Category Archives: speed resistance line

Bitcoin: Downside and Upside Targets

On November 19, 2013, we provided our best estimates of what the downside and upside targets were for Bitcoin (found here).  In our assessment, we said the following:

“Our conservative downside target for Bitcoin, based on the peak closing price of $785.50 is $384.83.  The extreme downside target is $261.83.  The worst case scenario is for Bitcoin to fall as low as $152.83 as indicated by the red line on the chart.

As we’ve written many pieces on the topic of Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Line, we’ve made some observations that we think should be highlighted at this time.  For the first time, we’re going to provide what we believe might be an upside target.  In the case of Bitcoin, the next conservative upside target is $1,154.49 if the most recent peak of $785.50 is exceeded.  This is a tentative estimate based on observations of the many successful downside SRLs that we have run in the past.  We’ll be on the lookout for what may come next.”

The most updated Bitcoin chart demonstrates the value of Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Lines’ ability to give informed estimates of upside and downside targets.  In the case of Bitcoin, The upside target was achieved and exceeded by 7.23%.  After achieving the upside target, Bitcoin has declined from the recent peak of $1237.96 down to the conservative downside target of $535.65.  The conservative downside target is based on the updated peak in the price for Bitcoin using the guidelines for Gould’s Speed Resistance Lines.

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With the conservative downside target being achieved, the extreme downside target of $412.65 and the worst case level of $152.83 are all that remains.  However, in the last 24 hours, Bitcoin has declined as low as $455.  This suggests there there could be a significant appreciation from the current level as the conservative downside target has been achieved.  Our revised upside target is now $1,606.95.

Those willing accept the extreme volatility and political risk should seriously consider Bitcoin at or below the $412.65 ascending line with a willingness to see a decline of –62.96%.

Gold: Conservative Downside Target Met

On March 3, 2013 (found here), we posted the conservative and extreme downside targets for the price of gold with the following commentary:

”According to Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Lines (SRL), gold has as a minimum decline of -25% from the closing price of Friday March 1, 2013 to the conservative downside target of $1,179.25.  From our experience with Gould’s SRL, the minimum downside target is often achieved, especially when the price experiences an almost parabolic price move to the upside.

The extreme downside target of $681.75, which seems outlandish from the current level.  Therefore, we’ll split the difference with an initial extreme downside target of $930.50 until proven otherwise.  Already, the $1,179.25 level seems extreme in our minds.”

On December 6, 2013, the update to our downside targets for gold is depicted in the chart below:

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Review: XAU Speed Resistance Lines

In our very first attempt at understanding Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Lines, when the Philadelphia Gold and Silver Stock Index (XAU) was within 6 trading days of the top (found here), we said the following:

“Based on the most recent high of 228.95 the downside target for the XAU index is 76.32. We recommend that whenever the XAU index falls at or below the speed resistance line drawn on the chart, between now and just before 2028, as part of the secular rising trend in interest rates/inflation, we would expect that the stocks in the index are underpriced. Confirmation of fair values should be determined for possible speculative positions at these times.”

An updated chart of the Philadelphia Gold and Silver Stock Index with Speed Resistance Lines is below:

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Bitcoin Downside Targets: November 2013

It seems that Bitcoin has experienced a temporary peak in the price.  No better time to assess what the downside targets might be for a price that has had a parabolic increase.  In the last assessment of downside targets done on April 10, 2013 (found here) when Bitcoin was at $237.56, we said the following:

“Because the nature of parabolic peaks is to crash disastrously explains why the more moderate peaks of January 2012 and July 2012 did not give up more than 66% of the previous increase.  The current parabolic increase in Bitcoin has a conservative downside target of $89.45 and an extreme downside target of $76.05.”

After our April 2013 downside projection, Bitcoin fell as low as $68 depending on the source as indicated in our June 26, 2013 review (found here).  However, regardless of the source, Bitcoin declined below the extreme downside target of $76.05.

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Our conservative downside target for Bitcoin, based on the peak closing price of $785.50 is $384.83.  The extreme downside target is $261.83.  The worst case scenario is for Bitcoin to fall as low as $152.83 as indicated by the red line on the chart.

As we’ve written many pieces on the topic of Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Line, we’ve made some observations that we think should be highlighted at this time.  For the first time, we’re going to provide what we believe might be an upside target.  In the case of Bitcoin, the next conservative upside target is $1,154.49 if the most recent peak of $785.50 is exceeded.  This is a tentative estimate based on observations of the many successful downside SRLs that we have run in the past.  We’ll be on the lookout for what may come next.

Silver: Downside Targets Met

As early as May 5, 2011, when silver was trading at $35 an ounce, we’ve maintained the view that the prospect of silver, in the form of the exchange traded fund iShares Silver Trust (SLV), falling below $20 was well within the realm of possibility (article here).  At the time, we said the following: Continue reading

Baidu: Sell the Principal

After less than 5 months and a +59% gain, it is now time to recommend selling the principal of BIDU.  Our use of Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Lines indicates that BIDU could rise to $160, as seen in the chart below:

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Although $160 appears to be on the horizon, and could nearly double the stock’s price from the $85 level it was recommended (found here), we see that the stock is struggling mightily to get beyond the $135-$140 level.

According to Charles H. Dow, co-founder and former editor of the Wall Street Journal, there is a concept of “seeking fair profits” by buying at good values and selling as market participants are just getting interested in a stock in the following July 20, 1901 Wall Street Journal commentary:

“The best way of reading the market is to read from the standpoint of values. The market is not like a balloon plunging hither and thither in the wind. As a whole, it represents a serious, well-considered effort on the part of farsighted and well-informed men to adjust prices to such values as exist or which are expected to exist in the not too remote future. The thought with great operators is not whether a price can be advanced, but whether the value of property which they propose to buy will lead investors and speculators six months hence to take stock at figures from ten to twenty points above present prices.

“In reading the market, therefore, the main point is to discover what a stock can be expected to be worth three months hence and then to see whether manipulators or investors are advancing the price of that stock toward those figures. It is often possible to read movements in the market very clearly in this way. To know values is to comprehend the meaning of movements in the market. (Source: Wall Street Journal. Review and Outlook. July 20, 1901)”

Our deconstruction of Dow's thoughts are as follows:

First, Charles Dow tells us that the stock prices of today are adjusted for what is expected in the future. The distinction between great operators [Buffett, Einhorn, Paulson, Berkowitz, Icahn etc.] and average traders/investors is the ability to know values enough to project at least six (6) months down the road that, even at higher prices, the investing public will still be willing to buy more of the stock in question.

Next, these great operators are supposed to be willing to accept half the gains that they expect for 6 months and in half the time. At which point, the great operators move on to other undervalued opportunities. Dow believed that not only should the great operators be able to predict the direction of the price of an undervalued asset, they must also accept less than the full amount possible despite their confidence and accuracy of prior investments using the same approach. Again, this idea is based on a concept called “seeking fair profits.”

We think that securing the gains that have been achieved in Baidu (BIDU) in such a short period of time are far better than the prospect of an additional +18.50%.  If the principal is sold then an investor would still be able to benefit from any additional gains and there would be absolutely no loss.

Intuitive Surgical Downside Targets

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Review: Baidu Trending Higher

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Review: XAU Speed Resistance Lines

In our very first attempt at understanding Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Lines, when the Philadelphia Gold and Silver Stock Index (XAU) was within 6 trading days of the top (found here), we said the following: Continue reading

Review: Royal Gold (RGLD) Speed Resistance Lines

On October 12, 2012 (found here), when Royal Gold (RGLD) was within 11 trading days of the all-time high at $89.27, we said the following: Continue reading

Bitcoin: Downside Target Met

On April 10, 2013, we posted the SRL for Bitcoin, the electronic “currency” (found here). The goal was to was see if we could determine the downside target using Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Lines (SRL). Based on the published chart, we had a conservative downside target of $92.57 and an extreme downside target of $79.18.  The chart below depicts the outcome, so far:

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Depending on the source, on an intra-day basis, Bitcoin fell at or below the extreme downside target as projected.

Upside Targets for Individual Gold Stocks

We’ve come to the time when we need to determine the upside targets for gold stocks.  There are a few assumption that we’re making in this assessment.  First, we believe that our Gold Stock Indicator is right about the direction of gold stocks, in general.  Second, we’re assuming that from the current levels there is more downside risk.  Third, we have excluded fundamental analysis (government printing, future earnings capacity, gold as money, etc.) from our assessment of the upside potential for individual gold stocks.

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Bitcoin Downside Targets

After seeing a discussion of Bitcoin on Bloomberg (found here) we decided to run Edson Gould’s Speed Resistance Lines (SRL) on the “currency.”

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The most important feature regarding this SRL analysis is precedence.  Without precedence we could not ascribe any amount of confidence to what is in the chart.  Of course, the precedent that we’re referring to is the peak in the price near June 2011.  At that time the peak price was $31.90.  Based on the SRL for that period, the conservative downside target was $17.24 and the extreme downside target was $10.36.  In each case the price of Bitcoin declined below both level and on a resounding basis.  The ultimate low after that parabolic peak was $2.30 in late December 2011, a decline of -92.78% from the peak.

Because the nature of parabolic peaks is to crash disastrously explains why the more moderate peaks of January 2012 and July 2012 did not give up more than 66% of the previous increase.  The current parabolic increase in Bitcoin has a conservative downside target of $89.45 and an extreme downside target of $76.05.  However, if Bitcoin were to experience a -92% decline as it had done in 2011 then there is the potential for a decline as low as $16.45 which is slightly below the technical base of $21.10.

While technical analysis is considered voo-doo at best, we are trying to determine the limits of Edson Gould’s SRL.  So far, Gould’s SRLs have given accurate downside targets for Apple (AAPL), Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR), Herbalife (HLF), Chesapeake  Energy (CHK), BMC Software (BMC) and Silver or iShares Silver (SLV).  This is 54% of all the SRLs done on our site.  There are two SRLs that are still on their way to providing an accurate downside target and that is Randgold (RGLD) and Philadelphia Gold and Silver Stock Index (XAU), 18% of the SRLs run.  Twenty-seven percent of SRLs that have failed are Priceline (PCLN), Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) and Clean Harbors (CLH).  All of the SRLs and their success and failure can be (found here).

Note: Diamond Foods (DMND) has been excluded from the SRL count since DMND was done after the downside targets were achieved.

Downside Targets for Gold

The prevailing controversy, among gold bugs, is whether or not gold stocks have bottomed.  As our Gold Stock Indicator has indicated, so far, gold stocks have a long way to go before reaching lows similar to what occurred in 2008, on a relative basis.  This debate about gold stocks only arise out of the fact that they have fallen so much while the price of gold has been “stable.”

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Review: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters

This is a follow-up to our May 2, 2012 piece on downside and upside targets for Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR).

At the time, GMCR had traded as low as $28.50 (-38.9%)  in after-hours trading.  We gave a downside target of $22.53 due to the fact that the stock had declined below our projected support level of $37.21, as indicated on October 25, 2011.  Since our May 2, 2012 article, GMCR has declined as low as $17.11, see chart below.

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