Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

S&P 500: Road to $4300+ Underway. What's Next?

Published 04/12/2023, 02:42 PM
Updated 07/09/2023, 06:31 AM

For readers, new and returning, allow me to refresh your memory. Since Mid-October last year, see here; we were starting to look for the possibility of a multi-month rally. Here’s what we found back then:

If the S&P 500 manages to rally above that level [SPX3886.75], without dropping below last week’s low first, then the index completed five waves lower from the mid-August high. … We will then look for a multi-month rally to the SPX 4350-4650 target zone.”

Please note this “multi-month rally” is a countertrend rally. In Elliott Wave Principle (EWP) terms a B-wave. In this case, the blue W-B is shown in Figure 1 below. B-waves always comprise three overlapping waves. In this case black W-a, -b, and -c. Because of the overlapping nature of B-waves, the hallmark of a countertrend, i.e., many more unexpected twists and turns than during an impulse pattern, the advance from the October 13 low has not been the easiest to anticipate. But when we know, understand, and accept the market environment we are dealing with, we can trade accordingly and still profit appropriately. Hence, our (members) portfolio is up >20% YTD.

Figure 1.S&P 500 Daily Chart

Closer to home, we focus on the price action since the March 13 low (larger black box). Note the blue boxes were the well-in-advance forecasted target zones, which have all been reached. The index should now be in green W-5 of red W-iii? of black W-c of blue W-B. That is quite the sequence, but it is essential to understand where we are in this countertrend rally. Because once it is complete, blue W-C will take hold and wreak havoc among most market participants as it gathers steams toward the SPX2500 region.

Thus, our primary expectation remains for higher prices in the $4300+ region, as anticipated in October last year. Shorter-term, and as I recently Tweeted:

Thus, as long as today’s low [SPX4095] holds, and especially SPX 4070, we must allow for higher prices per the green path.”

Our bullish outlook for the next several weeks to months is also based on two additional layers of information. The first is the index’s average price action during US Presidential pre-election years. See Figure 2 below. It is still only an average and should not be used as the can-all-do-all magic tool, but it is based on 95 years-long data records, of which 23 were pre-election years. And thus, it should be respected.

Figure 2.Annual Seasonality

The second is the 10-year-delay relationship between Crude Oil and Dow Jones Industrial Average, discovered by Tom McClellan. See here and Figure 3 below. This relationship has worked very well over the past 120 years, and although it is not an exact timing tool, it tells us the most likely path ahead. In this case, it will be a rough path as Crude Oil’s echo from 2013 tells us to expect a market top around June-August this year, plus/minus a few months. After that, well Figure 3 tells the story. Please note, for both seasonality and the Crude Oil-Dow Jones relationship; it is not about the magnitudes of the moves but about the direction of them.

Figure 3.Brent Crude Price Chart

Thus, combining our preferred EWP count with average pre-election year seasonality and the Crude Oil-Dow Jones 10 year-lag relationship provides us with a well-balanced weight of the evidence approach telling us to expect higher prices over the next several weeks to months before much worse is to be expected. Forewarned is forearmed.

Latest comments

I'm not sure I understand. Are you staying later this year the market is going to fall off a cliff? It appears by the chart you're calling for a very dramatic drop after short to medium term gains. What exactly would precipitate that?
Doc is mostly right. Been a subscriber of his for 2 years now.
And it dumped under 4095 right after you wrote this…..
expect a market top around June-August this year, plus/minus a few months... No offense but that prediction gives us a time frame between today and 2024. Kind of vauge?
what part of "it is not an exact timing tool, it tells us the most likely path ahead." did you not understand?
4300 plus down to 2500 is nearly 2000 points. What do you think will happen to cuase that kind of drop. Not a mild recession thats for sure
Not trying to brag but my portfolio is up more then 20% YTD. In fact its closer to 30% then 20. That makes me feel quite good since I have only been investing 2 years and I dont have a PHD. Thanks man appreciate your work
Why do you always make such nasty remarks? Why?
Thanks a lot for your analysis, Arnaut. I appreciate your work very much and lear a lot from each one of your articles. I hope you keep up the good work, particularly now, that I started my own deep dive into the EWP
4600 hahaha sure, banks results will give that boost to s&p to fly 😂. Melt up next week
5k
For bear market, technical analysis does not work
Weird, how come we were right already in October last year using TA?
astrology
What would need to change for you to adjust your forecast bearish? You published an article highlighting a 4300 and 4400 over the past 2 months.
Good question. A drop below 4000 from current levels would turn me bearish. But I see nothing yet to suggest that will happen.
Logical, and you've been right along the way.  Thank you for the analysis!
Thank you!
lol it's 407.20 now
That first chart looks like something from Kindy that my kids put on the fridge
Wonderful Analysis and Beautiful Charts as always!!! 4311  2432.84 Absolutely
Last time the market started dumping didnt you go all the way from 4,300 to we may go to 3,300? Lol
Fire this kid!
SWEET DREAMS!
We Appreciate the constructive and informative feedback you provided with your response. Because now we all know much better where the index will go next… I honestly find it amazing people actually find the time and need to write such nonsense.
4095 did not hold today. Fundamentals still point to a tight labor market, interest rates near 5 percent, oil prices increasing (inflation numbers will start to climb again MOM), and the FED will most likely do one more interest rate hike of .25.
4095 of minor importance. We may add failing regional banks to this list as well. But you know what, this whole list does not tell us anything about the markets or where they will go next. Nothing. Instead, despite this long list markets are up significantly over the last weeks and months. Go figure.
And it dumped under 4095 right after you wrote this…..
And?
Fine analysis! Thanks!
Thank you.
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.