Elliott Wave: Conclusion

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By Matt Blackman with Mike Green
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Here are some principles about Elliott Wave we discovered in this tutorial:
  • The Elliott Wave theory requires a high degree of subjectivity, which is one reason why using the theory can be so problematic - finding agreement among Elliott Wave practitioners can be rare.
  • The most basic tenet of Elliott Wave theory is that market movements are based on crowd behavior, which can be predicted. Traders, however, may often discern a market move only after it has occurred.
  • Robert Prechter, leading expert of Elliott Wave, has made some accurate forecasts using the theory, particularly in the '70s and '80s. Specifically, he forecasted the crash of 1987. But Prechter's record at the end of the twentieth century has not been so perfect: his book "At The Crest Of The Tidal Wave" (1995), calling for the end of the great bull market in 1995, was nearly five years and many Dow points premature.
  • Trading with Elliott Wave means applying a principle that is true for all trading in general: expectations must be realistic, and money management is key to profitability over the long-term; that is, losses must be kept small and profits must be allowed to accumulate.
  • One way to use Elliott Theory is to find specific parts of the theory and transform them into a workable trading system in which risk can be carefully controlled.
  • Approaching Elliott Wave may also mean putting less emphasis on the correct wave count, and more attention on determining the count that has the least penalty for being wrong. A trader can still be profitable if he or she determines the primary direction of the trend, properly differentiates between the primary and corrective waves, and uses tight stops and realistic profit targets.
  • Computer power has helped take the subjectivity out of the Elliott Wave theory. Intense statistical analysis of wave reliability has proven mathematically that the theory developed more than seventy years ago by R.N. Elliott is based on sound principles of market behavior.
  • Computer programs such as the Refined Elliott Trader, which is based on the premise that a pattern is reliable if it is confirmed in the same time period (that is, one day) over multiple date ranges - may have solved some problems associated with using Elliott Wave in trading. Using the computer program, however, still demands a thorough understanding of Elliott Wave patterns.


by

Matt Blackman

Matt Blackman
Matt Blackman, the host of TradeSystemGuru.com, is a technical trader, author, keynote speaker and regular contributor to a number of trading publications and investment/trading websites in North America and Europe. He also writes a weekly market letter.
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