Lara’s Weekly: Elliott Wave and Technical Analysis of S&P500 and Gold and US Oil | Charts – December 27, 2019
S&P 500
Upwards movement continued throughout this week as expected.
Summary: Assume the trend remains the same until proven otherwise. Assume more upwards movement to the next short-term target at 3,268.
If price makes a new low now below 3,220.51, then assume minor wave 4 has arrived. Minor wave 4 should last about two weeks or so and may end somewhere within the range of 3,154.26 to 3,070.49 (the upper edge of this range is preferred).
Thereafter, the next target is at 3,302 for a larger fourth wave correction and then 3,336 for an even larger fourth wave correction.
Three large pullbacks or consolidations (fourth waves) during the next 1-2 years are expected: for minor wave 4 (coming soon), then intermediate (4), and then primary 4. Some weakness prior to each of these corrections may be evident in technical analysis. Weakness is now evident in VIX, and conditions are becoming extreme. Extreme conditions warrant more careful attention to risk management at this time.
The biggest picture, Grand Super Cycle analysis, is here.
Monthly charts were last published here. There are two further alternate monthly charts here.
ELLIOTT WAVE COUNTS
The two weekly Elliott wave counts below will be labelled First and Second. They may be about of even probability. When the fifth wave currently unfolding on weekly charts may be complete, then these two wave counts will diverge on the severity of the expected following bear market. To see an illustration of this future divergence monthly charts should be viewed.
FIRST WAVE COUNT
WEEKLY CHART
The basic Elliott wave structure consists of a five wave structure up followed by a three wave structure down (for a bull market). This wave count sees the bull market beginning in March 2009 as an incomplete five wave impulse and now within the last fifth wave, which is labelled cycle wave V. This impulse is best viewed on monthly charts. The weekly chart focusses on the end of it.
Elliott wave is fractal. This fifth wave labelled cycle wave V may end a larger fifth wave labelled Super Cycle wave (V), which may end a larger first wave labelled Grand Super Cycle wave I.
The teal Elliott channel is drawn using Elliott’s first technique about the impulse of Super Cycle wave (V). Draw the first trend line from the end of cycle wave I (off to the left of the chart, the weekly candlestick beginning 30th November 2014) to the end of cycle wave III, then place a parallel copy on the end of cycle wave II. This channel perfectly shows where cycle wave IV ended at support. The strongest portion of cycle wave III, the end of primary wave 3, overshoots the upper edge of the channel. This is a typical look for a third wave and suggests the channel is drawn correctly and the way the impulse is counted is correct.
Within Super Cycle wave (V), cycle wave III is shorter than cycle wave I. A core Elliott wave rule states that a third wave may never be the shortest. For this rule to be met in this instance, cycle wave V may not be longer in length than cycle wave III. This limit is at 3,477.39.
Cycle wave V may subdivide either as an impulse or an ending diagonal. Impulses are much more common. An alternative wave count which considered an ending diagonal has been invalidated. While it is possible a diagonal may become an alternate wave count in coming weeks or months, at this stage the structure does not fit.
At this stage, cycle wave V may take another one to two or so years to complete.
The daily chart below will focus on movement from the end of intermediate wave (2) within primary wave 3.
In historic analysis, two further monthly charts have been published that do not have a limit to upwards movement and are more bullish than this wave count. Members are encouraged to consider those possibilities (links below summary) alongside the wave counts presented on a daily and weekly basis. It is my judgement that the two weekly wave counts published in this analysis have the highest probability, so they shall be the only wave counts published on a daily basis.
Within cycle wave V, primary waves 1 and 2 may be complete. Within primary wave 3, intermediate waves (1) and (2) may be complete. Within the middle of intermediate wave (3), no second wave correction may move beyond its start below 2,855.96.
DAILY CHART
All of primary wave 3, intermediate wave (3) and minor wave 3 may only subdivide as impulses.
Minor wave 3 has passed 1.618 the length of minor wave 1, and within it minute wave v has passed equality in length with minute wave i.
Today it is possible that minute wave v within minor wave 3 may be complete. However, the trend should be assumed to remain the same until proven otherwise. A new short-term target is calculated for minor wave 3.
Draw a small narrow channel about minute wave v within minor wave 3 as shown. While price remains within this channel, assume the upwards trend remains intact. If price breaks below the lower edge of this channel, then that may be an early warning that minor wave 4 may have arrived.
Within minute wave v, minuette wave (v) began at 3,220.51. A new low below this point could not be a second wave correction within minuette wave (v), so at that stage the last small upwards wave would have to be over and the probability that minor wave 3 may be over in its entirety would increase.
Minor wave 2 was a sharp deep pullback, so minor wave 4 may be expected to be a very shallow sideways consolidation to exhibit alternation. Minor wave 2 lasted 2 weeks. Minor wave 4 may be about the same duration, or it may be a longer lasting consolidation. Minor wave 4 may end within the price territory of the fourth wave of one lesser degree; minute wave iv has its range from 3,154.26 to 3,070.49.
Minor wave 4 may not move into minor wave 1 price territory below 3,021.99.
Intermediate wave (3) has now moved far enough above the end of intermediate wave (1) to allow intermediate wave (4) to unfold and remain above intermediate wave (1) price territory.
Draw an acceleration channel now about intermediate wave (3): draw the first trend line from the end of minor wave 1 to the last high, then place a parallel copy on the end of minor wave 2. Keep redrawing the channel as price continues higher. When minor wave 3 is complete, then this channel would be an Elliott channel and may show where minor wave 4 may find support if it is long lasting or deep enough.
SECOND WAVE COUNT
WEEKLY CHART
This weekly chart is almost identical to the first weekly chart, with the sole exception being the degree of labelling.
This weekly chart moves the degree of labelling for the impulse beginning in March 2009 all down one degree. This difference is best viewed on monthly charts.
The impulse is still viewed as nearing an end; a fifth wave is still seen as needing to complete higher. This wave count labels it primary wave 5. Primary wave 5 may still need another year to two or so to complete, depending upon how time consuming the corrections within it may be.
Primary wave 5 may be subdividing as an impulse, in the same way that cycle wave V is seen for the first weekly chart.
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
MONTHLY CHART
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.
There are three large consolidations noted on this chart, in shaded areas. After a breakout from a multi-month consolidation, it is reasonable to expect a multi month bullish move may result.
Note that in each of the first two cases a pullback saw price re-enter the consolidation zone after the breakout, before price then moved up and away. It is possible that may happen again after the last breakout from a consolidation.
This chart very clearly exhibits rising price on declining volume has now persisted for several years. A decline in volume last month, in current market conditions, is not of concern.
On Balance Volume supports the Elliott wave count.
WEEKLY CHART
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.
It is very clear that the S&P is in an upwards trend and the bull market is continuing. Price does not move in straight lines; there will be pullbacks and consolidations along the way.
This chart is overall bullish. There are no signs of weakness in upwards movement.
RSI is now overbought. That does not mean upwards movement must end here, because it can continue for several weeks while RSI reaches more extreme. RSI reaching overbought is a warning that conditions are now becoming extreme. A pullback or consolidation will follow and the longer conditions are extreme the closer this will be. However, assume the trend remains the same until proven otherwise. This warning should be heeded by careful attention to risk management.
DAILY CHART
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.
There is an upwards trend in place. There will be corrections along the way.
Like the weekly chart, this chart is bullish.
With RSI overbought at both daily and weekly time frames, members are advised to pay careful attention to risk management. A larger pullback or consolidation will come to relieve extreme conditions. A bearish signal in the form of a candlestick reversal pattern, a 90% downwards day, strong bearish divergence in On Balance Volume or the AD line, or a combination of these signals, will be looked for. No bearish reversal signs are evident so far.
There is still room for this upwards trend to continue.
When this market trends, Stochastics may remain overbought for a very long time. Stochastics should be used to identify swings within a consolidation and not extremes of bull and bear trends.
This trend is not yet extreme. There is room for it to continue further. This market does not always give bearish signals just prior to an end to upwards trends. They can come along suddenly.
BREADTH – AD LINE
WEEKLY CHART
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com. So that colour blind members are included, bearish signals will be noted with blue and bullish signals with yellow.
Bear markets from the Great Depression and onwards have been preceded by an average minimum of 4 months divergence between price and the AD line with only two exceptions in 1946 and 1976. With the AD line making new all time highs last week, the end of this bull market and the start of a new bear market is very likely a minimum of 4 months away, which is mid March 2020.
In all bear markets in the last 90 years there is some positive correlation (0.6022) between the length of bearish divergence and the depth of the following bear market. No to little divergence is correlated with more shallow bear markets. Longer divergence is correlated with deeper bear markets.
If a bear market does develop here, it comes after no bearish divergence. It would therefore more likely be shallow.
All of small, mid and large caps have made new swing highs above the prior swing high on the 13th of September, and mid caps have now made new all time highs. This upwards movement appears to be mostly driven by large caps, which is a feature of aged bull markets. This bull market at over 10 years duration certainly fits the definition of aged.
Again both price and the AD line have made new all time highs. There is no divergence. Upwards movement has support from rising market breadth.
Large caps all time high: 3,247.93 on 27th December 2019.
Mid caps all time high: 2,069.95 on 20th December 2019.
Small caps all time high: 1,100.58 on 27th August 2018.
DAILY CHART
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com. So that colour blind members are included, bearish signals will be noted with blue and bullish signals with yellow.
Breadth should be read as a leading indicator.
On Friday price has moved higher, but the AD line has moved slightly lower. This divergence is a single day of bearish divergence. It may be a warning that minor wave 4 may have arrived, or it may result in no downwards movement.
VOLATILITY – INVERTED VIX CHART
WEEKLY CHART
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com. So that colour blind members are included, bearish signals will be noted with blue and bullish signals with yellow.
The all time high for inverted VIX was on 30th October 2017. There is now over two years of bearish divergence between price and inverted VIX.
The rise in price is not coming with a normal corresponding decline in VIX; VIX remains elevated. This long-term divergence is bearish and may yet develop further as the bull market matures.
This divergence may be an early warning, a part of the process of a top developing that may take years. It may is clearly not useful in timing a trend change from bull to a fully fledged bear market.
This week price has moved higher, but inverted VIX has moved lower. This single week of bearish divergence may be a warning that minor wave 4 may have arrived, or it may yet develop further before minor wave 4 arrives.
DAILY CHART
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com. So that colour blind members are included, bearish signals will be noted with blue and bullish signals with yellow.
On Friday price has moved higher, but inverted VIX has moved strong lower. Inverted VIX has made a new short-term low, but price has not. This divergence is bearish and may be a warning that minor wave 4 has arrived, or it may yet develop further before minor wave 4 arrives.
DOW THEORY
Dow Theory confirmed a bear market in December 2018. This does not necessarily mean a bear market at Grand Super Cycle degree though; Dow Theory makes no comment on Elliott wave counts. On the 25th of August 2015 Dow Theory also confirmed a bear market. The Elliott wave count sees that as part of cycle wave II. After Dow Theory confirmation of a bear market in August 2015, price went on to make new all time highs and the bull market continued.
DJIA: 23,344.52 – a close on the 19th of December at 23,284.97 confirms a bear market.
DJT: 9,806.79 – price has closed below this point on the 13th of December.
S&P500: 2,532.69 – a close on the 19th of December at 2,506.96 provides support to a bear market conclusion.
Nasdaq: 6,630.67 – a close on the 19th of December at 6,618.86 provides support to a bear market conclusion.
With all the indices having moved higher following a Dow Theory bear market confirmation, Dow Theory would confirm a bull market if the following highs are made:
DJIA: 26,951.81 – a close above this point has been made on the 3rd of July 2019.
DJT: 11,623.58 – to date DJT has failed to confirm an ongoing bull market.
S&P500: 2,940.91 – a close above this point was made on the 29th of April 2019.
Nasdaq: 8,133.30 – a close above this point was made on the 26th of April 2019.
GOLD
Last analysis expected more upwards movement, which is how the week has ended.
Summary: The main wave count now expects overall upwards movement for a few weeks to either end about 1,559 or to find resistance again at the upper edge of the blue channel on weekly and daily charts. A short-term target at 1,522 may see a pullback or consolidation develop.
The bullish Elliott wave count expects a primary degree fourth wave has completed and the upwards trend has resumed.
Grand SuperCycle analysis is here.
Monthly charts were last updated here.
BEARISH ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT
WEEKLY CHART
Super Cycle wave (b) may still be an incomplete double zigzag, requiring one more high.
The first zigzag in the double is labelled cycle wave w. The double is joined by a three in the opposite direction, a triangle labelled cycle wave x. The second zigzag in the double is labelled cycle wave y.
The purpose of the second zigzag in a double is to deepen the correction. Cycle wave y has achieved this purpose.
After the structure of cycle wave y may be complete, then a new low below 1,346.45 would add strong confidence to this wave count. At that stage, the bullish Elliott wave count would be invalidated. At that stage, targets for Super Cycle wave (c) would be calculated.
A wide best fit channel is added in light blue. This channel contains all of Super Cycle wave (b) and may provide resistance and support. Copy this channel over to daily charts. If the target is wrong, it may not be quite high enough. Upwards movement may end if price comes up to touch the upper edge of the channel.
DAILY CHART
It is possible that the double zigzag for Super Cycle wave (b) may be incomplete and may yet require one more high.
Within cycle wave y, primary wave A may have been over at the last high.
Primary wave B may be complete as a single zigzag. Within the zigzag, intermediate wave (C) is just 3.56 short of equality in length with intermediate wave (A). Intermediate wave (B) is a running contracting triangle.
Primary wave C would be expected to find strong resistance and end at the upper edge of the blue best fit channel copied over from the weekly chart.
Primary wave C must subdivide as a five wave structure. Within primary wave C, so far intermediate waves (1) and (2) may be complete. Intermediate wave (3) may only subdivide as an impulse. The middle of the impulse may be complete. Minor wave 4 may not move into minor wave 1 price territory below 1,483.37.
One or both of minute wave v and minor wave 5 may end with blow off tops. A further increase in upwards momentum may develop from here.
BULLISH ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT
WEEKLY CHART
This wave count sees the the bear market complete at the last major low for Gold in November 2015.
If Gold is in a new bull market, then it should begin with a five wave structure upwards on the weekly chart. However, the biggest problem with this wave count is the structure labelled cycle wave I because this wave count must see it as a five wave structure, but it looks more like a three wave structure.
Commodities often exhibit swift strong fifth waves that force the fourth wave corrections coming just prior and just after to be more brief and shallow than their counterpart second waves. It is unusual for a commodity to exhibit a quick second wave and a more time consuming fourth wave, and this is how cycle wave I is labelled. This wave count still suffers from this very substantial problem, which is one reason why the bearish wave count is preferred because it has a better fit in terms of Elliott wave structure.
Cycle wave II subdivides well as a double combination: zigzag – X – expanded flat.
Cycle wave III may have begun. Within cycle wave III, primary waves 1 and 2 may now be complete. Primary wave 3 has now moved above the end of primary wave 1 meeting a core Elliott wave rule. It has now moved far enough to allow room for primary wave 4 to unfold and remain above primary wave 1 price territory. Primary wave 4 may not move into primary wave 1 price territory below 1,346.45.
Cycle wave III so far for this wave count would have been underway now for 71 weeks. It exhibits some support from volume and increasing ATR. This wave count has some support from classic technical analysis.
The channel drawn about cycle wave III is an adjusted Elliott channel. The lower edge is pulled lower.
Add the wide best fit channel to weekly and daily charts.
DAILY CHART
Primary wave 4 may be complete as a single zigzag. Primary wave 4 may have lasted 49 sessions, just six more than primary wave 2, which lasted 43 sessions. The proportion remains very good for this part of the wave count.
A target for cycle wave III is calculated also now at primary degree. If price reaches the first target and keeps rising, then the second higher target may be used.
Primary wave 5 may only subdivide as a five wave structure, most likely an impulse. Within primary wave 5, intermediate wave (3) may only subdivide as an impulse.
Within the impulse of intermediate wave (3), minute wave iv may not move into minute wave i price territory below 1,485.71.
At this stage, this bullish Elliott wave count is essentially the same as the main bearish Elliott wave count in that both expect more upwards movement to new highs. The structure unfolding is the same, the degree of labelling is the same. Targets are different.
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
WEEKLY CHART
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.
This week saw price move strongly higher, but it did so on very weak volume. On Balance Volume remains constrained. This upwards movement may continue further, but it may be relatively limited.
DAILY CHART
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.
Since the last high on the 4th of September, there was a series of three swing lows and swing highs. The last swing high at 1,519 on the 1st of November has now been breached; the downwards trend from the 4th of September may have ended.
The signal from On Balance Volume is strong because the trend line breached was tested multiple times, had a shallow slope and was long held.
Upwards movement this week has come with overall weak volume and declining ATR. With the data in hand at this time, this movement is weak.
GDX WEEKLY CHART
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.
GDX looks more clearly bullish than Gold at this point. There is room for an upwards trend to again continue to new highs. However, this trend did start slowly with weak volume and overall there is some decline in volume. On Balance Volume remains bullish.
GDX DAILY CHART
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.
The last swing high at 28.18 on the 31st of October was breached on the 24th of December. At that stage, the series of swing lows and swing highs was broken and a trend change was more likely.
A short-term target calculated from the measuring gap is at 29.52. The gap remains open.
US OIL
The upper edge of the triangle trend line is now more clearly overshot. Price remains below the triangle invalidation point and the Elliott wave counts remain essentially the same this week.
Summary: The triangle may still be complete and a downwards breakout is still expected as most likely. A possible upwards breakout this week is highly suspicious as it lacks support from volume.
The bullish wave count now also expects a triangle to complete before an upwards breakout.
MAIN ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT – BEARISH
MONTHLY CHART
The basic Elliott wave structure is five steps forward and three steps back. This Elliott wave count expects that US Oil is still within a three steps back pattern, which began in July 2008. The Elliott wave count expects that the bear market for US Oil continues.
This Elliott wave corrective structure is a double zigzag, which is a fairly common structure. The correction is labelled Super Cycle wave (II).
The first zigzag in the double is complete and labelled cycle wave w. The double is joined by a three in the opposite direction labelled cycle wave x, which subdivides as a zigzag. The second zigzag in the double may now have begun, labelled cycle wave y.
The purpose of a second zigzag in a double zigzag is to deepen the correction when the first zigzag does not move price deep enough. To achieve this purpose cycle wave y may be expected to move reasonably below the end of cycle wave w at 26.06. When primary wave B may be complete then the start of primary wave C may be known and a target may be calculated.
Cycle wave y is expected to subdivide as a zigzag, which subdivides 5-3-5.
Cycle wave w lasted 7.6 years and cycle wave x lasted 2.7 years. Cycle wave y may be expected to last possibly about a Fibonacci 5 or 8 years.
Primary wave B may not move beyond the start of primary wave A above 76.90.
WEEKLY CHART
This weekly chart shows all of cycle wave y so far.
Cycle wave y is expected to subdivide as a zigzag. A zigzag subdivides 5-3-5. Primary wave A must subdivide as a five wave structure if this wave count is correct.
Primary wave A may be a complete five wave impulse at the last low.
Primary wave B may now be a complete triangle or may continue further sideways as a combination. Both ideas are outlined in daily charts below, and a triangle is labelled on the weekly chart.
When primary wave B may be complete, then a downwards breakout would be expected for primary wave C.
Primary wave B may not move beyond the start of primary wave A above 76.90.
DAILY CHART
This daily chart will now show movement within the triangle from the high on the 16th of September, labelled intermediate wave (C).
Note that monthly and weekly charts are on a semi-log scale, but the daily charts are on an arithmetic scale. This makes a slight difference to trend channels.
Elliott wave triangles are always continuation patterns. When primary wave B is complete, then a downwards breakout would be expected for primary wave C.
This chart considers a triangle for primary wave B. The triangle may be a regular contracting triangle.
Intermediate wave (E) may again be a complete zigzag. Intermediate wave (E) may have ended with a further overshoot of the (A)-(C) trend line. This is not the most common point for E waves of triangles to end, but it is the next most common after an undershoot. This wave count still has the right look.
It is still possible that minor wave C may continue higher. Intermediate wave (E) may not move beyond the end of intermediate wave (C) above 63.38.
A new low below 60.01 could not be a second wave correction within minute wave v of minor wave C of intermediate wave (E), so at that point intermediate wave (E) should be over.
WEEKLY CHART II
To better show the structure of primary wave B as a double combination, this week a weekly chart is also provided.
When an Elliott wave triangle is considered, it is essential that alternates are also considered. Too many times an Elliott wave triangle may look to be completing only for the structure to be invalidated; the correction turns out to be something else, and the something else is almost always a combination.
Primary wave B may be a double combination: zigzag – X – flat. Intermediate wave (W) fits as a zigzag. Intermediate wave (Y) may be unfolding as a flat correction.
Within intermediate wave (Y), minor wave A may be complete. Minor wave B may be an incomplete double combination.
DAILY CHART II
Within minor wave B, minute wave w may be a complete zigzag. Minute wave x may join the double in the opposite direction as a zigzag. Minute wave y may now continue as a flat correction.
Within minute wave y, minuette wave (b) must subdivide as a corrective structure and must retrace a minimum 0.9 length of minuette wave (a) at 62.14 or higher. More upwards movement for this wave count is still required. The structure of subminuette wave c within minuette wave (b) is still incomplete, and the minimum requirement for minuette wave (b) has not been met.
Within subminuette wave c, micro wave 4 may not move into micro wave 1 price territory below 59.83. If price makes a new low below this point, then this second wave count may be discarded in favour of the first daily chart.
When minuette wave (b) has met the minimum requirement and may be a complete corrective structure, then minuette wave (c) may begin and unfold lower to end below the end of minuette wave (a) at 51.00 to avoid a truncation.
The purpose of double combinations is to take up time and move price sideways. To achieve this purpose the second structure in the double usually ends about the same level as the first.
ALTERNATE ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT
MONTHLY CHART
It is possible that the bear market is over for Oil and a new bull market has begun.
For a bullish wave count for Oil, the upwards wave from the major low at 26.06 in February 2016 must be seen as a complete five wave impulse. This is labelled cycle wave I.
Cycle wave II may be a complete zigzag at 0.679 the depth of cycle wave I.
A target is calculated for cycle wave III to reach a common Fibonacci ratio to cycle wave I.
Within cycle wave III, no second wave correction may move beyond the start of its first wave below 42.37.
WEEKLY CHART
Cycle wave II does look best as a three. This is the only part of this wave count that has a better look than the main wave count, which sees this downwards wave as a five.
The upwards wave of primary wave 1 within cycle wave III must be seen as a five wave structure for a bullish wave count to work. This movement at lower time frames does not subdivide well as a five; this reduces the probability of this wave count.
Cycle wave III may only subdivide as an impulse. Within cycle wave III, so far primary wave 1 may be complete. Primary wave 2 may be moving sideways as a double combination. Primary wave 2 may not move beyond the start of primary wave 1 below 42.37.
Primary wave 2 may be continuing as a double combination.
The first structure in the double would be complete, a zigzag labelled intermediate wave (W). Within intermediate wave (W), minor wave C ends with a slight truncation for minute wave v. This is acceptable.
The double may be now joined by a complete three in the opposite direction, a zigzag labelled intermediate wave (X).
Intermediate wave (Y) may now be completing as a running contracting or barrier triangle.
DAILY CHART
This daily chart begins from the end of minor wave B within intermediate wave (Y).
Within the triangle of intermediate wave (Y), minor waves A, B and C may be complete.
Within a contracting triangle, minor wave D may not move beyond the end of minor wave B above 63.38.
Within a barrier triangle, minor wave D should end about the same level as minor wave B at 63.38, so that the B-D trend line looks essentially flat. In practice this means minor wave D may end very slightly above the end of minor wave B and the triangle may remain valid.
Minor wave D may be subdividing as a double zigzag. One of the five sub-waves of a triangle normally subdivides as a more complicated multiple; wave D is the most likely to do so.
Within minor wave D, the second zigzag labelled minute wave y may now be complete.
Finally, for both a contracting and barrier triangle, minor wave E may not move beyond the end of minor wave C below 51.00.
Primary wave 2 may not move beyond the start of primary wave 1 below 42.37.
When the structure of primary wave 2 may be complete for this bullish wave count, then an upwards breakout would be expected.
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
MONTHLY CHART
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.
There is now double bullish divergence between price and On Balance Volume. This supports the alternate Elliott wave count.
Overall, price has been moving sideways for a few months now. Within this sideways movement, the downwards month of May has greatest range and volume; this supports the main Elliott wave count. The last completed month of December 2019 closes within the range and lacks support from volume.
WEEKLY CHART
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.
A large triangle may be complete, but the upwards breakout is very weak and so is highly suspicious. The upper triangle trend line may need to be redrawn if price reacts down from here.
A target calculated from the triangle would be at 77.21.
DAILY CHART
Click chart to enlarge. Chart courtesy of StockCharts.com.
The Bearish Engulfing pattern failed to indicate a trend change, despite having a little support from volume.
The upper triangle trend line is copied over to the daily chart. At both weekly and daily time frames the possible upwards breakout is very weak and highly suspicious.
There is currently an upwards trend in place at this time frame, but it lacks both support from volume and ATR. This trend is weak.
—
Always practice good risk management as the most important aspect of trading. Always trade with stops and invest only 1-5% of equity on any one trade. Failure to manage risk is the most common mistake new traders make.
Lara, The SPX moved below the initial level you cited but has now made a higher high so was that just a very brief and shallow Wave 4?
Yes, I think so.
While price remains now above 3,212.03 it will be possible that minor 3 may continue higher.
A new low below that point would add confidence that minor 4 has begun.