ETH's Nested Flags: Bull Flag within a Bear FlagPrimary Chart: Weekly Candle Chart of ETH/USD with Competing Flag Scenarios
Longer-Term Analysis
BITSTAMP:ETHUSD has been largely in a trading range since making its low in June 2022. Yes, some of the moves within that range have been quite substantial. The move off the June 2022 low to the early August 2022 high was about +130.59% higher. The next leg higher from the early November 2022 low to the April 2023 high was about a +99% move. In between those moves was a substantial -47.29% downdraft. (Downdrafts may have quite a smaller percentage because the starting point begins much higher than the starting point for an up move.)
But big volatility, huge moves, don't guarantee a strong trend either way. A stock can chop up and down in a volatile way while its overall progress remains relatively insignificant given the volatility and moves. Consider the 1-year uptrend on the Primary Chart. The trend does not form a powerful, steep upward slope, moving sharply higher for many weeks consecutively like other charts we have come to see in recent months, e.g., NVDA, AAPL.
Instead, the trend has largely been sideways with a modest uptrend with only a gradual incline despite the big moves within this well-defined channel. This could be a bear flag, though that is not yet confirmed. It's a scenario in any case that should be kept in mind on a break of the upward trendline from June 2022 lows.
1. Bear-Flag Scenario: Chart A (also shown on the primary chart)
Notice how the VWAPs confirm the largely sideways ranging action. The VWAP from the all-time high and the VWAP from 2022 lows have been containing the price action YTD in 2023. Despite the gentle uptrend slope, the anchored VWAP from the all-time high reminds us of a more dynamic and flexible measure of trend, which is down from the all-time high in 2021.
2. Anchored VWAP from All-Time High: Chart B
The anchored VWAP from the all-time high remains formidable to price. Notice is power in resisting price up until now. However, the last rejection did not send price to new lows. This confirms the choppy sideways thesis for now. While the dark-blue VWAP from the ATH did reject price in April 2023, price has remained well above the anchored VWAP from the major June 2022 low. Currently, the ATH-anchored VWAP lies at $2,038. A close above this level suggests at least further upside in the near term. Traders of all time frames should keep this area in mind—it's sort of like a super-highway. You don't want to run out in the middle of it without looking carefully both ways.
The measured-move area is also shown here. Note that this is a logarithmic chart, so the measured move is somewhat higher than on a linear chart. This post will attempt to display measured moves on both.
3. Three Anchored VWAPS from Key Pivots: Chart C
The anchored VWAPs on this chart confirm the consolidation thesis discussed above. The VWAPs are anchored to key swing lows and highs since the all-time high. NOtice how the VWAPs from these various pivots have been compressing and flattening for months. This signifies another major trend move is likely to occur when this long-term consolidation completes. Many hope it will be an upward move back to highs. SquishTrade is less confident of that conclusion given inverted yield curves (see prior posts on this); however, over the coming weeks, maybe months, choppy to somewhat higher prices can occur.
4. Triangle Patterns within Triangle Patterns: Chart D
Triangles are consolidation patterns. The fact that we see triangle patterns within triangle patterns supports the idea that this 1-year channel is potentially consolidative of the move that preceded it. No guarantees, but that seems to be a logical inference. Some might counter that this is a major "cup base" though others may struggle to see anything resembling something that might hold one's tea. We'll see. Note: This is a linear chart, with a measured move based on the linear scaling.
5. Triangle pattern on a Logarithmic Chart: Chart E
This chart shows a triangle on a logarithmic scale. So now, switching to log scale doesn't necessarily change the thesis just yet. The measured move for the log scale gives a 1-year measured move off of June 2022 lows around $2467. If we extend the measured move to a 1.272 projection of the first leg off the June lows, then it runs up around $3000.
Long-term view summarized: As long as the uptrend from June 2022 lows holds, as well as the VWAP from that same bar, price can continue to remain supported, i.e., not crashing, sideways, rallies and dips within the defined ranges. In SquishTrade's view, $2,400 - $3000 is likely the maximum level ETH may achieve between now and the likely recession foretold by the yield curves. But higher-for-longer monetary policy in major European and North American countries may keep the ceiling even lower than that. Caution is warranted unless / until certain persistent (and 40-year record) yield curve inversions have proven that they finally gave a false signal for the first time ever.
Shorter-Term Commentary
Directional traders may be disappointed in the coming 2-3 weeks. A flag within a flag suggests more choppy price action overall—at least until a breakout of either occurs. The smaller flag may breakout first to the upside and lead us to the upper edge of the channel. The larger flag may breakout to the downside, and lead us to new lows. But neither has happened just yet. So price action for now may respect the ranges that are in play—both horizontal ranges and diagonal ones (channels). But it appears that price could largely could remain rangebound from a broader perspective for the coming weeks.
Conclusion
Traders and investors love a major directional move. It sparks adrenaline (maybe) and a combination of dreams / hopes or fears / frustration. Some traders wait eagerly at various levels to fade the move (long or short) once it has started to progress in earnest. Others who may have timed a good entry may be busy counting their profits, while trying to calm down enough to figure out a proper exit, and writing on their foreheads a reminder to "move the stop to breakeven." And still others may be sitting back patiently on the sidelines for months or years and hoping for an ideal capitulatory low after the dust has started to settle between buyers and sellers who may finally seem to have exhausted themselves.
In short, the confusion and choppiness of sideways to slightly upward price action is merely the market doing price discovery between all sorts of players including long-term underwater buyers who bought above 3500 and keep hoping the price will rise just enough to make them whole (increased supply), long-term holders who are true believers in the holding (reduced supply unless emotions shake them out), short sellers (supply and potential demand when a squeeze starts), derivatives traders (supply and/or demand due to hedging flow), intraday traders, scalpers, and, let's face it, some gamblers too. In general, the market action is a device for transferring wealth from the impatient to the patient, according to one investing legend, Warren Buffett. But sometimes the patient can be the short-term trader and the impatient can be the long-term investor—because a long-term investor may lack the patience to enter or exit properly, and a short-term trader may have the patience and discipline to execute some excellent swing trades, provided risk is managed and entries and exits are well-planned, well-timed and well-executed.
Minor disclaimer: This post is in no way advocating any particular investing or trading strategy. Short-term trading and long-term investing can both be either devastating or profitable (or somewhere in between those extremes) to the person engaging in it.
And thanks for reading this and for your encouragement and support.
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Author's Comment: Thank you for reviewing this post and considering its charts and analysis. The author welcomes comments, discussion and debate (respectfully presented) in the comment section. Shared charts are especially helpful to support any opposing or alternative view. This article is intended to present an unbiased, technical view of the security or tradable risk asset discussed.
Please note further that this technical-analysis viewpoint is short-term in nature. This is not a trade recommendation but a technical-analysis overview and commentary with levels to watch for the near term. This technical-analysis viewpoint could change at a moment's notice should price move beyond a level of invalidation. Further, proper risk-management techniques are vital to trading success. And countertrend or mean-reversion trading, e.g., trading a rally in a bear market, is lower probability and is tricky and challenging even for the most experienced traders.
DISCLAIMER: This post contains commentary published solely for educational and informational purposes. This post's content (and any content available through links in this post) and its views do not constitute financial advice or an investment or trading recommendation, and they do not account for readers' personal financial circumstances, or their investing or trading objectives, time frame, and risk tolerance. Readers should perform their own due diligence, and consult a qualified financial adviser or other investment / financial professional before entering any trade, investment or other transaction.
