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Monday, June 25, 2018

SPX Update: If I'm Being Redundant, Please Allow Me to Repeat Myself


Still no change, and still nothing new to talk about, so another short update.


Just for fun, here's how the projection chart looked nearly a month ago.  Not too shabby:


In conclusion, there have been no new developments from the market, so nothing's changed.  Another wave higher is still within the realm of possibility, but either way, the recent pattern has the feel of a topping market, so I tend to think the top is already in.  I remain in favor of the bear count, of course, and 2825 is still the first line in the sand dividing the bull and bear counts.  Trade safe.

Friday, June 22, 2018

SPX and INDU: No Change


Not much to add since last update.  Yesterday saw the market test the previously noted low, which has held... so far.


INDU presents the possibility for some additional trickery from the market, which I've shown via the black count below:


The latest numbers reveal that foreign capital continues to be the driving force holding up the U.S. stock market, as it was the only global region with net inflows this week.  Foreign capital is the counterbalance that's acting against the Fed's draining.

In conclusion, there's no material change since last update.  Trade safe.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

SPX Update: It's a Mad Mad (Mad Mad) Market


On June 13, I wrote:

One would think that if this is indeed still a bear pattern, then it may complete today.

At worst, that date marked a decent turn and a tradeable high, so we'll call that a hit.  At best, something more bearish has begun.  (Or vice-versa if you're in the bull camp, of course.)

Due to the pattern off the high of June 13, we still can't confirm whether (2)/B has entirely completed or not.  It's worth noting that SPX found support at the lower boundary of the diagonal, and diagonals sometimes have a habit of tacking on another wave or two at the end to really mess with everyone.  Because the decline has not taken an impulsive form so far, we cannot yet rule that out.



In conclusion, SPX reached a downside inflection point yesterday, and bears would like to see that low broken to begin to add confidence to the immediate bear case.  Until then, we cannot rule out some additional upwards chop.  Trade safe.

Monday, June 18, 2018

SPX Update: Short and Sweet


Short update today, as there's no material change.  So far, so good:


In conclusion, the first warning bears would want to watch for is a sustained breakout over the recent high, though do keep in mind that one more small high still remains possible.  2825 is still the key invalidation level for the ending diagonal.  Trade safe.

Friday, June 15, 2018

SPX Update: The First Glimmer of Hope for Bears


A few updates back, I wrote that we'd await an impulsive decline before calling a top, so I'm not officially "calling a top" here, because there's no way to confirm anything this early, but I will note that we're finally starting to see some signs that the rally may be out of steam, or very close.

I would anticipate that Wednesday's low will be broken on the downside in the next session or two.  I can't recall the last time I posted anything along those lines, because this is the first time I've seen a solid near-term pattern pointing lower in weeks.

Now, I can't rule out that said pattern will end up being a micro fourth wave, but having a pattern that seems to point lower even for the near-term is the first real signal of any kind that bears have had in a while.



In conclusion, it's too early to know if this is the final end of the rally, or just a brief pause (ideally the end would still be close either way) -- but since we've been anticipating that the rally is a terminal rally, then this could be the first building block into a larger decline.  In other words, that outcome is at least a possibility from here.

And "at least a possibility" is more hope than bears have had in weeks.  Sometimes the most precise way to express one's views in a sloppy pattern like this is to say that the market is likely "closer to a top than to the bottom" at this point.  Trade safe.





Wednesday, June 13, 2018

SPX and INDU: Market Finally Reaches the Inflection Point


Yesterday was yet another riveting session filled with excitement, as SPX traded within an 11 point range, and ended the day up more than FOUR entire points!  If this market doesn't get your blood pumping, I don't know what will.

Despite the incredibly boring market of late, today is a Fed day, so that usually means we may see some genuine movement.  Fed days are known for fake-outs, and Fed Chairman Jerome Hayden "Jay" "Powell to the People" Powell Jerome Nedyah Jay, Jr., DDS, CPA, PhD. is still an X-factor as far as the market is concerned -- especially given the complexity of his name alone -- so that may bring additional volatility.  Usually after 2 p.m. Eastern.

There's still no material change to anything, though it's worth noting that SPX is finally into the ballpark of the long-standing red (2)/B label:


INDU would look a little better with at least slightly higher prices:


In conclusion, it's interesting that this pattern has finally reached its major inflection point, and that inflection point "just happens" to align perfectly with today's Fed announcement.  One would think that if this is indeed still a bear pattern, then it may complete today.

Keeping an eye on the other side of the trade, though:  If bulls are going to pull out a stunning last minute upset, one would likewise think that this week would be where they make that plan known.

It's worth noting that the market has seemingly struggled to rally, taking more than two months just to retrace the March decline, which only took about two weeks.  More often than not, this struggle to move suggests a move that is counter to the larger prevailing trend.  Trade safe.

Monday, June 11, 2018

SPX and INDU Updates


SPX has continued to move in the "two steps forward, one step back" style that is common inside diagonals (it's also common in bull nests! -- right up until they finally break out and run relentlessly higher), and thus the market has continued to annoy pretty much everyone.  There's no material change from the past couple weeks of updates:


It is worth a mention that this is what we've been expecting the market to do since way back in early February.  I lost track of how many times I warned about a double retrace and that "all roads lead to (2)/B."  The market refused to take anything resembling a straightforward path, but it's interesting how closely it ended up following a chart I originally published back on February 6.

Here's the chart from February 6, showing my "best guess" blue preferred path (keeping in mind that I never intend these to be "time projections" unless specifically noted -- I simply work within available chart space):



And here's what actually happened/is happening:


Thus, while this move hasn't exactly taken the straightforward path, it has followed the broader path that we laid out immediately after the January/February mini-crash remarkably well.

From that perspective, this move should come as no surprise.

As to the present:  Basically, at this point, bears don't want to see SPX sustain trade north of 2825, because (as noted) that would invalidate the diagonal.  Now, a break of 2825 does not invalidate all bear patterns, but given that a bull nest remains possible, bears should avoid complacency.  Once we see the first impulsive decline, we can consider calling a top -- until then, the market can continue its upward climb.  Trade safe.