Another Double Divergence In Copper

01/02/06 12:45:14 PM

by David Penn

Will the second time be the charm for copper bears?

Security: HG
Position: N/A

The last time copper futures created a double negative stochastic divergence on the daily continuous charts, the earth-shattering ka-boom to the downside I might have expected did not materialize. Instead, copper futures skid sideways for about a month -- more blown over than blown up.

FIGURE 1: COPPER PEAK. The peak in copper prices in August followed a negative divergence in the MACD histogram and a double negative divergence in the stochastic.

Graphic provided by: Prophet Financial, Inc.

Negative divergences signal a loss of upside momentum. The consequences of that loss vary from outright reversals to sharp corrections to the sort of sideways action that occurred between mid-August and mid-September 2005 in copper futures (Figure 1).

The idea "that which does not kill us only makes us stronger" may be especially applicable to corrections in trends. Unless a trending market reverses, it will continue to trend and every correction will be far more likely opportunity than crisis. Trader, educator, and founder of Pristine.com, Oliver Velez Jr., has exhorted traders to pay close attention to this notion, insisting: "As a trader, your job in an uptrend is to buy every single decline. Not most of them. Not some of them. All of them."

FIGURE 2: DOUBLE NEGATIVE. A double negative divergence over the November-December period suggests softness in copper prices going forward.

Graphic provided by: Prophet Financial, Inc.

The mid-August to mid-September correction served as an excellent accumulation region for those bulls looking for a shot at riding copper higher. Positive divergences in the moving average convergence/divergence (MACD) histogram and stochastic on September 19 created a great "go-ahead" signal, and an increase in volume accompanied the break to the upside.

Will the current double divergence in copper futures similarly result in milder copper prices in the first weeks of 2006 (Figure 2)? Copper futures already trended sideways over the course of December. This almost tempts me to believe that the product of the double negative divergence will also be a product of an expansion in volatility -- in other words, a downward correction of some significance. The $2.05 level (basis continuous futures) remains the region of resistance. In March futures, the equivalent level is about the same.

Any inability to follow through movement above that level will likely encourage those ready to test copper's ability to move in the other direction.

David Penn

Technical Writer for Technical Analysis of STOCKS & COMMODITIES magazine, Working-Money.com, and Traders.com Advantage.

Title:	Technical Writer
Company:	Technical Analysis, Inc.
Address:	4757 California Avenue SW
	Seattle, WA 98116
Phone # for sales:	206 938 0570
Fax:	206 938 1307
Website:	www.Traders.com
E-mail address:	DPenn@traders.com
Traders' Resource Links
Charting the Stock Market: The Wyckoff Method -- Books
Working-Money.com -- Online Trading Services
Traders.com Advantage -- Online Trading Services
Technical Analysis of Stocks & Commodities -- Publications and Newsletters
Working Money, at Working-Money.com -- Publications and Newsletters
Traders.com Advantage -- Publications and Newsletters
Professional Traders Starter Kit -- Software

Click here for more information about our publications!

Comments

Date:�01/05/06Rank:�2Comment:�

PRINT THIS ARTICLE

Request Information From Our Sponsors

DEPARTMENTS: Advertising | Editorial | Circulation | Contact Us | BY PHONE: (206) 938-0570

Comments or Questions?	Article Usefulness
	5 (most useful) 4 3 2 1 (least useful)

FUTURES

Another Double Divergence In Copper

Comments

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE
EMAIL NEWSLETTER!