GDX and Gold both continued lower for the week as expected.

With Gold now having developed an extreme downwards trend, candlestick reversal patterns may be used as warnings that the trend may either end or be interrupted by a consolidation to relieve extreme conditions.

Summary: With support from volume, GDX has effected a downwards breakout from a very long held consolidation (beginning December 2016). The long term target is at 16.02.

For the short term, look for a possible bounce or consolidation next week for GDX. In the fist instance, expect resistance at 19.74 to hold.

It is again possible for Gold that a low may be in place, but this needs some confirmation with a new high above 1,216.30.

Always trade with stops to protect your account. Risk only 1-5% of equity on any one trade.

New updates to this analysis are in bold.

Grand SuperCycle analysis is here.

Last historic analysis with monthly charts and several weekly alternates is here, video is here.

Weekly charts will all again be reviewed at the end of this week.

MAIN ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

WEEKLY CHART – TRIANGLE

Click chart to enlarge.

There are four remaining weekly wave counts at this time for cycle wave b: a triangle, flat, combination or double zigzag. Only one weekly chart shall be published Monday to Thursday and all four weekly charts will be reviewed again at the end of this week.

While the direction does not diverge for these four weekly wave counts, only one weekly wave count shall be published on a daily basis, so that the analysis is manageable for me to publish and for members to digest. Note: This does not mean that the remaining three counts may not be correct.

The triangle so far has the best fit and look.

Cycle wave b may be an incomplete triangle. The triangle may be a contracting or barrier triangle, with a contracting triangle looking much more likely because the A-C trend line does not have a strong slope. A contracting triangle could see the B-D trend line have a stronger slope, so that the triangle trend lines converge at a reasonable rate. A barrier triangle would have a B-D trend line that would be essentially flat, and the triangle trend lines would barely converge.

Within a contracting triangle, primary wave D may not move beyond the end of primary wave B below 1,123.08. Within a barrier triangle, primary wave D may end about the same level as primary wave B at 1,123.08, so that the B-D trend line is essentially flat. Only a new low reasonably below 1,123.08 would invalidate the triangle.

Within both a contracting and barrier triangle, primary wave E may not move beyond the end of primary wave C above 1,365.68.

Four of the five sub-waves of a triangle must be zigzags, with only one sub-wave allowed to be a multiple zigzag. Primary wave C is the most common sub-wave to subdivide as a multiple, and this is how primary wave C for this example fits best.

Primary wave D must be a single structure, most likely a zigzag.

There are no problems in terms of subdivisions or rare structures for this wave count. It has an excellent fit and so far a typical look.

A new channel is drawn on all charts about the downwards wave of primary wave D. Here, it is labelled a best fit channel. If this channel is breached by upwards movement, that may provide reasonable confidence in this weekly triangle wave count and put serious doubt on the other three weekly wave counts.

This wave count now expects a consolidation for primary wave E to back test resistance at prior support, and then a significant new downwards wave for cycle wave C. For the long term, this is the most bearish wave count.

DAILY CHART – TRIANGLE

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Primary wave D may again be complete. For Barchart data, there is a Morning Doji Star candlestick reversal pattern at the low.

A new high above 1,216.30 would be required for reasonable confidence that a low is in place. This price point is the start of minor wave 5. A new high above the start of minor wave 5 may not be a second wave correction within minor wave 5, so at that stage minor wave 5 should be over.

While price remains below 1,216.30, it will remain possible that primary wave D could continue lower. However, primary wave D for this triangle wave count should end here or very soon, so that the B-D trend line has a reasonable slope ensuring the triangle trend lines converge at a reasonable rate. If primary wave D were to continue much lower, the B-D trend line would have too shallow a slope for a normal looking Elliott wave triangle.

A target for primary wave E is the strong zone of resistance about 1,305 to 1,310. Primary wave E must subdivide as a zigzag, and it should last at least a Fibonacci 13 weeks. Primary wave E may not move beyond the end of primary wave C above 1,365.68.

HOURLY CHART

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Minor wave 5 may now be a complete impulse. This main hourly wave count has slightly more support from classic technical analysis at the end of this week, but it still requires a new high above 1,216.30 for reasonable confidence.

If there has been a trend change at primary degree this week, then a five up should develop at the hourly and daily chart levels. So far that would be incomplete.

Minute wave ii may not move beyond the start of minute wave i below 1,160.75.

ALTERNATE HOURLY CHART

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Here, the degree of labelling within the last five down is simply moved down one degree. Minor wave 5 may continue lower. Only minute wave i may be over at this week’s low.

Minute wave ii may not move beyond the start of minute wave i above 1,216.30.

Minute wave ii may end about the 0.618 Fibonacci ratio of minute wave i about 1,195.

Support levels may be used for targets if price does continue lower next week.

WEEKLY CHART – FLAT

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It is possible that cycle wave b may be a flat correction. Within a flat correction, primary wave B must retrace a minimum 0.9 length of primary wave A at 1,079.13 or below. Primary wave B may make a new low below the start of primary wave A at 1,046.27 as in an expanded flat correction.

Only a new low reasonably below 1,123.08 would provide reasonable confidence in this wave count.

Intermediate wave (C) must subdivide as a five wave structure; it may be unfolding as an impulse. Within intermediate wave (C), minor waves 1, 2 and now 3 may be complete. A consolidation to last about 5 to 13 weeks may now develop for minor wave 4. Minor wave 4 may not move into minor wave 1 price territory above 1,307.09.

The blue channel here is drawn using Elliott’s first technique. Minor wave 4 would be most likely to remain contained within this channel, and may find resistance about the upper edge if it gets there. A strong breach of this channel by upwards movement would reduce the probability of this wave count.

Minor wave 2 was a double zigzag lasting nine weeks. To exhibit alternation and reasonable proportion minor wave 4 may be a flat, combination or triangle and may last a little longer than nine weeks as these types of corrections tend to be longer lasting than zigzags or zigzag multiples.

WEEKLY CHART – COMBINATION

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It is essential when a triangle is considered to always consider alternates. Too many times over the years I have labelled a triangle as unfolding or even complete, only for it to be invalidated and the structure turning out to be something else.

When a triangle is invalidated, then the most common structure the correction turns out to be is a combination.

If cycle wave b is a combination, then the first structure in a double may be a complete zigzag labelled primary wave W.

The double may be joined by a three in the opposite direction, a zigzag labelled primary wave X.

The second structure in the double may be a flat correction labelled primary wave Y. My research on Gold so far has found that the most common two structures in a double combination are one zigzag and one flat correction. I have found only one instance where a triangle unfolded for wave Y. The most likely structure for wave Y would be a flat correction by a very wide margin, so that is what this wave count shall expect.

Within a flat correction for primary wave Y, the current downwards wave of intermediate wave (B) may be a single or multiple zigzag; for now it shall be labelled as a single. Intermediate wave (B) must retrace a minimum 0.9 length of intermediate wave (A) at 1,147.34. Intermediate wave (B) may move beyond the start of intermediate wave (A) as in an expanded flat.

Because the minimum requirement for intermediate wave (B) is not yet met, this wave count requires that minute wave v of minor wave C of intermediate wave (B) continues lower next week. This is the most immediately bearish of all four weekly wave counts.

When intermediate wave (B) is complete, then intermediate wave (C) would be expected to make at least a slight new high above the end of intermediate wave (A) at 1,365.68 to avoid a truncation. Primary wave Y would be most likely to end about the same level as primary wave W at 1,374.91, so that the whole structure takes up time and moves price sideways, as that is the purpose of double combinations.

While double combinations are very common, triples are extremely rare. I have found no examples of triple combinations for Gold at daily chart time frames or higher back to 1976. When the second structure in a double is complete, then it is extremely likely (almost certain) that the whole correction is over.

WEEKLY CHART – DOUBLE ZIGZAG

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Finally, it is also possible that cycle wave b may be a double zigzag or a double combination.

The first zigzag in the double is labelled primary wave W. This has a good fit.

The double may be joined by a corrective structure in the opposite direction, a triangle labelled primary wave X. The triangle would be about two thirds complete.

Within the triangle of primary wave X, intermediate wave (C) may now be complete. It may not move beyond the end of intermediate wave (A) below 1,123.08. The A-C trend line for both a barrier and contracting triangle should have some reasonable slope. For the triangle of primary wave X to have the right look, intermediate wave (C) should end here or very soon indeed.

This wave count may now expect choppy overlapping movement in an ever decreasing range for several more months. After the triangle is complete, then an upwards breakout would be expected from it.

Primary wave Y would most likely be a zigzag because primary wave X would be shallow; double zigzags normally have relatively shallow X waves.

Primary wave Y may also be a flat correction if cycle wave b is a double combination, but combinations normally have deep X waves. This would be less likely.

This wave count has good proportions and no problems in terms of subdivisions.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

WEEKLY CHART

Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

On Balance Volume is lower than its prior point at the end of November 2015. This divergence is extremely bearish but does not rule out a consolidation unfolding here; the divergence does strongly support the Triangle wave count, which expects a consolidation or bounce up to test resistance now and then a continuation of a major bear market.

The long lower wick on this weekly candlestick is bullish, but that does not mean price can’t move a little lower next week. There is no bullish candlestick reversal pattern on the weekly chart at this time.

When Gold has a strong trend, ADX may remain very extreme for long periods of time and RSI can move more deeply into oversold. However, most recent lows since November 2015 were all found when RSI just reached oversold, so some caution here in looking out for a possible consolidation or trend change would be reasonable.

If price does continue lower next week, then look for next support about 1,140.

DAILY CHART

Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

A downwards breakout below the Pennant pattern has support from volume. The target using the length of the flagpole which precedes the Pennant is 1,157. This is now the same as the Elliott wave target on the main hourly Elliott wave count.

Support below is now about 1,140.

Gold can sustain an extreme trend for a reasonable period of time. Look now for a clear bullish candlestick reversal pattern to indicate it could be over. There is now a clear Hammer candlestick reversal pattern. After a good downwards trend, this is an indication a low may be in place. For StockCharts data, Friday’s candlestick does not close well into the real body of Wednesday’s candlestick; there is no Morning Doji Star, which is clearly evident on Barchart data.

The Hammer reversal pattern is a strong warning that the downwards trend may be over and a sideways consolidation or new upwards trend may develop from here.

GDX WEEKLY CHART

Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

GDX is now moving lower exactly as expected.

After a breakout, a technical principle is the longer that price consolidates sideways the longer the resulting trend may be expected to be. Also, the longer that price meanders sideways the more energy may be released after a breakout. This is what is happening now for GDX.

The target for this downwards trend to end is calculated using the measured rule. The widest part of the consolidation is added to the breakout point at 20.80 giving a target at 16.02. That is not yet met.

At the weekly chart level, there is a clear downwards breakout with a breakaway gap. As breakaway gaps should not be closed, they may be used to set stops that may be set just above a downwards breakaway gap.

GDX DAILY CHART

Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.

GDX has now closed below support on a strong downwards day with support from volume. New lows are the lowest for GDX since December 2016. This is extremely significant for GDX.

GDX is in a downwards trend.

The very short term picture looks bullish, so a small bounce or consolidation may develop here. The last measuring gap may provide resistance. A closure of this gap with a new high above 19.74 would be significant; at that stage, it would not be a measuring gap but an exhaustion gap. Assume it is a measuring gap, until proven otherwise.

Please remember to protect your trading accounts by careful risk management. Follow my two Golden Rules:

1. Always trade with stops.

2. Risk only 1-5% of equity on any one trade.

A possible target for this downwards trend to end may be now calculated using the measured rule, giving a target about 16.02.

Published @ 01:08 a.m. EST on 19th August, 2018.