On the counts that imply the rally from the 1 July low is a corrective one (Options 1, 2, 4 and 5) I've labelled completed double/single zig zags ending with a truncation at 1099.08, followed by 5 waves down to yesterday's low at 1056.88, with today's high being the end of a corrective rally in the form of a double zig zag.
If correct, then for Options 1 and 2 we would be in a 3rd of a 3rd wave down at various degrees - both very bearish. For Option 4, we would be in wave (iii) of [c] of minor Y down - temporarily bearish. For Option 5, we would be in (iii) of [c] of minor Y down - again, temporarily bearish.
On the count that places us in a 5 wave move off the 1 July low (Option 3), which would be part of a larger correction up, I've labelled the high at 1099.46 as wave (iii) followed by wave (iv) down to yesterday's low at 1056.88. The rally from there is labelled as wave i of (v) of [a] up.
If correct, then for Options 1 and 2 we would be in a 3rd of a 3rd wave down at various degrees - both very bearish. For Option 4, we would be in wave (iii) of [c] of minor Y down - temporarily bearish. For Option 5, we would be in (iii) of [c] of minor Y down - again, temporarily bearish.
On the count that places us in a 5 wave move off the 1 July low (Option 3), which would be part of a larger correction up, I've labelled the high at 1099.46 as wave (iii) followed by wave (iv) down to yesterday's low at 1056.88. The rally from there is labelled as wave i of (v) of [a] up.
The Options are the different ways to count the move down from 1219.80. There are 5 that I'm following and they are set out on the 60 min counts page.
The question whether the rally from 1 July has completed a corrective move or whether its only all (or maybe, part) of a larger correction up remains to be answered.
Here's how things stand after today:
Option 1 - Wave (ii) of [iii] topped at 1131.23
15 min chart:
Five waves down from 1131.23 on this Option represents wave i of (iii) of [iii] of minor 1. The double zig zag I have labelled from the 1010.91 low would be wave ii of (iii), so implies that we are now in a wave iii of (iii) decline.
Five waves down from 1131.23 on this Option represents wave i of (iii) of [iii] of minor 1. The double zig zag I have labelled from the 1010.91 low would be wave ii of (iii), so implies that we are now in a wave iii of (iii) decline.
I've labelled a complete 5 wave decline from 1099.08 to yesterday's low at 1056.88 to complete wave [1] of iii of (iii) down, followed by a double zig zag to today's high at 1088.96 for wave [2] of iii..
The 1099.08 high remains the invalidation point for the completion of wave ii on the double zig zag as labelled.
If we are in a 3rd of a 3rd decline at several degrees of trend as suggested by this count, we need to see price action behave in a manner consistent with that - steep declines with little opportunity to get on. We've probably yet to see this. However, taking out yesterday's low at 1056.88 would be a good start, but we then need to see the July low at 1010.91 taken out pretty quickly.
Until then, the bullish count in Option 3 remains viable, as do other less bullish possibilities, such as a continuing wave ii or (ii) correction (see the 60 min counts page).
If we are in a 3rd of a 3rd decline at several degrees of trend as suggested by this count, we need to see price action behave in a manner consistent with that - steep declines with little opportunity to get on. We've probably yet to see this. However, taking out yesterday's low at 1056.88 would be a good start, but we then need to see the July low at 1010.91 taken out pretty quickly.
Until then, the bullish count in Option 3 remains viable, as do other less bullish possibilities, such as a continuing wave ii or (ii) correction (see the 60 min counts page).
Option 2 - Wave [ii] topped at 1131.23
15 min chart:
For this Option, five waves down from 1131.23 represent wave (i) of [iii] of minor 1 down. The double zig zag up from 1010.91 would be wave (ii) of [iii], so, assuming its complete, we would be in wave (iii) of [iii] down.
This is the same labelling as on the chart of Option 1 for the rally from 1 July and subsequent decline (although the wave degress are different), so the invalidation point is the same and the same comments made in respect of that count also apply here.
For this Option, five waves down from 1131.23 represent wave (i) of [iii] of minor 1 down. The double zig zag up from 1010.91 would be wave (ii) of [iii], so, assuming its complete, we would be in wave (iii) of [iii] down.
This is the same labelling as on the chart of Option 1 for the rally from 1 July and subsequent decline (although the wave degress are different), so the invalidation point is the same and the same comments made in respect of that count also apply here.
Option 3 - Ending diagonal complete at 1010.91
15 min chart:
For this Option, 5 waves down from 1131.23 to 1010.91 could be wave [v] of a leading diagonal down from 1219.80 and, therefore, minor wave 1.
It places us now in minor wave 2 up. I've labelled the start of 5 waves up from the 1010.91 low, on the assumption that we will get a zig zag type move up for wave 2, since we would be retracing the whole decline from 1219.80, not just the drop from 1131.23.
I'm showing us having completed wave (iii) (at 1099.46) of what I'm assuming at the moment will be a 5 wave move for wave [a] of minor 2. This would mean the pullback to yesterday's low was wave (iv) of [a].
I've labelled the rally from there as wave i of (v) and the pullback from today's high would be wave ii. It has to stay above 1056.88 for this labelling to remain valid. Falling below that low wouldn't rule out a continuing wave (iv), but it might be less likely and require a review of this bullish count.
The alternate labelling assumes that the 5 waves down from 1131.23 is only wave (a) of [v] and that the retracement back up was wave (b). Assuming its complete, we'd now be in wave (c) down and the count shown on the charts of the other Options would likely be in effect.
Remember, if there is further downside to come, we must stay above 999.83 for the leading diagonal count to remain valid.
It places us now in minor wave 2 up. I've labelled the start of 5 waves up from the 1010.91 low, on the assumption that we will get a zig zag type move up for wave 2, since we would be retracing the whole decline from 1219.80, not just the drop from 1131.23.
I'm showing us having completed wave (iii) (at 1099.46) of what I'm assuming at the moment will be a 5 wave move for wave [a] of minor 2. This would mean the pullback to yesterday's low was wave (iv) of [a].
I've labelled the rally from there as wave i of (v) and the pullback from today's high would be wave ii. It has to stay above 1056.88 for this labelling to remain valid. Falling below that low wouldn't rule out a continuing wave (iv), but it might be less likely and require a review of this bullish count.
The alternate labelling assumes that the 5 waves down from 1131.23 is only wave (a) of [v] and that the retracement back up was wave (b). Assuming its complete, we'd now be in wave (c) down and the count shown on the charts of the other Options would likely be in effect.
Remember, if there is further downside to come, we must stay above 999.83 for the leading diagonal count to remain valid.
Option 4 - Wave [b] of minor Y within intermediate (X) topped at 1131.23
15 min chart:
For this Option, 5 waves down from 1131.23 would be wave (i) of [c] of minor Y and the double zig zag up from 1010.91 would be wave (ii) of [c].
For this Option, 5 waves down from 1131.23 would be wave (i) of [c] of minor Y and the double zig zag up from 1010.91 would be wave (ii) of [c].
However, as mentioned previously, counting a complete 5 waves down to 1010.91 does bring in the possibility that wave [c] of Y is done so we have also completed intermediate wave (X) - see the 60 min counts page. That would put us now in a minor wave A rally and eventually take us to new highs. If wave (X) did end at 1010.91, then the impulse wave I have labelled on the chart of Option 3 would apply here.
For the moment, I've assumed we are starting wave (iii) of [c] down from the 1099.08 high. The 5 waves down to yesterday's low would be wave i of (iii) of [c] and the rally to today's high would be wave ii. We ought now to be in wave iii of (iii) of [c].
The invalidation point is the same as for Options 1 and 2, though a continiung wave (ii) correction wouldn't be ruled out unless we take out 1131.23.
Option 5 - Minor wave X within intermediate wave (X) topped at 1131.23. Now in minor Y down
15 min chart:
On this Option, 5 waves down to 1010.91 would be wave [a] of minor Y down and the retracement would be wave [b]. If its over, we would now be headed down again in wave [c] to complete minor Y.
I've labelled a single zig zag on this chart for wave [b], but its end point is the same as for Options 1, 2 and 4, namely, the high at 1099.08, so that would be the beginning of wave [c].
I'm counting the 5 waves down from that high to yesterday's low as wave (i) and today's high as wave (ii) of [c]. The same invalidation point stated for options 1, 2 and 4 applies here, but again, it wouldn't rule out a continuing wave [b] correction unless 1131.23 is taken out.
Here's an update of the chart 've been posting today looking at the action from today's high (the charts above provide the context for this close up):
SPX 1 min:
The degree labels for the main count used relate to Option 2. Although I have shown wave [1] of iii down complete at today's low, its possible we haven't yet completed it, but in that case, it may not be far off completion, so we'd have to expect a wave [2] rally fairly soon.
The alternate labelling relates to Option 3 above. The low at 1056.88 remained intact so this count is still on.
On this Option, 5 waves down to 1010.91 would be wave [a] of minor Y down and the retracement would be wave [b]. If its over, we would now be headed down again in wave [c] to complete minor Y.
I've labelled a single zig zag on this chart for wave [b], but its end point is the same as for Options 1, 2 and 4, namely, the high at 1099.08, so that would be the beginning of wave [c].
I'm counting the 5 waves down from that high to yesterday's low as wave (i) and today's high as wave (ii) of [c]. The same invalidation point stated for options 1, 2 and 4 applies here, but again, it wouldn't rule out a continuing wave [b] correction unless 1131.23 is taken out.
Here's an update of the chart 've been posting today looking at the action from today's high (the charts above provide the context for this close up):
SPX 1 min:
The degree labels for the main count used relate to Option 2. Although I have shown wave [1] of iii down complete at today's low, its possible we haven't yet completed it, but in that case, it may not be far off completion, so we'd have to expect a wave [2] rally fairly soon.
The alternate labelling relates to Option 3 above. The low at 1056.88 remained intact so this count is still on.
So, the bearish Options (1, 2, 4 and 5) look to be in better shape after today. However, the bullish Option (Option 3) remains very much on the table. The levels to watch are 1099.08 and 1056.88 - although a break of these levels will not completely eliminate the bullish or bearish Options, probably only requiring a review of the count, the risk of the bullish count playing out increases above 1099.08 and the risk of the bearish count playing out increases below 1056.88.
