No, I Didn't Drown in the Hurricane(s)

Well, I'm finally connected to the internet again!  I feel like it's 1994, though, because I'm still getting the bugs worked out, here in rural Hawaii.  There is no cable internet available in my new neighborhood, no DSL, and a very weak cell signal.  So as of this moment, my internet connection is slightly slower than Janet Yellen in a potato sack race, but decidedly less entertaining.  But who cares!  I have internet again, and that means I can trade again, write updates, and watch pointless videos on You... (buffering)

I swear, I've never been this excited about a crummy internet connection.

...tube

Anyway, it appears I missed a very exciting time in the market, with SPX trading in a 0 point range for most of the past few weeks.  I probably couldn't have picked a better time to move, and I hope that most of my readers were able to avoid this market too, since it's hard to make money in tight trading ranges.

Due to the fact that my connection is still incredibly finicky and frustrating, I'm going to keep it simple today and just focus on SPX, which reveals a pattern that is, more often than not, going to need another low.  We closed yesterday near the upper edge of the recent range, so that provides a nice entry -- for anyone who's willing to do anything at all in a market like this one, anyway.

In conclusion, the chart says it all.  Personally speaking, I should now finally be able to return to my usual consistent updates, although there will undoubtedly be a few hiccups over the short run while I continue working out the kinks in my current less-than-perfect connection.

As a "p.s.", here's a photo I took in-between hurricanes Madeline and Lester, while we were getting 25' waves on the eastern shore... okay, never mind, it's taking way too long to upload.  Another time, perhaps!  Trade safe.

Still Alive, Still Kicking

Just chiming in with a quick post to let my readers know I'm still alive, but that obtaining reliable internet at my new address has proven to be more difficult than I thought. Doubling my frustration is the fact that cell service with my current provider is ALSO quite limited. Thus my return has been delayed a bit, but at worst, my ability to communicate with the outside world should improve within the next couple weeks.

My apologies for the unintentional extended hiatus. I hope everyone is well, and I'm looking forward to getting back in the swing of things. In the meantime, of course, trade safe...!

SPX, BKX, NYA, INDU Updates

Last update was on July 27, wherein I suggested that the rally was over-extended and due for some type of correction, minor or otherwise (I began suggesting this back on July 15, when I noted the market was bumping against resistance).  A correction did materialize, and captured its first downside target in NYA.  It then found support and bounced strongly:

NYA bigger view below:

INDU also found support at the first noted support zone:

As seen on the charts above, INDU and NYA have yet to make new highs from this bounce, but SPX has made new highs.  It would not be unusual to see an expanded flat develop in this zone, so watch the noted support levels on the chart below for clues.  Keep in mind that in the event SPX were to reverse lower immediately from current levels, odds would be decent that the next low would represent another buy op.

Finally, BKX is also still below its recent high, but (for the moment, anyway) still in the midst of a bounce from the lower boundary of its long-term trend channel:

In conclusion, my short-term top call from last month played out, but bulls held the first support levels across several markets, so there's nothing yet indicating an intermediate trend change.

On a personal note, I'm still in the middle of a big move, and may or may not be able to produce another update later this week.  As noted last update, hopefully things will settle down next week.  Trade safe.

SPX, OEX, BKX, and NYA: More Evidence the Rally is Overextended

The market has been in a holding pattern (also known as a chop zone) for the last couple weeks, illustrated well by BKX:

Some readers who are still learning Elliott Wave have asked about the qualifications for these waves, so the strict rules for a ZZZZZZZ wave are as follows:

1. The market MUST follow the most boring path imaginable.  Interesting moves invalidate the pattern.
2. Wave Z CANNOT be longer than Wave Z.   Although this seems self-evident, it is not.
3. Wave Z, on the other hand, can never be the shortest wave. Except during a full moon, and on weekdays whose names end in the letter Y.
4. The cheese stands alone.

On a more serious note, let's look at a few degrees of trend, starting with the near-term via NYA:

OEX may provide an additional clue, and suggests that there may still be more near-term downside coming:

SPX remains materially unchanged, but now there seem to be some near-term clues in other markets that indicate the path I suggested last week (toward at least the red "?") may come to fruition:

Bigger picture, BKX held the key level that I discussed at the end of June.  From an intermediate perspective, that's still the level bears need to get things going in a more significant manner:

In conclusion, last update talked about the message of VIX, and how it suggested the rally was overextended.  The current near-term pattern in OEX also seems to suggest that at least a near-term decline is pending.  Thus, barring a sustained breakout over the all-time highs in OEX, it appears that the next near-term move -- after this morning's opening pop completes -- is reasonably likely to be in the downward direction (although OEX is the canary, this directional move should apply to the broad market -- again, though, if OEX sustains trade over its all-time high, then we have to rethink that and simply accept the recent pattern as some lower-probability non-evident bull wave).

On a personal note, this may be my last update for about a week or so.  My family and I are in the middle of a move, and the next week to two weeks are going to be quite busy for us.  Time and internet connections allowing, I may try to sneak an update in here or there, but I can't be certain ahead of time if that will be possible.  At the absolute latest, things should return to normal near mid-August.  So, until the next update:  Trade safe.

VIX Suggests Rally Growing Over-Extended -- plus Gold at Three Degrees of Trend

There's very little to add to Friday's update regarding equities (please refer back to Friday's charts if needed), so in an effort to provide some "added value" to my readers, we're going to take a look at a chart I haven't updated in a LONG time:  Gold.

On the chart below, I discuss three degrees of trend in gold, and the apparent position of this market relative to each degree:

The chart below is most relevant to VIX -- but VIX is often relevant to equities.  This chart suggests VIX is bottoming, which by extension suggests that the rally in equities is probably getting over-extended:

In conclusion, while bulls could always continue powering forward indefinitely, it does appear that, while a bit more near-term upside isn't out of the question, the rally will soon be due for a pull-back.  Again, do keep in mind that there will almost certainly be buy opportunities again at some point in the future -- so don't get too focused on the (presumed) pending pull-back as the be-all-end-all.  Trade safe.

SPX, NYA, Oil: "So You're Telling Me There's a Chance..."

Last update highlighted NYA, and noted that the pattern suggested at least a near-term pause/decline was forthcoming after the next bounce, and that call turned out well.  Below is the updated chart:

As noted previously, SPX's recent rally bears some of the hallmarks of an extended fifth -- and there are now enough waves in place for the rally to be complete or nearly so, IF it's an extended fifth.  As also noted previously, if the rally is a third wave instead of a fifth, then we still need another decent rally leg.  I'm slightly more inclined to think it's an extended fifth -- but if that's the case, at worst, it could only support one more pretty minor high.  Any more than that, and bears really have no choice but to stand aside, or risk significant damage.

Also of note, oil has held the top I called back in early June.  So far, anyway.  Given that my oil calls are into a near-flawless streak that's measured in years, this is the point at which I ask myself if I should ONLY be trading oil and the heck with everything else...

In conclusion, if the recent rally was an extended fifth, then we may be on the verge of a reasonable decline, to at least back-test the 2100 zone.  Bears do need to remain cautious if the rally pushes much over recent highs, though, because there's no way to rule out the possibility of a third wave (as discussed above).  Trade safe.

SPX and NYA Updates

On Sunday night, I ended up missing a flight, and trapped somewhere without a computer, so I was unable to publish an update for Monday.  Given what the market's done over the past couple sessions, it doesn't appear that it would have been a critical update anyway.

Let's get right to the charts and start with NYA, because it shows a specific near-term pattern:

On the bigger view, recall that I mentioned (on 7/15) that NYA could encounter resistance in this zone, which it has.  Whether this will prove to be more than short-term resistance remains to be seen:

Moving on to SPX, the question on everyone's mind (including mine) is:  Is the preferred count of the past few months dead?  I attempt to address that on the chart below:

In conclusion, this is one update where the charts pretty much say it all.  Trade safe.