Updated SP500 Analysis. FORECASTS REMAINS UNCHANGEDHas Elliott Wave Lost Its Forecasting Accuracy?
I cannot recall the exact setting, but many years ago I was asked this specific question…
” …as the number of practitioners of Elliott Wave Theory grows due to its popularity, won’t more people be trading these wave patterns and in doing so, somehow skew the theory’s efficacy”?
It’s a great question.
One in which I think requires a more nuanced, rather than simple answer. Forecasting markets using Elliott Wave Theory (EWT) is only as accurate as the practitioner. With respect to EWT, if one could consider being in a renaissance of sorts, I would say, now is that time, because of the increase in practitioners . Since R.N. Elliott’s final published work, Nature's Law –The Secret of the Universe published in June, 1946 several individuals have contributed to the theory in incremental ways. However, this article is not about the history of Elliott Wave theory, but a thought experiment in the continued efficacy of what I would consider to be the only effective and comprehensive analytical tool that describes the price movements of markets.
If there is one phrase, I have used over the years to explain short term pattern ambiguity it would be…
“Nothing clears up the current price action, like more price action”.
Meaning, at times, an objective practitioner of EWT can decipher a pattern in different ways, and what will deem the current pattern, optimal , will be the price action that follows. This is the primary reason I include alternative counts within all my published work. However, I am a purist in the pursuit of arriving at a truth. Using EWT, I find the truth mostly has two potential outcomes, and only the price action that follows will lean more so towards one, rather than the other. That is why I believe that when one shares their work with the public, (like here on Trading View) it should be their own work, and not a concoction of other people’s work posted on the Internet, and peddled as one’s own. As a trader, I think there are no rules that govern the pursuit of profit. As an analyst, I believe when sharing an analytical forecast, it should be the work of the one posting. Explaining how I determine some people are posting analysis that is an aggregation of other public postings is of less importance than remaining on topic in relation to the efficacy of EWT in forecasting. Last year, I was rated the top author on Solana, a crypto currency. I no longer share my analysis on Solana with the public. However, a quick search of current analysis on Solana yields ideas that lack context, or make bold predictions, that I can say are not based on a rules-based forecasting tool like EWT. This is one method I use to discern the analysis is either not their own, or is not worthy of using hard earned money to get behind. Solana, as a chart falls into the category of having one primary analytical thesis, and an alternate for me. Ironically, in this case, they both point higher towards triple digits. I see nothing posted on Solana here that contains the context of why prices have moved higher and where they will go over the very long term. Additionally, there is nothing contained with the Solana chart that tells me new lows are option to be considered. Yet, some with say that is precisely where that crypto currency is headed.
I often wonder when substandard analysis is shared with the public does it change the optimal pathway of correct analysis. It's impossible to know for sure. However, it seems reasonable to think that the longer-term targets would not change, but the smaller timeframe sub-divisions might. This may lead to more short term complex patterns, but in the grand scheme of things, the efficacy of EWT I do not think is harmed. Traders who follow EWT analysis may find mixed results. That is why if you follow anyone else's analysis on the Internet, make sure they are providing details, context, the nuance behind what could happen, versus shallow context and a lack of a well thought out thesis. It is possible, you're reading someone's else's work, interpreted and passed off as their own.
This leads me to my updated analysis on the SP500.
My last post on the SPX futures was on October 28 which was one day after the market bottomed. The purple pathway I deemed low probability. In retrospect, this is precisely what has played out. However, now that price has rallied swiftly higher, I have to consider yet another possibility.
The blue count in the chart above.
As of this morning, both my primary black, and first alternative count, has the index in a c wave lower towards the lower 3,000 area. Black subdivides more so than purple, but they ultimately arrive in the same area. The blue count requires some explanation and the context to warn followers of this sort of price action will play out. Regardless of my primary, first or second alternate counts, a retrace should begin soon. In the case of black and purple, those retraces turn into impulsive patterns towards my target. However, in the case of the blue second alternative, that retrace will take the form of a 3-wave pattern, but ultimately reconcile higher. This resulting higher price action can be for a new high in primary B, or an even higher high resulting in new all-time highs, as v of 5 of Supercycle wave (III). The interesting aspect of either of those moves higher results in an ending diagonal by virtue of overlap that occurred on October 27th 2023.
THIS WILL RESULT IN A MARKET CRASH SCENARIO.
Price will return to their point of origination, which in the case of a new primary B wave high, that price originated at 3502 in October of 2022. In the case of new all-time highs for wave (III) in the super cycle degree, that is the Covid-19 bottom at 2191, which occurred in March 2020. Therefore, I'll conclude by saying that we should all expect a retrace lower to start as early as next week. To what extent, will determine the direction of the SP500 into the first half of 2024. Is there a possibility of the index making a new high? Current price action suggests I cannot rule that out...but so far, (Even this very impressive November 2023 rally) leads me to believe anything has occurred to make me change my original forecast of 3200-3300 in the SPX Futures.
If we do decide to go up and make new highs...I think for this trader, that may be cause to get flat assets in general and to the degree it makes sense. I'm referring to assets directly AND indirectly associated with the stock market.
Best to all,
Chris
