Sideways movement continues within a small range. Within this range, volume and On Balance Volume may assist to indicate the most likely breakout direction.

GDX is bouncing exactly as expected. Some specific advice on what to look out for today is given to members about GDX.

Summary: The trend is down and may not be complete for Gold. Expect some more sideways movement before the trend continues.

The target for Gold is now at 1,132.

The longer term target for GDX is at 16.02. A short term target for an interruption to the downwards trend was at 17.37 but this may not be quite met. Some consolidation for GDX may develop next week to relieve extreme conditions.

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.

All four weekly charts were again reviewed here, with video here.

MAIN ELLIOTT WAVE COUNT

WEEKLY CHART – COMBINATION

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.

All four weekly wave counts were again considered at the end of last week. Only two shall be followed on a daily basis.

At this stage, this wave count may have a slightly higher probability than the other three weekly wave counts because it has more support from classic technical analysis.

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. 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.

DAILY CHART – COMBINATION

Click chart to enlarge.

Intermediate wave (B) may be unfolding lower as either a single or double zigzag. At this stage, a single zigzag will be considered; the expected direction nor minimum requirement at 1,147.34 do not differ from a double zigzag.

If intermediate wave (B) is unfolding as a single zigzag, then within it minor wave C must subdivide as a five wave impulse.

It now looks most likely that minute wave iv may be continuing sideways as a triangle, although this may morph into a double combination. When a complete structure can be seen for minute wave iv, then a downwards breakout to new lows would be expected. When minute wave iv may again be seen as complete, then a target may be calculated for minute wave v to end.

HOURLY CHART

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Minute wave iv is now labelled as a possible incomplete regular contracting or barrier triangle.

Within the triangle, minuette wave (a) is seen on the daily chart as a zigzag.

On this hourly chart, minuette wave (b) may be a complete double zigzag. All remaining triangle sub-waves must be single corrective structures and only one sub-wave may subdivide as a multiple.

Within a triangle, minuette wave (c) may not move beyond the end of minuette wave (a) above 1,214.40.

Within a contracting triangle, minuette wave (d) may not move beyond the end of minuette wave (b) below 1,187.94.

Within a barrier triangle, minuette wave (d) may end about the same level as minuette wave (b); as long as the (b)-(d) trend line remains essentially flat a triangle will remain valid (unfortunately, this rule involves some subjectivity); minuette wave (d) may move slightly below 1,187.94.

Within a triangle, minuette wave (e) may not move beyond the end of minuette wave (c).

A triangle may take several more days to unfold sideways in an ever decreasing range. Elliott wave triangles are always continuation patterns, so the breakout should be downwards.

WEEKLY CHART – TRIANGLE

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The triangle so far has the best fit and look, but at this stage it no longer has good support from classic technical analysis. It is now judged to have a slightly lower probability than the combination wave count.

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 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 the double zigzag count, and put serious doubt on the combination and flat 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.

For confidence, this wave count now requires a breach of the upper edge of the blue best fit channel. This channel is drawn the same way on all weekly and daily charts, all on a semi-log scale.

Minor wave 1 may have been over on the 22nd of August. The following correction for minor wave 2 is today relabelled.

Minor wave 2 may be an incomplete double combination: zigzag – X – flat. Minute wave y may be an incomplete flat correction.

A target for primary wave E is the strong zone of resistance about 1,305 to 1,310. Primary wave E is most likely to subdivide as a zigzag (although it may also subdivide as a triangle to create a rare nine wave triangle), 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

Click chart to enlarge.

Minor wave 2 is today relabelled as a double combination; it did not meet the requirements of a more simple flat correction.

Within the double combination, minute wave w may have been a quick zigzag. The second structure in the double, minute wave y, may be an incomplete flat correction.

Within the flat correction of minute wave y, minuette wave (b) must retrace a minimum 0.9 length of minuette wave (a). Minuette wave (b) may end beyond the start of minuette wave (a) at 1,214.10 as in an expanded flat correction. The common range is given on the chart.

When minuette wave (b) may be complete, then a five wave structure downwards for minuette wave (c) would be extremely likely to make at least a slight new low below the end of minuette wave (a) at 1,189.80 to avoid a truncation.

This wave count expects choppy, overlapping movement within the current range for another few days. The breakout would then be expected to be upwards.

Minor wave 2 may not move beyond the start of minor wave 1 below 1,160.75.

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. It could also support the flat wave count that allows for a new low below 1,046.27 in coming months.

On Balance Volume has made another new low, but price has not. There is now double bearish divergence between price and On Balance Volume.

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, then look for next support about 1,140.

DAILY CHART

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

Gold is now range bound. Resistance and support are identified on the chart. It is a downwards day that has strongest volume during this small range bound movement so far, suggesting a downwards breakout may be more likely than upwards. This technique does not always work, but it does work more often than it fails.

On Balance Volume is also range bound, and the trend lines are converging. On Balance Volume will give a signal; if it does so prior to price breaking out, then a direction would be indicated.

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.

A target for this downwards trend to end calculated using the measured rule is at 16.02. That is not yet met. Now a gap lower this week can be used to calculate a new target at 17.37 for the short term.

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.

The bullish divergence between price and On Balance Volume noted with green trend lines is also not a strong signal. On Balance Volume is a leading indicator; when it leads, it offers a signal, but it does not always lead price.

There is short term bullish divergence between price and Stochastics. A consolidation may develop here to relieve extreme conditions.

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. Bounces and consolidations may be used as opportunities to join the trend. The last small bounce looks now to be over.

The measuring gap at 19.74 – 19.45 provided resistance, which is about where the last bounce ended. This may continue to provide resistance for any future bounces or consolidations.

The downwards trend reached very extreme. Also, there was strong bullish divergence at the low between price and RSI.

Today’s strong bullish engulfing candlestick pattern indicates that for now the downwards trend may be over. Look now for a strong bounce back up to resistance.

If the last measuring gap is closed, then it may be relabelled an exhaustion gap. Then look for resistance next at 19.74. If resistance here is overcome, then a much deeper and longer lasting bounce may take price back up to very strong resistance at 20.80. If that happens, use it as an opportunity for another short entry; it may be a typical throwback to resistance after the strong downwards breakout.

Published @ 11:42 p.m. EST.

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