DTEOWPrice
DTEOWPrice
DTEOWPrice
By Robert Miner
Dynamic Traders Group, Inc.
www.DynamicTraders.com
End of Wave Price Projections
Lesson One
Dynamic Price Analysis: Retracements, Alternate Price
Projections and Price Extensions
This tutorial will be a review for many subscribers of basic price projection
techniques we use in the report, especially those who have taken the time
to study my Dynamic Trading book. However, it is important to regularly
review the basics to ensure subscribers easily follow along with the
method and terminology we use in the DT Reports.
Price analysis measures and proportions the range in price of past
cycles and projects forward to project the high probability support and
resistance target zones. The Fib ratio series of .382, .618, 1.618, etc. are
the most typical ratios used. With Dynamic Trading, we include a few
additional ratios that are all geometrically related to the Fib series.
Pivots on the price chart identify the reference points used in the
analysis. All price projections are made in advance. New projections are
made as soon as a new swing is confirmed.
The three key price projection techniques that make the price target
zones are:
1) Retracements (Ret)
2) Alternate Price Projections (APP)
3) Price Expansions (Exp)
Retracements (Ret)
There are internal and external price retracements. Internal retracements
are less than 100%. They are calculated between pivot points to help
identify the target for a correction. The four most important internal
retracements are: 38.2%, 50%, 61.8%, and 78.6%.
External retracements are greater than 100%. They extend beyond the
extreme of one of the pivot points. The most important external
retracements are: 127%, 162%, 262%, and 424%.
Let’s look at a chart example:
In the sixty-minute chart of the December Nasdaq 100 above, the first
projection is the 162% external retracement of A-B to point near C. It
came within a fraction of the Wave-C high on the intra-day chart. A Wave-
C is often either a 127% or 162% External Retracement of Wave -B.
The Nasdaq sixty-minute chart above is for the same period we used
for the retracement examples. The two swings measured are the A -B
advance projected from the pivot C-low and the C-D advance projected
from the pivot E-low. The pivot-F high was made at the 100% APP of A-B
projected from the pivot-C low and the 61.8% APP of C-D projected from
the pivot-E low. This price target zone was identified in advance in the
Dynamic Trader Futures Report as a target for a counter-trend high.
The same sixty-minute Nasdaq chart shows that each of the minor
lows for this period was very close to a 2.618 expansion of the first minor
leg down.
Lessons Learned
The three most important price projection techniques are Price
Retracements (Ret), Alternate Price Projections (APP) and Price
Expansions (Exp). Price retracements and alternate price projections are
the most reliable of these three techniques. Price expansion should be
used to confirm tops or bottoms that coincide with one of the other
methods. All of the price projections are calculated in advance.
New projections are made as a new swing is confirmed. The high
probability target zones are where two or more of the projections coincide
relatively close together.
Internal and external retracements, alternate price projection and price
expansion projections should be second nature to subscribers as well as
the abbreviations we use in the commentary and charts. Each proje ction
on a chart in the DT Futures Report is labeled with the ratio and type of
projection (APP, Ret, Exp). There are not separate labels for internal or
external retracements. Any retracement that is over 1.00 (100%) is an
external retracement by definition.
The next tutorial in the price series will begin to teach you how to make
the high probability End-of-Wave price target projections for each of the
common Elliott wave structures. You should know the how the three
different types of price projections are made that were taught in this
tutorial and there abbreviations.
Lesson Two
End-of-Wave 1 or A Price Projections
This tutorial begins a series of weekly tutorials that will usually be included
with each Monday or Tuesday Dynamic Trader Futures Reports to teach
you how to project the high-probability targets for the end of any trend or
counter-trend pattern based on Elliott wave structures.
If you are not familiar with the basic impulsive and corrective wave
structures and guidelines, refer to chapter three in the Dynamic Trading
book, Dynamic Price Projections. While there will be some discussion of
wave structure, the main objective is to teach how to identify in advance
the price targets zones for all of the typical wave structures.
Regarding Elliott wave – don’t get paralysis of analysis. We are
interested in tools that help us trade, not in predicting the future or having
an academic wave count. A market almost always provides a strong
pattern signal if it is in an impulsive-trend structure or one of the many
corrective structures. We always assume a correction will be an ABC until
proven other wise. Even if it becomes a “complex” correction, at least we
are aware that it is more likely a correction and the main impulsive trend
will eventually reassert itself. Sometimes the larger or smaller degree
(time frame) of change will often help to clarify the wave structure.
The purpose of identifying the probable wave structure is we use the
pivots to make the typical price targets for the end of tha t wave structure.
We will also teach you some basic trade management strategies to
use if a market reaches the price targets.
Some wave structures allow projections of three target zones –
minimum, typical and maximum.
Keep in mind that the real advantage of the Dynamic Trading approach
is to consider all three dimensions of time, price and pattern in the
analysis and trading strategies. This series of tutorials focuses on the
price factor with a fair amount of discussion of pattern. A future series of
tutorials will focus on the time factor.
We will use a variety of markets and time frames for the examples. The
same principles and procedures apply regardless of the market – futures,
stocks or mutual funds – and regardless of the time frame – intraday to
monthly.
Why Wave 1 or A?
Why do we usually label an initial trend either a Wave 1 or A and not one
or the other? Both Waves 1 and A usually have the same pattern
characteristics and price targets. From a practical trading perspective, it
doesn’t matter whether it is one or the other. We may have a strong
opinion which it may be depending on the larger degree pattern prior to
the beginning of the Wave 1 or A, but why prejudice ourselves by
choosing one or the other early in the new trend?
As the trend or counter-trend progresses, it will usually reveal whether
it is a 1 or A. We can then adjust our analysis and trading strategies when
the market has provided enough information for an informed opinion.
Pattern
Wave 1 should subdivide into five-waves.
Wave-A usually subdivides into five waves but may subdivide into three
waves. The initial assumption is a Wave-A will subdivide into five-waves.
Trading Strategies
One of the most useful W. D. Gann quotes is “The safest time to enter is
on the first reaction against the new trend.” In Elliott wave terms, near the
Wave-2 or B low. Why? If a reaction against the old trend is a five -wave
structure, it is probably a Wave 1 or A which will signal the larger degree
trend has changed and, at the least, a larger degree correction in terms of
time and price should be unfolding. Once we have this signal of a trend
Wave 1 or A High
On Oct. 24, the S&P made an outside reversal day at the first target zone
and declined sharply over the next two days. The Wave -1 or A high is
complete. Next week’s tutorial will teach how to make the high-probability
Wave 2 or B price targets.
US Dollar Retracements
The chart below shows the retracements from the 9/22 and 10/11 lows to
the 10/26 high. There are three price zones that include two retracements
each. While the Wave 1 or A is likely to make a low in one of the price
zones, we have no additional information which zone it will be. In a future
tutorial, we will show how we may be able to use the subdivisions of Wave
1 or A (waves of lesser degree) to help identify which target is most likely
to the Wave 1 or A low.
The chart below shows the Wave 1 or A low was made near the last
potential target zone.
Lessons Learned
We have learned how to make the retracements and identify those price
zones where two or more retracements coincide. Without other
information such as the projections of the subdivisions of the Wave 1 or A,
we cannot make a firm opinion of which target zone is the most probable
for the Wave 1 or A.
Lesson Three
End-of-Wave 2 or B Price Projections
This week we will take a look at how to make End-of-Wave (EOW) 2 or B
price projections. W.2 or B is preceded by W.1 or A which usually
subdivides into five waves. Why do we say end of 2 or B? It makes no
difference whether it is a Wave-2 or B from a trading perspective, as the
each wave should have the same structure and price targets.
The 50%, 62% and 78.6% retracements of W.1 or A gives the broad
price target zone for the end of W.2 or B. Wave-2 or B should not be
considered complete until at least the 50% retracement is reached. A
close beyond the 78.6% retracement will invalidate the assumption that
the market is in a W.2 or B.
A Wave-C should exceed the extreme of the Wave-A. The chart below
shows W.c traded below the extreme of W.a. W e can now calculate the
W.c of 2 or B price projections to fine-tune the end of W.2 or B
retracement range. Ideally there will be at least two projections that fall
close together. One projection would be from the W.1 or A retracements
and one would be from the EOW-C projections.
The next tutorial in this series will go into more detail on the EOW -C or
3 price targets. For now we will make the basic Wave-C targets which are
the 62%, 100% and 162% Alternate Price Projections (APP) of W.a for
W.c. The 62% APP of W.c to W.a and the 50% retracement of W.1 or A
can be eliminated because they coincide with the W.a low and W.c should
exceed the extreme of W.a.
The 162% APP of W.c to W.a can be eliminated because it falls well
below the 78.6% retracement of W.1 or A. This narrows the ideal W.2 or B
target zone to 84.55–84.47 that includes the 62% retracement of W.1 or A
and the 100% APP of W.c to W.a. The Wave 2 or B target zone falls as
low as 83.69 the 78.6% retracement of W.1 or A.
once the ideal price target was reached. The first trend-reversal trade at
the Nov. 22 reversal day would have been stopped out for a small loss as
the Euro continued to decline the next day. Trend -reversal long trades
should continue to be taken as long as the Euro has not closed below the
78.6% retracement.
The second go-long signal on the Nov. 27 reversal-confirmation day
close would have led to a profitable trade as the Euro continued to
advance to above the Nov. 3 high. The final confirmation that W.C or 3
was in progress was given on the close above the W .1 or A high on
December 1.
Lessons Learned
We learned how to apply Dynamic Trading analysis to identify W.2 or B
price targets from W.1 or A retracements and to fine-tune the targets with
price projections from the subdivisions of the Wave-2 or B. Trend-reversal
trades should not to be considered until the minimum W.2 or B price target
– the 50% retracement level – has been reached. A close beyond the
78.6% retracement signals the market is probably not making a Wave -2 or
B correction. We learned to use daily reversal signals to enter positions for
the W.3 or C trend once the ideal price target has been reached.
Lesson Four
End-of-Wave 3 or C Price Projections
This week we will take a look at how to make End-of-Wave 3 or C price
projections. The primary difference between W.3 and W.C is the typical
W.3 price projection is greater than the typical W.C price projection. The
typical difference between the two lies in the relationship to Wave 1 or A.
The typical W.C price projection includes the 100% APP (Alternate
Price Projection) of W. A and the typical W.3 price projection includes the
162% APP of W.1. Both W.3 and W.C should subdivide into five -waves.
Why do we usually label it W.3 or C and not one or the other?
Frequently we do not know for sure which it will be and from a trading
perspective, it doesn’t make much difference. Unless the wave pattern
that precedes the W.3 or C clearly suggests it is one or the other, we use
both labels.
Target Zones
The high probability EOW targets are where projections from more than
one swing relationship and more than one degree coincide within a
relatively narrow range. The ideal price target zone for W.3 or C will
include one projection from each swing relationship and one or more of
the smaller degree EOW-5 projections for the end of the Wave-5 of 3 or C.
Let’s take a look at the recent position of the March Australian Dollar
showing each projection in progression on the daily chart. Notice how the
projections combine to form price target zones for the End-Of-Wave 3 or
C. We will also show how trading strategies for entry and protective stop
placement may be integrated with the price target projections.
Retracements
Let’s assume a long position is taken on the daily reversal signal at the
W.2 or B low. The trade above the W.1 or A high at .5285 confirms W.3 or
C is in progress.
The first price projections to make are the 38%, 50% and 62%
retracements of the prior trend down from the June 16 high to the
November low are shown on the chart above. These retracements are
shown in blue. W.3 or C often terminates near one of these retracements.
Now let’s add the Alternate Price Projections of Wave 1 or A for W.3 or C
to the chart.
The 62%, 100%, 162% and 262% Alternate Price Projections of Wave
1 or A are made from the Wave 2 or B low. They are the red projections in
the chart above. It is simple to place the four APP’s for W.3 or C on the
chart using the Dynamic Trading software.
We have now made the retracements of the prior trend and the initial
Alternate Price Projections of the prior swing (W.1 or A). What are the best
potential target zones for EOW.3 or C? Where do projections from each of
these two methods coincide?
The .5485-.5491 price zone includes the 38.2% retracement and
where W.3 or C is the 162% APP of W.1 or A.
Now we will add the External Retracements of Wave-2 or B and see if
any of them coincide with other projections already made.
External Retracements
I have added the 127%, 162%, 262% and 424% external retracements
of W.2 or B above. They are the green projections.
We have now made all three projections used to make the EOW.3 or C
targets (Retracements, Alternate Price Projections and External
Retracements). What are the most probable EOW target zones?
W. C or 3 Key Price Targets
The two key projections for the EOW -3 or C are the 100% and 162%
Alternate Price Projections. They are the first place we look for other
projections that might fall near these two key projections.
While none of the other projections fall right at the 100% APP, the
162% external retracement of W.2 or B falls a bit below it. These two
projections form a high-probability minimum target zone for a Wave-3 and
typical target for a Wave-C.
The 162% APP coincides with the 38% retracement. These projections
form the high-probability maximum target zone for a Wave-C and typical
target zone for a Wave-3.
Ideally, a target zone includes one target from each of the three types
of projections, but it doesn’t always work out that way so we work with
what we have.
Minimum Target Zone: .5338-.5380 Includes where W.C or 3 equals
100% W.A or 1 (APP) and 162% W.B or 2 (Ext. Ret).
Probable Target Zone: .5485-.5491 Includes where W.C or 3 equals
162% W.A or 1 (APP) and the 38% retracement of the prior trend (Ret.).
The above chart shows the daily data through mid -Dec. This chart
shows the sub-division labels of W.3 and some of the EOW -5 of 3 or C
projections which fall just above the probable W.3 or C target shown
earlier. A future tutorial will show how we do the EOW -5 projections.
Lessons Learned
We learned how to make the W.3 or C price projections and how to
identify the probable target zones where individual projections coincide.
We learned how to adjust the stop on the short -term unit as soon as the
typical W.C target (100% APP of W.1 or A) is reached and to adjust th e
stop on the remaining units when the typical W.3 target and maximum
W.C target (162% APP of W.1 or A) is reached.
Projections and target zones may always be made in advance so you
are prepared to adjust your trading strategy including protective stops if a
market approaches a target zone.
Lesson Five
End-of-Wave 4 Price Projections
This week we will look at how to make End-of-Wave 4 price projections.
We start with the assumption that W.4 will be at least a three -wave, ABC
but recognize that W.4’s have a tendency to form complex structures.
Even though this tutorial is about W.4 price projections, let’s first review
some of the typical W.4 characteristics.
sell on a stop one tick below the Wave-b:4 low. A decline below the W.b:4
low signals the Wave-4 should be complete.
The chart below shows the data for the next several days. On Dec. 26,
copper traded to just above the typical W.4 target zone. The following day
copper gapped lower and traded below the W.b:4 low confirming the
Wave-4 should be complete and copper should continue to decline to
below the Dec. 21, W.3 low.
Keep It Simple
Last week’s tutorial about how to make the Wave -3 price projections
included the AD as an example. Let’s follow up and see how we would
make the Wave-4 projections.
If you will recall from last week’s tutorial, the Dec. 7 reversal day high
was made at the W.3 price target. What is the ideal W.4 target zone?
The daily chart below shows just the 100% and 162% APP of W.2 and
the 38%, 50% and 62% retracements of W.3.
The key 100% APP W.2 does not come close to the 38% W.3
retracement which is usually considered the minimum W.4 target. The
162% APP W.2 falls right in the midpoint of the 38%-50% W.3
retracement zone.
The 38%-50% W.3 retracement zone is the typical target for a W.4 and
the 162% APP W.2 is usually the maximum target for W.4. What is our
W.4 target zone? This is an easy one - 53.84-53.49.
What is the trading strategy? If the AD reaches the W.4 target zone,
buy on the close of a daily reversal signal or a trend continuation signal on
an advance from the W.4 target zone. If the intraday data had shown a
nice ABC subdivision of W.4, we would also buy on a stop one tick above
the W.b:4 high.
Lessons Learned
We learned how to make the W.4 price projections and how to identify the
probable target zones which include the key W.4 targets. We learned how
to prepare a trading strategy in advance how we might enter on a
reversal in a W.4 target zone or on a stop on the initial confirmation the
W.4 is complete.
Projections and target zones should always be made in advance so
you may have an objective entry and stop strategy prepared in advance.
Lesson Six
End-of-Wave 5 Price Projections
Wave-5 is the last wave in a five-wave structure. It should be followed by
the largest correction in price and time of any correction since the
beginning of the five-wave trend.
Even though this tutorial is about W.5 price projections, let’s first
review some of the typical W.5 characteristics.
1. W.5 should exceed the extreme of W.3. While there are “fifth -wave-
failures”, they are only evident after-the-fact. The assumption always
begins that W.5 will exceed the extreme of W.3.
2. W.5 should sub-divide into a smaller degree five-wave impulse
structure. A W.5 may sub-divide into a “fifth-wave-diagonal” where the
five-waves overlap similar to an ABCDE correction. See the Dynamic
Trading book for descriptions of fifth-wave-diagonals and fifth-wave-
failures.
3. In commodity bull markets, W.5 is often the “extended” wave or the
longest of the three impulse waves, 1-2-3. In this case, the W.5 will
exceed the typical Wave-5 price targets.
4. Wave-5 price targets are the most consistently reliable of any of the
end-of-wave price targets. Why? By the time Wave-5 is underway, we
have the more prior swings to work with to make projections than with
any other end-of-wave target.
The ideal EOW targets are those relatively narrow zones which include
one projection from two or more of the key sets of projections. The 288-
291’4 zone includes one projection from each of the three key sets of
projections including:
288’2: W.5 = 162% W.4
291’0: W.5 = 61.8% W.1-3
291’4: W.5 = 100% W.1
Trading Strategy
Trading strategies are always developed in advance. The trade-entry
strategy and initial protective stop-loss are always objective. In this case,
we would develop a trend-reversal entry strategy as wheat has reached
the broad price target to complete a Wave-5 high and is only a couple
cents below the ideal target zone.
If wheat reaches the W.5 target, sell on a daily reversal signal or other
trend-reversal entry strategy and place the initial protective buy-stop one
tick above the recent high.
On Jan. 11, wheat exceeded the W.5 target during the day but closed
right in the middle of the range of the target. The DT Futures Report gave
the recommendation to sell any day on th e close if the close was below
the current day’s open and prior day’s close. This is a reversal-
confirmation-day as taught in the Dynamic Trading book. Traders could
use any of the four daily reversal signals taught in Dynamic Trading for
entry.
On Jan. 16, the entry signal was elected for a short position on the
close. The initial protective buy-stop is placed one tick above the W.5
high.
As of this point in time, we don’t know if Jan. 11 will remain a W.5 high.
What we do know is that we identified a high probability reversal target
zone and an objective trading strategy to enter with minimal capital
exposure. That is what the business of trading is all about.
After studying this tutorial, you might want to take a look at the March
2001 wheat chart and see if the W.5 high held.
The next day the AD traded higher to above the Jan. 3 high and closed
above the extreme of the W.5:5 target zone. Unfortunately, the markets
don’t always unfold in the ideal manner. What would be the maximum W.5
target?
The maximum W.5 target is usually where W.5 equals 100% Waves 1-
3. The chart above shows this target for both W.5 and W.5:5 at .5733-
.5780. At the very least, we would know that this is likely the maximum
target for the advance from the Nov. 21 low. If the AD reached this target,
we would consider trend-reversal strategies. We would not want to
consider a long trade as the AD approached this zone and would want to
trail stops close to the market if long.
Every trend reversal is not made at an End-of-Wave target, but these
targets may still provide us with important information that we can apply to
practical trading strategies.
Lessons Learned
We learned how to make the W.5 price projections and how to identify the
ideal W.5 target zone as that zone that includes one projection from each
of the three key sets of projections.
We learned to consider a trend-reversal trading strategy in advance if
the market makes a reversal signal at the W.5 target zone.
We also learned that the maximum Wave-5 target is usually where the
range of W.5 equals 100% of the range of Waves 1-3.
For complete information how to make all of the End -of-Wave targets
and the appropriate trading strategies, see the Dynamic Trading book.