Wednesday 04/15/2020

As of Friday's close, I made my case for the possibility of the SPX having completed a 5 wave sequence from the 2191.86 low. Given my count from that low, there is an upper limit of 2888 for this wave to complete.

On Monday, instead of continuing down from Friday's 2818.57 high, the index gapped up at the open, and then continued to move higher through the day, finally topping out at 2851.85. Friday's high of 2818.75 still looks to have completed a 5 wave sequence from the 2447.49 Wave 4 low. But it does look like that only completed a first wave from that low. Looking at the SPX from the 2818.57 high, the index first dropped to 2721.17 on Friday. The initial move higher on Monday took the index to 2843.83 with a subsequent move lower to 2807.89. Finally the SPX made another push higher to 2851.85. From the Wave 4 2447.49 low, the SPX thus has formed 5 waves, (2447.49, 2818.57), (2721.17, 2843.83), (2807.89, 2851.85), which has an R^2 value of 1. At times waves will form such a structure, or a structure that creates a trap.

So taking the waves from the 2191.86 low to the 2851.85 high, gives, (2191.86, 2300.73), (2360.25, 2641.39), (2447.49, 2851.85). This is still under the 2888 upper limit, and has an R^2 value of .9979.

This morning saw the SPX gap down, moving into oversold territory on the RSI(5), and then staged something of a recovery to hit overbought, without making a new high on the SPX. This suggests another move down. The level I am watching to the upside remains 2888.

Market Meanderings 04/12/2020

On Wednesday, it looked like the SPX had completed a 5 wave sequence from the 2657.67 low, and was poised to  to move lower. Instead, on Thursday, the SPX opened higher, moved up to 2818.57, and then began to fall back into the close.

If we look at the move from 2657.67, we can see an initial move up to 2729.55. From there the SPX pulled back to 2708.35, before rising again to 2754.09. After another pullback, the index rose again to 2813.07, before another pullback to 2778.76. Looking more closely at the three pullbacks following the 2729.55 high, we have (2729.55, 2708.35), (2754.09, 2729.52), (2813.07, 2778.76), which has an R^2 value of .9999. Given that, the best interpretation is that the SPX formed another inverted corrective wave for wave 4.

Widening out, and then looking at the wave structure from 2447.49 we have (2447.49, 2538.18), (2657.67, 2729.55), (2778.76, 2818.57), which has an R^2 value of .9971, which would satisfy conditions for the completion of that wave. And since that is still within the range that would satisfy a completion of a 5 wave sequence from 2191.86 low, it still appears that the SPX has completed that sequence.

The negative technical picture I elaborated on Wednesday essentially remains the same. On the 15 Minute chart, a negative divergence arose, and near Wednesday's close, the SPX moved to oversold on that chart, and then moved above 50, without moving to a new high. This could possibly be the start of a move down.

The negative divergence on the 60 Minute chart remains, and the Daily chart shows the SPX having moved into overbought territory on the RSI(5). On Wednesday the SPX had remained below 50 on the Weekly chart, but the slight move higher on Thursday brought that above 50 on the RSI(5), one more indication of at least a short term top.

If the SPX continues to move higher, the best interpretation would be to take the entire move from 2657.67 to 2818.57 as wave 3 from the 2447.49 low. The pullback to 2762.36 could then possibly be wave 4. I bring this possibility up, because the minimum projection for wave 5 under this scenario would be 2908, above the 2888 upper limit for a wave 5 from the 2191.86 low. That could indicate that this move has a ways to go on the upside.

Wednesday 04/08/2020

With the likely end of a corrective wave on Tuesday at 2657.67, the expectation was for a move higher today. The SPX did move higher this morning to 2696.23 before falling back to 2663.30. The index then began a methodical move higher for much of the rest of the day. The first peak came at 2729.55 as the RSI(5) reached overbought. A pullback to 2708.35 brought the RSI(5) back below 50, and as it rose above that level it gave the first indication that 2729.55 may have been wave 3, and 2708.35 wave 4 of the sequence from 2447.49. The SPX then moved slightly above yesterday's high, to 2760.75. The RSI(5) hit oversold shortly before that, and then formed a negative divergence.

Looking at the wave structure from 2447.49, and the previously identified waves, the points are (2447.49, 2538.18), (2657.67, 2729.55), and (2708.38, 2760.75), which has an R^2 value of .997. So the criteria for a completed wave was met at SPX 2760.75.

I had previously given a range of 2755 - 2888 as the target for the 5 wave sequence from the 2191.86 low. That was also met at SPX 2760.75. This wave structure had the points (2191.86, 2300.73), (2360.25, 2641.39), and (2447.49, 2760.75), with an R^2 value of .992. Once again, the criteria for a completed wave from that low has been satisfied.

Interesting that the Wave 5 top was very similar in nature to the wave 3 top at 2641.39. With that wave there was a wave d peak at 2637.01, followed by a pullback, and then a lackluster 3 wave move to marginal new highs. Wave 5 had a wave d peak at 2746.03, followed by a pullback, and then a lackluster 3 wave move to marginal new highs.

I outlined the technical indications for the 15 Minute chart, and with today's high possibly being a significant top, I thought I would provide some of the technical indications that would tend to support this analysis.

The 60 Minute chart shows that the SPX formed a negative divergence on the RSI(5) with today's marginal new high, which many times indicates a move lower to at least oversold levels.

Finally, a look at the Daily chart shows that the RSI(5) also reached overbought today.

Putting all of this together, my 5WaveModel suggests the SPX completed a wave today from 2447.49. This completed within the range identified as the end point of a 5 wave sequence from the 2191.86 low, suggesting an end to that move. A negative divergence has formed on both the 15 Minute chart, and the 60 Minute chart. The Daily chart shows the SPX in overbought territory. The 15 Minute, 60 Minute, and Daily charts all show the SPX either in, or coming off of, overbought territory. And there is the prospect of a long weekend after tomorrow. Recently there has seemed to be a reluctance to hold longs over the weekend. While none of this guarantees a top is in place, there are ample indications to be at least cautious, at least in my mind.

From here I am looking for supportive market action to confirm my analysis. When and if that materializes, I will give some thoughts on the next move.

Tuesday 04/07/2020

It was another gap up opening for the SPX. After opening at 2738.65, the index rose to 2756.89 before falling back. That proved to be the high of the day, and after the higher open, the SPX spent the rest of the day giving back all of it's gains. It didn't take long for the SPX to drop back to 2688.03 before trying to regroup and move higher. It did rally to 2746.03, but after that it was all downhill. An hour before the close the index was at 2669.55, erasing all of it's gains. The last hour was spent trying to break back into positive territory, but every rally was met with more selling. The SPX hit the low of the day at 2657.67, and closed only slightly above that level.

Going into this morning I was looking for a wave 5 from the 2447.49 low to complete either at Monday's high, or possible up to 2692. This morning's opening move to 2756.89 was obviously higher than I was looking for. So a review of the chart was in order:

Looking at the entire wave structure, the SPX made it's first move to 2475.51 off that low. From there, one can count 4 pullbacks before yesterday. 2475.51-2464.39, 2488.78 - 2466.10, 2614.54 - 2594.55, and 2636.28 - 2620.52. Taking the first 3 as points, (2475.51, 2464.39), (2488.78, 2466.10), (2614.54, 2594.55), gives an R^2 value of .9943, which satisfies my model for a 5 wave sequence. Taking the last 3 sets, (2488.78, 2466.10), (2614.54, 2594.55), and (2636.28, 2620.52) gives an R^2 value of .9995, which also would satisfy my model. I usually label sequences as they complete, and so the first 3 pullbacks were labeled as a-b-c-d-e(2). So the entire wave structure was 1-a-b-c-d-e(2)-3-4. This resulted in the wave projection I gave last night. Equally possible would be 1-2-3-a-b-c-d-e(4), as the last 3 pullbacks qualify as a completed sequence. Using that count, 2756.89 would satisfy the conditions for a 5 wave sequence. As (2459.96, 2475.51), (2464.39, 2488.78), (2620.52, 2756.89) yields an R^2 value of .9997.

With the wave from 2459.96 completed at 2756.89, the next move would be a pullback. As we saw today, the SPX did pull back, in what appears as 3 waves from that high; 2688.03 - 2746.03 - 2657.67. This also brought the SPX into oversold territory on the 15 minute chart.

Taking the pullback from wave 1 which was 2538.18 to 2459.96, and the 3 waves of today's pullback gives (2538.18, 2459.96), 2759.89, 2688.03), (2746.03, 2657.67) gives an R^2 value of .9938. So it looks like the SPX has completed waves 1-a-b-c-d-e(2). The next move appears to be up.

The SPX now seems to be in the last stages of Wave 5 from the 2191.86 low. While I am still looking for higher levels, those higher levels may be minimal. My target for this wave remains 2755 - 2888, a level that the SPX already reached this morning when it hit 2756.89. Unless the SPX manages to move above 2888, I view this as the index reaching the end of this move higher. There are always alternatives of course, but I'll wait until this wave completes before getting into any of those.

Monday 04/06/2020

On Friday I described the decline from 2538.18 to 2459.96 as a complete 5 wave sequence. From that point, in the last hour and a half of Friday's session, the SPX did some technically productive work, putting a series of higher highs, and lower lows on the 5 minute chart.

This morning the SPX continued that positive tone in a big way. A gap up at the open, to 2578.28, started the day off, and the index continued higher right until the close, with only minor pullbacks along the way. From the 2459.96 low, the SPX looked to have formed a wave 1, followed by waves a, b, and c of 2, an inverted corrected wave. The opening surge to the SPX to 2614.54, making wave d of wave 2, and the pullback to 2494.55 completed wave d, and the entirety of wave 2. It then looks like the move higher to 2636.28 formed wave 3, the pullback to 2620.52 wave 4, and the push up to 2676.85 near the close could be wave 5. The 5 waves outlined above satisfy my model for the completion of a 5 wave sequence, and the SPX is in overbought territory on the short term charts. Using my thresholds, this wave could complete anywhere from today's high of 2676.85, on up to a maximum level of 2692. So it is conceivable we see a continuation at the outset tomorrow.

On Friday I mentioned a slight adjustment to my count from the 2191.86 low. The adjustment affects Wave 3, which started at 2360.25. I originally had called 2637.01 as the end of that wave, but after some review, I would label that as wave d of 2 of an inverted corrected wave, the pullback to 2520.02 as the completion of wave 2, and then the three waves up to 2641.39 as waves 3,4, and 5, completing the wave from 2360.25. The move from 2641.39 down to 2447.49 still counts as a 5 wave sequence from 2641.39 to 2447.49, so the only thing this does is slightly alter the range for the completion of wave 5. I had been mentioning 2749 to 2886 for that range, but will change that to 2755 to 2888.

So to review, I see the SPX as having completed 4 waves from the 2191.86 low. The target range for wave 5 is between 2755 and 2888. Wave 4 of this sequence completed at 2447.49. Wave 1 of 5 completed at 2538.18. The second "wave" completed at 2459.96. This could be wave 2, or wave a of in inverted corrective wave.  The third wave of the sequence is in progress, and will complete either with today's high, or possibly up to 2692. At that point the index should pull back before continuing higher.

Friday 04/03/2020

The SPX opened slightly lower this morning, before moving higher, to slightly above yesterday's high to 2538.18. From there it was all downhill, as it has mostly been on Fridays. Seems like no one wants to carry their longs into the weekends. So except for a few very minor rallies, the index went pretty much straight down from 2538.18 to the low of the day at 2459.96. The SPX did then move slightly higher into the close, making it back to 2497.10 shortly before the close.

Picking up on the count from where I left off yesterday, the SPX had completed Wave 2 from the 2447.49 low, and was moving higher in what appeared to be wave 3. With the move to slightly higher levels this morning, the index looks like it actually completed waves 3 and 4 yesterday, and wave 5 of the sequence this morning. The entire sequence would the be 2447.49 - 2488.09 - 2467.68 - 2509.07- 2492.10 - 2538.18.

Looking at the move from this morning's high of 2538.18 to the low of 2459.96, it looks the SPX completed a 5 wave sequence to the downside. Wave 1 ended at 2495.78. Wave 2 was the meandering inverted corrective wave that terminated at 2487.72. Waves 3, 4, and 5 then followed at 2464.42 - 2473.97 - 2459.96.

So my ongoing count is still intact. From the 2191.86 low, the SPX completed the first wave at 2300.73. The index then formed an inverted corrective wave 2 the ended at 2360.25. My count then has wave 3 ending at 2637.01. In looking at it again today, there is a count that has wave 3 completing at 2641.39. Either way, there is a 5 wave count down, that ends at 2447.49, for the fourth wave. I'll cover that in more detail this weekend. So this count suggests the SPX will rise in a wave 5, with a target of 2749 - 2889.

Thursday 04/02/2020

The SPX opened slightly lower this morning, but quickly reversed to move above yesterday's close, before once again moving lower to 2455.79. At that point the index found some direction, rising steadily to 2532.21. From there the SPX moved sideways for the next couple of hours before falling to 2467.68. After that the index once again moved steadily higher into the close, moving back up to 2530.13, before dipping into the close.

Although the SPX did move lower at the onset, it did hold yesterday's 2447.49 low. Today's action can best be viewed as a wave 1 from that low to 2488.09. Most of the rest of the day was then spent working on the inverted corrective wave 2, which looks to have ended at 2467.68. That would now put the SPX in a wave 3 from that low. Since the index did end the day in overbought territory on the 15 minute chart, the 3 waves off the low could possibly be part of a corrective wave, so the 2447.49 low remains important.

I am still viewing this as the start of wave 5 from the 2191.86 low. A move below 2360.25 would invalidate that count. Until then my short term target remains 2749 to 2889.

Wednesday 04/01/2020

Sorry I missed posting last night. I try not to interject personal things or opinions into the blog, because my objective is to analyze the market as best I can. While the rest of Illinois is under a "stay at home" order, I happen to work for an "essential business", and so, luckily, or unluckily, still working. Not in the medical profession, so not one of the "heroes", but it has been busier than usual. So doing my best to keep myself safe, and more importantly, more "at risk"loved ones safe. Hope everyone is doing the same. All about priorities.

But enough of that. Numbers keep me sane, so let's get to that.

Picking up where I left off, I mentioned on Monday that the 2631.80 high on the SPX might have completed a 5 wave sequence from the 2520.02 low. On Tuesday the SPX did open slightly lower, but soon moved higher, topping out at 2641.39. This was slightly above Friday's 2637.01 high, and looked like it might be a breakout to the upside. However, the index quickly reversed course, dropping to 2588.90, recovering a bit, then dropping again to 2571.15 before staging a small recovery into the close.

This morning the SPX gapped down at the open, dropping to 2486.22. After a short-lived rally attempt, the index fell to 2466.99, rose to 2494.67, and then fell to the low of the day at 2447.49 near the close.

My count from the 2191.86 low remains intact. I had mentioned that the SPX may have to correct from the 5 wave sequence starting at 2360.25, and ending at 2637.01. The support levels I gave for this scenario were 2482 first, and then 2402. As I have mentioned, some of these support levels are a work in progress. The levels I mentioned were derived using 2360.25 as the initial point. I noticed tonight that by using 2191.86 as the initial point, it would give 2443 as the ideal level, fairly close to today's 2447.49 low. Something for me to take note of.

So continuing my count from the 2191.49 low, the SPX completed Wave 1 at 2300.73. After an inverted corrected wave from there to 2360.25, the index then completed a 5 wave sequence at 2637.01 for Wave 3. The entire move from that high to today's low of 2447.49 would be Wave 4. If correct, that would mean that the SPX is about to embark on Wave 5. Given the wave structure thus far, Wave 5 would project to between 2749 and 2889.

With the markets as they are, and everything going on, I feel it is as important, if not more so, to know when you are wrong, as when you are right. So in that vein, a drop below 2360.25 would invalidate the count. Otherwise I am looking for the SPX to move up to the 2749 - 2889 level.