Another classic pattern emerges in the Dow

If you read these articles regularly, you'll know I've been very closely following the action in the Dow lately. In fact, all four articles this week (including this one) have been about the Dow, and I make no apologies for this.

It's not the only market I like to trade. I trade gold and the euro, too, as well as other markets.

But, right now, it's the Dow that's presenting us with some stunning examples of how you can trade using my trading methods.

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Remember, my articles are not trading recommendations. They're a real-time commentary on how I use my trading methods to make profits in these tough markets.

So let me bring you up to date with how I've been trading this week

The real reason for the Dow's 400-point rally

Make no mistake many traders are scratching their heads over the rollercoaster rides in the Dow with swings of 500 pips in rapid succession. I hope to show how you can trade these volatile markets using my time-tested methods.

On Wednesday, the market had come within pips of hitting my long-standing target at 12,500.

And yesterday, the Dow took off like a rocket and is currently trading at over 12,900 a tremendous move of over 400 pips in just a few hours.

Now, if you read and believe the mainstream's rationale behind this move, let me offer you an alternative explanation. It has little to do with the news'.

The conventional story was Mario Draghi's announcement "that the ECB stood ready to do whatever it takes' to retain the euro". There were also some positive earnings reports out of the US (a lagging data point).

But remember on Wednesday, I noted that the market had completed a textbook five waves down to the 12,500 level on Tuesday many hours before the above news emerged.

I stated then that I expected a rally from this level, and this is what occurred.

So in a nutshell, my explanation of the rally is this: a completed five waves down and a counter-trend rally lies ahead and I forecast it, unlike the news junkies.

In other words, the news' followed the market!

But most believe the very opposite and this is one of the many market myths that I aim to bust in these articles. Keep reading them

An essential point to understand about markets

If you are, or would like to be, a serious trader, you need to understand that markets are patterned and the patterns are virtually independent of the news flow.

Now this morning, the market is moving up towards my upper major tramline. The question is: will it make it? Let's get to the charts

(Click on the chart for a larger version)

As I stated, I am looking for an A-B-C formto the rally, but gazing at the hourly chart, I'm squinting hard, and can make one out more on this later.

But on Wednesday, before the huge rally, I had stated that short-term traders were taking profits near the lower tramline for gains of around 400 pips. Longer-term traders would be holding, but placing protect-profit stops just above the wave 4 high (around 12,750):

(Click on the chart for a larger version)

I'll tell you the reason for this area being a sensible place to put buy-stop orders

The strong signal that the market was turning

After a five-wave down move, rallies often turn in the region of the previous fourth-wave top. Any move beyond this normally means a more significant rally is in the works as it proved yesterday.

Longer-term traders, having shorted near the 12,900 level on 19 July and exited in the 12,750 area yesterday, still netted a good profit of 150 pips or so.

And with the very strong kick off the lower tramline, many traders would have been very tempted to reverse positions and go long. Especially when presented with this chart:

(Click on the chart for a larger version)

On the 15-minute chart, I can make out a very clear reverse 'head and shoulders'pattern. And when the market broke above the neckline, that was the place to act.

So I'm now long at 12,750. The big question is: Where is the likely top to this rally?

Let's zoom in on the 15-minute chart:

(Click on the chart for a larger version)

Now I can see a possible A-B-C form. And note the current wave up is starting to lose momentum a potentially bearish sign.

If the market does top here before hitting my upper major tramline in the 13,000 area, the pink zone would be a danger area for bulls.

Sentiment swings to bullish

So how do the sentiment figures stack up this week? Recall, last week saw a massive swing to the bearish camp which provided the fuel for the huge rallies.

Here is the latest AAII data as of 25 July:

So last week, there was a modest 5% swing to the bullish camp. Aren't these people fickle? And this bullish bias came despite the 500-pip decline that week, as investors bought the dips.

So my strategy is this: I have my protect-profit sell stops on my longs in the pink zone, and if the market does decide to extend its pop', will look to exit on any move into the 13,000 area.

I will also look to re-establish short positions, looking for a resumption of the bigger bear market.

And remember, the news follows the markets. So don't get hung up on trading off it as you will likely be zigging when you should be zagging.

Do let me know your thoughts on the Dow and I will try to get to the euro and gold next week! Leave a comment below.

If you're a new reader, or need a reminder about some of the methods I refer to in my trades, then do have a look at my introductory videos:

The essentials of tramline trading

Advanced tramline trading

An introduction to Elliott wave theory

Advanced trading with Elliott waves

Trading with Fibonacci levels

Trading with 'momentum'

Putting it all together

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