Since I last covered the euro on the 3 May, we have seen some interesting developments. Last week, the European Central Bank (ECB) lowered its policy rate from 0.75% to 0.5%, and the euro barely budged on the news.
Maybe all of the big players discounted this earlier, with perhaps a nod and a wink from the ECB that they were planning such a move.
We small fries do not get ‘tips’… if they exist at all. We have to be smarter than the average banker.
And this is where sensible use of my trading tools comes into play. Last time, I was expecting an extension of the rally taking place.
This was the chart then:
(Click on the chart for a larger version)
And I wrote: “And as I write, the rally has carried to the 38% level and appears to be stalling. This rally has an A-B-C feel to it, so the relief rally could be complete here.
“Ideally though, the rally would carry to the 50% level above 1.3120, where a trade could be entered. Based on my analysis, the 62% level is also a potential turning point.”
And sure enough, I got my rally extension – right to my Fibonacci 62% level:
(Click on the chart for a larger version)
I was waiting there with a short trade.
At that point, it looked as if the relief rally had been exhausted and my awaited downturn was in the offing. But, as so often happens, the market sprung a surprise… it rallied once more:
(Click on the chart for a larger version)
It broke above my trendline, but only to the 1.3220 level. Since my protective stop was above this level, I was still holding my short.
And following that rally – which was totally counter-intuitive following the interest rate reduction – the market saw reason and began a sharp decline. This is the position this morning:
(Click on the chart for a larger version)
The market fell heavily yesterday though my centre tramline, which was another signal for a short trade, of course.
I have a respectable upper tramline with many good tough points, so that I am able to draw in my lower tramline equidistant. And as I write, the market has hit the 1.30 level – on the tramline target. Naturally, this is a good place for short-term traders to take profits.
This is a good place to look at the longer-range picture to keep us on the right track:
Using Elliot waves to find a long term target
This is the daily chart showing the huge move off the February 1.37 top. From the April low, the rally has a clear A-B-C (green bars). A-B-C patterns are counter-trend, so that confirms the major trend is still down.
Added confirmation is that there is a large negative-momentum divergence between the C and A wave tops.
With short-term support having given way, the next target is the late April 1.2950 low. If the market can move down to the pink bar, then the next target becomes the 1.2750 low.
But what are the near-term options? Here is the 15-minute chart this morning:
(Click on the chart for a larger version)
From the 1.32 high, I can count five complete Elliott waves. And with a large positive-momentum divergence at the fifth wave low (red bar). Time for a counter-trend rally, methinks.
And this evidence gives added weight to the notion of taking short-term profits I mentioned above.
So, just looking at the chart… I am expecting a counter-trend rally. It may not start from here, although odds do favour this interpretation. And a rally above the minor high of this morning would confirm the rally was under way.
This is why I will be applying my Fibonacci levels to the probable rally once I can lock on to the low pivot point. As before, I shall be looking at the 50% and 62% levels for trading guidance.
So really, a trader does not need to have inside tips to make profits, just a disciplined use of my simple trading techniques.
• 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
• Don’t miss my next trading insight. To receive all my spread betting blog posts by email, as soon as I’ve written them, just sign up here. If you have any queries regarding MoneyWeek Trader, please contact us here.
