Where to start your Elliott Wave count from? - EWM Interactive (2024)

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Home » Where to start your Elliott Wave count from?

02 Oct 14

Elliott Wave Theory

Where to start your Elliott Wave count from? - EWM Interactive (3)

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The Elliott Wave Principle gives best results only when it is correctly applied. Furthermore, it does not provide mechanical signals like most other technical approaches. In order to be able to see the present situation with all the probable alternative counts, one must have trained eye, creative imagination and patience. Once mastered, the Wave Principle becomes a beautiful symbiosis between art and science.
Counting Elliott waves is very similar torecognizing different fragments of a whole and putting them together. The good thing is thatyou have a limited number of fragments, grouped in two categories – motive waves and corrective waves. Under motive waves there are regular impulses and diagonals. There are three types of corrective patterns – zig-zags, flats and triangles. According to the Elliott Wave Principle, motive waves are followed by corrective waves and vice versa. So, if you want to count the subwaves of a correction, you have to start your count from the end of the previous motive wave. If you want to count the five subwaves of the motive phase, you start from the end of the previous correction. Let’s take a look at some examples. On the first chart below you can see a complete 5-3 Elliott Wave cycle. Note how the two phases of trend – motive and corrective – fit together to form the whole pattern.

The above-shown chart depicts a very clear impulsive five, labeled 1-2-3-4-5, followed by the corresponding three-wave retracement, which, in this case, takes the form of a double zig-zag, marked with w-x-y. This example shows how the correction starts after the end of the impulse. Now we will demonstrate how the impulsive phase begins after the end of the correction.

Note that in the first case, the corrective phase starts from the extreme (top) of wave 5, while in the second one, the motive phase starts from the extreme (bottom) of the wave Y. That is how we put the two pieces of the puzzle together. It probably looks quite easy so far. But what happens if you spot an impulse on a chart with the idea to wait for the retracement and attack the trend resumption, but it never comes? Let’s examine one such situation.

Having a clear five-wave rally, you would assume that a correction is in progress. After its end you would expect the uptrend to continue. This is what happens instead:

Prices fall much lower than expected and the bullish scenario is ruined. Those, who have just started learning the Elliott Wave Principle, would probably blame it on the method immediately. On the other hand, the minority, that had spent enough time studying it, would go to a bigger time frame, in order to see the whole forest, not only the surrounding trees.

And the bigger time frame makes it clear. The bullish idea failed, because the impulse we were looking at was the last fragment – wave (5) – of a larger five-wave sequence. And we know, that after every five waves there should be a correction.Same pattern, different degree.
The important thing to remember here is that you should always be aware of where does the fragment/wave you are looking at fit into the bigger picture. And, of course, always use a protective stop-loss order.
In conclusion, the right approach when making an Elliott Wave analysis, is to start from the largest degree possible and then go all the way down to the smallest waves and fit them all together.

ELLIOTT WAVE PRINCIPLE ELLIOTT WAVE THEORY INVESTING MARKET TECHNICAL ANALYSIS TRADING

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Where to start your Elliott Wave count from? - EWM Interactive (2024)

FAQs

Where to start your Elliott Wave count from? - EWM Interactive? ›

According to the Elliott Wave Principle, motive waves are followed by corrective waves and vice versa. So, if you want to count the subwaves of a correction, you have to start your count from the end of the previous motive wave.

Where to start Elliott Wave count? ›

Every wave count analysis should start with a question that you want to know the answer to. For example, if you're just beginning a new analysis and trying to determine the long term context of a market, you might start at the beginning of the most recent longer term rally or decline.

How to identify the first Elliott Wave? ›

Identifying Wave 1 in Elliott Wave theory involves keen observation and analysis. Look for the following key aspects: Strong Impulse Movement: Wave 1 typically exhibits a strong, impulsive price movement in the direction of the emerging trend. Watch for decisive and noteworthy price shifts.

What is the best indicator to use with Elliott Wave? ›

In this case, these waves can be considered more as confirmational patterns than patterns used to identify a trend. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is one of the most popular indicators to pair with Elliott Wave analysis and is especially helpful to beginner traders.

How do you trade Elliott Wave for beginners? ›

To trade Elliott waves, you first determine whether your market is in a bull or bear trend, and then whether it is in the motive or corrective phase of the pattern. From there, you can work out which wave the market is currently in and make predictions about where it might head next.

What is the longest Elliott Wave count? ›

Elliott Wave Theory holds that each wave within a wave count contains a complete 5-3 wave count of a smaller cycle. The longest wave count is called the Grand Supercycle.

Is Elliot Wave hard to learn? ›

According to the Elliott Wave theory, there are 11 patterns and there are certain rules and guidelines which needs to be strictly followed to find and mark those patterns on the chart. It is very difficult to observe those patterns with your naked eyes.

What is the most accurate Elliott Wave indicator on TradingView? ›

1. ZigCycleBarCount [MsF] This is the best Elliott Wave indicator available on TradingView because it allows you to easily spot trends, is highly customisable, and it also comes with an integrated bar count, for a truly complete overview of your chart.

Which Elliott Wave is the strongest? ›

Elliot waves depend on the Fibonacci retracement levels as well. Among the three impulsive waves, the third wave is the strongest wave as in this wave, there is lot of market euphoria. In most situations, the traders usually identify the third wave when it has already established.

What is the automatic Elliott Wave indicator? ›

The Elliott Wave indicator allows users to detect Elliott Wave (EW) impulses as well as corrective segments automatically on the chart. These are detected and displayed serially, allowing users to keep track of the evolution of an impulse or corrective wave.

How to master Elliott Wave? ›

OBJECTIVE
  1. Understanding Basics - Motive Waves and Corrective Waves.
  2. 5 Key Elliott Wave Patterns Impulse, Diagonal, Zigzag, Flat, Triangle.
  3. Learn How the Wave Principle can Improve your Trading.
  4. Identify Elliott Wave Trade Set-Up and Spot High Probability Trading Opportunities.

What is the Elliot wave strategy? ›

The Elliott Wave theory is a technical analysis of price patterns related to changes in investor sentiment and psychology. The theory identifies impulse waves that establish a pattern and corrective waves that oppose the larger trend.

How to do a wave count? ›

Wave frequency can be estimated by counting the number of waves breaking on the shore in 10 minutes. Calculate mean wave frequency per minute. Data you have collected for wave height and wave frequency can be used to calculate wave energy (in joules).

Which time frame is best for an Elliott Wave? ›

There is no best timeframe for trading the Elliot Wave strategy. It depends on your trading style and personality. If you are a day trader, you would want to trade on intraday timeframes, such as hourly, 30-minute, 15-minute, and so on.

What is the basic Elliott Wave pattern? ›

Typically, a basic Elliott wave pattern can be identified by an eight-wave pattern consisting of five impulse waves (which move in support of the main trend), and three corrective waves (which move in the opposite direction).

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