Stock Market Ready For a Rally - Market Turning Points

December 18, 2011 Market Turning Points By Andre Gratian STOCK MARKET READY FOR A RALLY Precision timing for all time frames through a multi-dimensional approach to technical analysis: Cycles - Breadth - P&F and Fibonacci price projections and occasional Elliott Wave analysis “By the Law of Periodical Repetition, everything which has happened once must happen again, and again, and again -- and not capriciously, but at regular periods, and each thing in its own period, not another's, and each obeying its own law … The same Nature which delights in periodical repetition in the sky is the Nature which orders the affairs of the earth. Let us not underrate the value of that hint." -- Mark Twain Current position of the market SPX: Very Long-term trend – The very-long-term cycles are down and, if they make their lows when expected, there will be another steep and prolonged decline into 2014. SPX: Intermediate trend – The current action suggests that a wave “C” from 1075 is underway and, after a short consolidation, is about to resume its uptrend. Analysis of the short-term trend is done on a daily basis with the help of hourly charts. It is an important adjunct to the analysis of daily and weekly charts which discusses the course of longer market trends. Daily market analysis of the short term trend is reserved for subscribers. If you would like to sign up for a FREE 4-week trial period of daily comments, please let me know at ajg@cybertrails.com Market Overview Last week, the headline was: “A LITTLE MORE CONSOLIDATION?”, which turned out to be correct with the SPX losing another 45 points before finding support. What now? Last week's prediction was predicated on cycles bottoming early next week. These cycles exerted steady pressure during the beginning of the week, but by Thursday, the SPX was starting to resist the downtrend, and this was the case on Friday as well. One reason for this action was the fact that the P&F chart had given a phase count to 1212. On Thursday, the SPX found support just below the projection target at 1210, re-tested it, and held above that level for the rest of the week. Although this may suggest that a correction low has been made, what is more likely is that the total distribution phase count to about 1205 will be met, with the possibility of a further decline to 1195. Since cycles are due to bottom early next week, this makes more sense than forming a base above 1210. Should this take place, the market would then be in a position to extend the wave “C” rally which started at 1159. It may have only a limited time window to do so. According to Raymond Merriman, the renown financial astrologer, astrological signs will become unfavorable to the stock market by the end of the month. Since the SPX will have to travel 90 to 100 points just to get to the former 1292 high, if he is right, it will be a challenge to do so in such a short amount of time. On the other hand, astrology aside, the technical picture of the SPX looks favorable. As you will see on the chart, the index may be in the process of making a significant inverted Head & Shoulders pattern which would be confirmed if it can rise above 1267. Next week, if the base pattern is complete and the SPX has reversed, we can gauge by the size of the base how far the rally can travel. Previous projections have suggested about 1314, and even higher. That will be confirmed (or not) by the base pattern which is currently under construction. At this point, it looks as if the SPX will have to hold off reversing until about the middle of next week so that the accumulation pattern can be extended enough to confirm the former projections. Chart analysis Let's look at the market position as of Friday's close to see where we stand technically. Since we are trying to de-cypher what will take place over the next few days, we'll start with the Hourly Chart which is the crystal ball better suited for this time frame. I have drawn all the important support and resistance lines, channels, etc… and will discuss each one and its relevance to the current trend. Starting with the longer-term trend, there is a (red) declining trend line from the 1356 high and drawn across the 1292 top which stopped the rally from 1159, and which is now the make-or-break trend line for the coming rally. If the uptrend which is about to start cannot rise above this trend line, the concept of wave “C” could be in serious trouble. This weekly newsletter regularly analyzes the SPX, the Dollar, Gold, oil, and other important indices, as well as breadth and sentiment indicators. To read the current newsletter in its entirety, please go to: www.marketurningpoints.com Click on “Newsletters” (Allow about 30 seconds to open)