Last week looked and felt like a pivotal week for both stocks and commodities. The past two weeks have had investors and traders in a panic as they try to find safe investments for their money. After watching and reviewing the panic selling in the market it looks as though the majority decided to sell everything and be in cash for the time being. This is bullish for the stock market.

I will admit it has been tougher to trade recently because of increased risk levels due to the large 2-4% sell offs and rallies happening within minutes… While this is amazing for disciplined and experienced traders who are able to pull the trigger getting in and out with quick profit in the matter of minutes, this same price action can blow up trading accounts of those who do not have a trading strategy, money management and the discipline to take profits and cut losses very quickly. The speed of the rallies and sell offs is the matter of being up or down thousand of dollars in the matter of 5-10 minutes… That is one of the reasons I have stepped back from being aggressive and into more of an observation mode playing with small amounts of money and focusing on the larger trends at.

My #1 goal is to make subscribers money with the least amount of risk and watching the market swing 2-4% in minutes makes it extremely difficult to get everyone in and out positions with a profit before the market changes directions. As much as I love trading, some times the best position is to have small ones or be in cash.

GLD – Gold ETF Trading

Here is my weekly updated chart of gold as it works its way through the correction from last year. The daily chart looks to be forming a larger Cup & Handle pattern which is extremely bullish. If this pattern does a text book move then we could see GLD reach $140 and spot gold would reach the $1400 area.

That being said this pattern still has to complete the handle portion which could easily last another 4 weeks, so I am not in a panic to add more to our position.

SLV – Silver ETF Trading

Silver is in much of the same situation. Because of the added volatility in silver the charts do not look quite the same but they are similar in many ways… Silver is used a lot for industrial purposes and because the economy which is very weak still (though it is getting better) we are not seeing silver demand rise much. If silver can break this large resistance level then we could see silver surge to $25 (25%) this year.

USO – Oil Fund Trading

USO (Oil) has held up really well in the past 12 months but the recent sell off has seriously damaged the bullish outlook I had not long ago. While it is oversold and looks to have started a bounce last week the chart is pointing to lower prices over the longer term… This USO fund does have contago which makes this fund under perform the actual price of oil. The current prices of oil are still trading at a key support level and could post nice bounce if not trigger a new rally. The problem with following some ETF’s which have contago is that you do not see the real price action of the commodity. But that is were I come in as I track the underlying commodity and relate it to ETFs for you.

SPY – SP500 ETF Trading

The Stock Market (SP500) sure has been a roller coaster. The chart below shows you what happened in January for the last correction and where we stand currently in comparison. If a setup is obvious in the financial market there is a very high chance it will not work out as planned and by knowing this it allows us to be cautious and take profits at key short term support and resistance levels.

Trend Trading Conclusion:

In short, I feel gold and silver will drift around to digest the recent move up and to form the handle portion. Oil looks to have put in a short term bottom and if we get a small pullback in the coming days to test the intraday chart breakout level and touch the support trend line we could look to take a position.

We tend to see the most price appreciation during the final stages of a trend and we could have seen that on the US Dollar over the past 6 weeks. It looks as though the dollar could have put in a double top. If the dollar rolls over it would help boost precious metals, oil and stocks… But we will not know it’s a top until there is a clear trend reversal which in any case will be weeks before that type of price action can unfold.

As for the SP500, we have seen the same level of selling as we did in Feb-March 2009. High volume panic selling has ruled the market since late April. There are equal arguments for saying the market has bottomed with all the panic selling and that we should start another large rally lasting 8-12 months or one could argue this is capitulation volume signaling massive distribution of shares and now every rally/bounce will be sold… Personally I am torn between the two… but lean more towards higher prices with a multi month grind up at slow rate…

If you would like to receive my trading analysis, thoughts and low risk trading setups check out my trading services at www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

Chris Vermeulen

The famous “10% correction” that market pundits talk about sounds so nice and tidy, so predictable and tolerable. It’s as if this “cute little correction” came neatly wrapped, looked like an M&M candy character, and smiled at you and your family after you open the box.

If only it were so.

“If all the market ever did on the downside was dip 10% once every two years, then investing would be easier than shooting fish in a barrel. Obviously, this is not the case. The fact is that the stock market’s movements are a fractal. Declines come in widely varying sizes.” – The Elliott Wave Theorist, December 2001

There is no way to know in advance whether a particular market downturn will fall 11%, 35% or 89%. Even the Wave Principle only forecasts probabilities — not certainties.

Read Part One of Robert Prechter’s Latest Two-Part, April-May Theorists FREE
The April-May Theorist series entitled “Deadly Bearish Big Picture” reveals a lucid picture for 2010-2016. It’s the flipside of Robert Prechter’s February
2009 Forecast for a ‘Sharp and Scary’ Rally. Click here to download the 10-page part one for FREE now.

One thing that is certain — every bear market reached a 10% drop before prices fell even further.

And another near-certainty is that too many money managers will use the phrase “buying weakness” when the market falls 10%. On May 7, after the Dow Jones had fallen several hundred points in a few days, two money managers being interviewed side by side said in effect, “Buy.” Not a word was said about caution. Not a word was offered about even the possibility of a major trend change in the market.

On the other hand, it was refreshing to hear a representative of a fund family say, “I don’t know why anyone needs to be a hero, and try to catch the bottom.”

You may be tempted to jump back in because the market has recently “corrected.” Yet consider what EWI’s Short Term Update subscribers read on May 7 — “. . .we would caution that some of history’s largest stock declines have occurred only after stocks were deeply oversold.”

Two key features of the Elliott Wave Principle is its ability to establish a price target for the current trend, and a time range.

In his latest Elliott Wave Theorist (a two-part April-May issue), Robert Prechter tells why market participants should look far beyond a mere 10%-15% move in the now-unfolding trend.

Read Part One of Robert Prechter’s Latest Two-Part, April-May Theorists FREE
The April-May Theorist series entitled “Deadly Bearish Big Picture” reveals a lucid picture for 2010-2016. It’s the flipside of Robert Prechter’s February
2009 Forecast for a ‘Sharp and Scary’ Rally. Click here to download the 10-page part one for FREE now.

Considering the chart above, gold appears overbought and prime for a drop. The relative strength index is at 72.68 and above the 70 level which would normally be a sell for us. Although we always load up heavily on gold when the RSI is on or below 30, we never sell when the RSI hits 70 during major rallies.

Why? Well, simply because when gold decides to go on a run it generally disobeys the RSI overbought reading as it simply continues higher.

A textbook case of this is during that run to $1225 in late 2009, the RSI was well above 70 in early November while gold was just $1100. Selling in early November because of the RSI reading would have missed a whole $125 move upwards. And shorting the yellow metal at that time would’ve proved fatal. With this example fresh in our memories, we will not sell gold when the RSI gives us a sell signal during major rallies, and the current RSI reading 72.68 does not deter us from being long gold.

Prior to breaking the $1033 major resistance with a follow through to over $1200, gold broke the $720 mark which was previously another major resistance. From $720 gold subsequently rallied to $1033, a move of over 40%. Gold made another 40% move when it surged through the $500 barrier to $720.

One may infer from these observations that we are presently likely to get another 40% move.

Considering the breakage of the $1033 resistance area, this gives us a gold price for the present move of $1446.20. This is a rough estimate but it would not be unreasonable to expect gold prices to move up towards $1400/ounce during this major rally, and then when one factors in the possibility that these large moves could become even larger than 40% as the gold bull market progresses and becomes more volatile, prices higher than $1400 appear possible.

We normally look to the ultimate inverse gold price indicator, the US dollar, for more clues on what gold prices might do and when. But since gold and the USD have recently been moving up together, this analysis technique isn’t too helpful. However, investors should not lose faith in the gold bull market simply because this inverse relationship hasn’t worked recently.

One should keep in mind that in the last gold bull market, gold and the US dollar moved up together, so it is likely that this could happen again. Also, the fact that gold is rallying in spite of USD gains is a sign of great strength in the yellow metal.

We think that in the long term, as the USD resumes its bear market down trend, gold prices will continue to move higher. In the shorter term we believe that if the Euro should find its footing and begin to rise, as a result of perceived improvement in the sovereign debt issues in Europe, the USD will drop back slightly and gold price will likely take a hit. For now, gold has become a safe haven investment sparked by unstable conditions in Europe.

An improvement in European debt conditions would likely take away some of the premium presently given to gold. However, if this should occur we expect gold’s price decline to only be temporary, since USD weakness will ultimately drive gold prices higher. Essentially this could work out as a win-win situation for gold, albeit with the second win scenario of EURO improvement slightly delaying gold’s rise.

The bottom line is that the major rally beginning with the break out above the previous all time high of $1033 is not over yet. We will likely see $1300 plus very soon. And, we believe that gold did not recently break above its December 2009 high of $1225 just to rally to $1249. There is more to come!

As we are now trading at all time highs, we are in unchartered waters. Volatility should be expected, and in large doses. Short term, gold could drop back to $1185. Ideally, however, we would like prices to consolidate at these current levels so that $1225 will become a support level and a base for the next move up.

So far in 2010, all eyes in the gold market have been looking up at $1225 wondering whether gold get back to that all time high? Now that question has been answered yet another arises, where next for gold?Our answer to that question is that we believe this rally still has gas in the tank to run higher. Gold didn’t break its resistance at $1225 just to climb another $24 or 1.95% to $1249. There must be more in this move.

Last week was amazing for both gold and index traders as gold surged higher and the SP500 tested a key resistance then fell 4% in our favor. The past couple weeks with the mini market crash and Euro issues making the market extra volatile both gold and the broad market (SP500) index has been wild.

The added volatility makes trading more difficult because price patterns become less predictable and price movements are much larger increasing risk for traders.

Below are the charts & videos of what to look for in the coming days…

GLD – Gold ETF Trading
Gold continues to trend higher at an accelerated rate. Friday we saw gold pullback and test a key support level then bounced to close in the middle of the days trading range. As you can see the trend line support has become very steep and once the trend line support is broken I figure there will be a sharp drop to digest the recent rally.

SLV – Silver ETF Trading
Silver popped and tested a key resistance level from a previous high as expected. It also tested the top of its trend channel providing even more resistance. This week will be interesting as we wait to see if precious metals have a small pullback or continue to rally.

SPY – SP500 Index ETF Trading Chart
This chart clearly shows what I think is about to unfold by looking at the past market drop. Because of the mini market crash triggering everyone’s stops already I figure we have made the low and the dip we are seeing now will drift down a few more percentage points then bottom out.

ES M0 – SP500 Mini Futures Trading Setup – Pre-Drop
Below is a chart of the SP500 which we shorted or bought the SDS bear etf trading fund last week looking to profit from a falling stock market. As you can see from the chart we saw the es mini contract drift into a key pivot point on light volume. What this means is that a large group of sellers will be waiting at that price, and because volume is light we know there are not many buyers at this price level. Simple supply/demand comes into play with more sellers causing the price to stop rising and eventually force the price lower which is what we were anticipating.

The green arrows show key support levels on the 60 minute chart where 1/3 of a position should be taken of the table to lock in gains which also reduces overall risk on the trade. Once we cash in the first 1/3 of the position we move our protective stop the breakeven which is the entry point for the remaining portion of our position. This turns the trading into a winner no matter what happens allowing us to enjoy the ride…

ES M0 – SP500 Mini Futures Trading Setup – Current Price
Here is the same chart 24 hours later showing both of our profit targets triggered pocketing 2/3rds of our position for a very nice gain. Depending on the type of trading vehicle you traded there was potential to make up to 150% return in less than 24 hours.

We currently hold 1/3 of the position left with a loose stop allowing the trade to mature incase the down trend continues for several days or weeks. If not and the price rallies then our stop will get triggered for small profit on the balance of the position. Either way we win.

Stock Market ETF and Futures Trading Conclusion:
In short, the market is trading on increased volatility making it difficult to find low risk setups. At the moment we are long gold and short the SP500 with both position deep in the money. All we can do now is manage our positions to make sure we maximize our profits.

Chris Vermeulen

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Please join me to consider a time in the stock market that lasted just under three years: 32 months, to be precise. During this period a series of powerful rallies stand out clearly on a price chart. The shortest of these rallies was four weeks, the longest more than five months.

(MarketWatch) — A controversial measure requiring the government to conduct an unprecedented one-time audit of the Federal Reserve’s economic crisis response programs was approved with overwhelming bipartisan support Tuesday by the Senate as part of sweeping bank reform legislation. The amendment also calls for releasing the names of institutions that received in total more than $2 trillion in loans from the central bank during the peak of the financial crisis. The provision received a vote of 96-0, with many lawmakers agreeing to back it following a compromise reached late Thursday. “This makes it clear that the Fed can no longer operate under the kind of secrecy it has been operating under,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the measure’s author.

The past few weeks I have been talking about the SP500 forming a top similar to the January top we saw earlier this year. Well the charts below show exactly what I have been waiting for to unfold and I think the time has come for the market to take a healthy breather before continuing this strong bull market which could last another 12 -24 months before really topping out.

SPY – SP500 ETF Trading Chart

I am showing the SPY etf because that’s a fund most people know and trade, but this analysis is the same for trading futures like the ES M0 Mini SP500 contract.

You can see the similar price action which formed in January and what has happened recently. I feel we are about to see a correction which would last several weeks which is very exciting for us traders.

SPY April Top – SP500 ETF Trading 60 Minute Chart

This chart shows the past few weeks of price action with the market becoming more volatile with waves of selling and buying. This indicates exhaustion and generally leads to a market correction or at least some sideways movement to digest the recent rally before continuing higher.

SPY January Top – SP500 ETF Trading 60 Minute Chart

Take a look at this chart of January….
Very similar price and volume action.

SPY January Sell Off – SP500 ETF Trading 60 Minute Chart

This chart shows the sell off last January and the setups I had when the market reached extremes generating trades with the underlying down trend.

SP500 Day Trading & Swing Trading Opportunities:

I hope these charts help you to see how I read the market and what I am looking for in trade setups. While its easy to see these setups in hindsight it requires a lot of research and experience in-order to time these plays in real-time when emotions are flying high and with BNN, Bloomberg, CNBC and other newsletters all saying different things…

Some words from fellow traders:
“I just wanted to let you know how much I’ve learned from you already. Understanding that you don’t always have to be in the market because another Low Risk Setup is just around the corner tops my list. Keep up the good work.” Matt Brennan, CA, USA

“Hey, Chris!
I really like the way you think and I’m already learning some useful stuff. I tend to be too aggressive, that’s another reason I picked you – I think you have just the medicine I need to learn to be a bit more cautious and to manage risk better. My biggest weakness is jumping the gun. Pretty typical, I guess. Already I can see I will learn to improve from following your lead.” George Faison, VA, USA

If you would like stock market training, how to find low risk setups with great potential along with my trading signals then check out my websites below:

Chris Vermeulen