the next movement for price.

Stochastics is still overbought, but this may remain extreme for reasonable periods of time during a trending market.

Bollinger Bands continue to widen as price moves sideways. Some contraction now may be expected as BBs are nearing extreme. This may indicate that the correction may continue for longer.

This analysis is published @ 05:51 p.m. EST.