For Stocks, the Line in the Sand Has been Drawn

See illustrations of complete bull and bear market cycles

By Elliott Wave International

You may have heard pundits on financial television say something like, "I see support for the Dow at this price level," or "This stock should experience some resistance at that price level."
So, what do these analysts mean by support and resistance?
Well, according to Technical Analysis of Stock Trends, the classic book by Robert Edwards and John Magee, support means buying in sufficient volume to prevent any further downward movement in prices for an appreciable period. Resistance is just the opposite. It means selling in enough volume to satisfy all bids, thereby preventing prices from going any higher for a while.
On a chart, after a support line is meaningfully broken, prices tend to move more freely downward. The opposite applies when lines of resistance are broken.
When support and resistance have long held, or have been touched several times, the price moves after a breakthrough can be quite dramatic.
With that in mind, here's a chart and commentary from our June 22 U.S. Short Term Update (wave labels available to subscribers):

The Global Dow comprises 150 global blue-chip stocks, including all 30 components of the DJIA. Unlike the DJIA, which is a price-weighted index, the Global Dow is equal-weighted so that price moves in large stocks hold no disproportionate sway over the index. The Global Dow peaked on January 29, the day after the DJIA, and traced out [an Elliott wave pattern downward] to February 9, along with the U.S. blue-chip stock indexes.

But notice how each successive rally thereafter has topped at a lower high despite the hefty representation of U.S. blue chips...

Heavy is an understatement, because:

"...the U.S. accounts for more than 42% of the total index's valuation."

Needless to say, if the Global Dow's support shelf gives way, it could have profound implications for U.S. stocks, as well.
Jump on once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and avoid dangerous pitfalls that no one else sees coming. We can help you prepare for opportunities and side step risks that will surprise most investors. You can get deeper insights in Elliott Wave International's new free report: 5 "Tells" that the Markets Are About to Reverse. The insights that you'll gain are especially applicable to the price patterns of key financial markets, including the stock market, now.
Read the free report now.

This article was syndicated by Elliott Wave International and was originally published under the headline For Stocks, the Line in the Sand Has been Drawn. EWI is the world's largest market forecasting firm. Its staff of full-time analysts led by Chartered Market Technician Robert Prechter provides 24-hour-a-day market analysis to institutional and private investors around the world.

Trouble Spotting Market Trends? This Can Help

Learn How You can Spot a Market Trend – Before it Starts

By Elliott Wave International

Let it be stated upfront that there is no perfect way to analyze and forecast financial markets. No crystal balls.
Yet, let's be just as quick to add that in Elliott Wave International's review of market analysis methods, none approach the utility of the Elliott wave model.
The reason for the Elliott wave model's usefulness is easily explained: Elliott waves are reflections of the repetitive patterns of investor psychology, which is the real driver of prices, not news or events.
And, what could be more useful to an investor than a method which helps to identify a financial market's trend -- especially before it gets underway? Well, mastering the Elliott wave model helps you to do just that.
The Wall Street classic book, Elliott Wave Principle: Key to Market Behavior by Frost & Prechter, says:

...action in the same direction as the one larger trend develops in five waves.

Here are illustrations:

Let's now learn how the Elliott wave model identifies countertrend moves within the main trend by returning to Elliiott Wave Principle and additional illustrations:

... reaction against the one larger trend develops in three waves.

Lastly, let's learn how Elliott wave analysis signals the resumption of the main trend.
Elliott Wave International analyst Jeffrey Kennedy says:

A complete Elliott wave cycle consists of eight waves. Upon its completion, a similar cycle ensues....

Again, here are illustrations of the point:

The reason that a market's basic form is five waves followed by three waves is that this is the most efficient method of achieving both fluctuation and progress in linear movement.
Think of it as a variation of nature's "two steps forward, one step back" model of achieving progress.
After all, humans are a part of the natural world, so it only follows that the financial markets, a product of human interaction, would carry the same imprint.
As you might imagine, there are many more details in applying the Elliott Wave Principle to financial markets, and it took an entire book to lay them all out.
The purpose of this article is to simply show you that the price patterns of financial markets unfold according to a repetitive, predictable structure. Familiarity with that structure can help you determine what's next.
Jump on once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and avoid dangerous pitfalls that no one else sees coming. We can help you prepare for opportunities and side step risks that will surprise most investors. You can get deeper insights in Elliott Wave International's new free report: 5 "Tells" that the Markets Are About to Reverse. The insights that you'll gain are especially applicable to the price patterns of key financial markets, including the stock market, now.
Read the free report now.

This article was syndicated by Elliott Wave International and was originally published under the headline Trouble Spotting Market Trends? This Can Help. EWI is the world's largest market forecasting firm. Its staff of full-time analysts led by Chartered Market Technician Robert Prechter provides 24-hour-a-day market analysis to institutional and private investors around the world.