Time ▾ Price ▴ Research: 40-Week Cycle

Showing posts with label 40-Week Cycle. Show all posts

Thursday, February 19, 2026

2026 Market Update: Crude, NatGas, Metals, Stocks, Cocoa | Larry Williams

Crude Oil

Larry Williams identifies a setup for potential decline, noting that commercials (via Commitments of Traders (COT) Report red line in the chart below) have ceased aggressive buying and are exiting the market, with the line declining after marking a recent bottom.

The public (green line) has become heavy buyers, signaling vulnerability. His proprietary valuation indicator (gold line, based on Crude-Gold Ratio) shows overvaluation, similar to prior pullbacks. As a conditional trader, he views this as a setup but requires trend change confirmation.

Downward setup via overvaluation and commercial selling; imminent cyclical

downturn, low in March/June needing trend confirmation for shorts.

Cyclically (weekly charts), a downturn is imminent, with a low expected in about three months (around March or June), historically good for longs. He advises watching for sell signals in energy markets, emphasizing cycles for bias and timing.

Natural Gas

Williams was seeking a short-term buy opportunity but canceled orders due to lack of upward movement today, anticipating a possible bounce. He stresses evaluating the COT report to determine if commercials or the public are buying, cross-referenced with open interest for directional insight. While acknowledging a seasonal pattern, he deems it less significant than current buyer/seller dynamics via the COT.

Gold

Williams admits a prior bad call, expecting a cyclical high aligned with Bitcoin's peak, but Gold held firm. Currently, commercials (COT red line) are unusually buying the decline at high levels, a position not typical and reminiscent of past buy opportunities. He notes recent shorts in Silver and Copper have shifted.

Gold bullish from commercial decline-buys and March cycles;

Silver similar with rally soon, upside late Feb/March on trend change.

Cyclically, short-term (red) and longer-term (blue) cycles converge in March, establishing a substantive buy point without implying a drop to chart lows. This timeframe warrants bullish attention, pending trend change.

Silver

Williams observes that Silver exhibits strong similarities to Gold, historically regarded as the "poor man's gold" but now akin to the "expensive man's gold." It follows a comparable cyclical pattern, indicating the onset of a rally within the ensuing couple of weeks from the time of discussion. Aligning with his year-end forecast, he anticipated initial downward pressure, followed by an upward shift around late February or early March. He emphasizes restraint in entry, requiring confirmation of an upside trend change—such as a trend line breakout or moving average signal—within that timeframe to qualify the trade.

Dow Jones, S&P 500, Disparity in Advance/Decline, and Why Dow is Stronger

Williams affirms a bull market persisting through 2025 into mid-2027, dismissing pessimists based on repeated past errors. The advance-decline line (net cumulative advances vs. declines) is at new highs while stocks are not—an anomaly he has rarely seen, historically followed by higher prices, providing a fundamental bullish rationale.

Bull to mid-2027 via advance-decline highs; Dow stronger than

S&P on value focus, mid-March cyclical buy/rally.

Comparing charts below: Dow Jones futures show a higher low and greater strength than S&P E-minis, attributed to fewer "hot stocks" like the Magnificent Seven in the Dow, which suffered hits.

The Dow better represents quality and value, with funds shifting there for protection over speculation. As a trader, Williams is long Dow contracts, not S&P, due to Dow's outperformance.

Cocoa

Williams sees a buy setup, though not yet long, awaiting trend change. Commercials (top pane red line) are adding positions amid declining total open interest (black line)—indicating others exit, a rare bullish "bubble up." Valuation (gold line, Cocoa-Gold Ratio) shows undervaluation, contrasting prior overvalued tops.

Rally from commercial "bubble up" buys and undervaluation;

short-term immediate, major in June/July with trend entry patience.

Cyclically, short-term (red) suggests immediate rally start; longer-term (blue) aligns with short-term around June/July for ideal entry and bigger move.

Reference:
NinjaTrader Live (February 18, 2026) - 2026 Market Outlook with Larry Williams. (video)

Monday, December 29, 2025

2026 Midterm Election Year Seasonal Patterns of US Indices | Jeff Hirsch

Within the four-year presidential cycle, the midterm year represents the weakest phase for equities. It is characterized by low single-digit average returns and the cycle's deepest intra-year pullbacks. However, it also sets the stage for the most reliable and profitable recovery rallies, which typically extend well into the following year. Historical data on years ending in "6," dating back to 1806, show that 85% closed higher, with only four instances of declines. Hurst cycles project 9-month troughs for January and October 2026 (as illustrated in the charts at the end of this article).

Midterm Election Year Seasonal Pattern.

The first chart above shows the average seasonal performance of the DJIA (blue), S&P 500 (black), NASDAQ (green), and Russell 2000 (grey) from 1949 to 2024. All follow a consistent trajectory: a period of weakness from January through September, with average cumulative declines of 2–8%, followed by a fourth-quarter recovery that pushes annual returns toward positive territory.

6th Years of President Term Seasonal Pattern (1949-2024).

6th Year of 10-year Cycle Seasonal Pattern (1949-2024).

2026 Scenarios.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average could easily rally almost 50% from the 2026 low to the high of 2027. On average it does. Data spanning back to 1914 reveals that the Dow Jones Industrial Average sees an average climb of 46.3% from its lowest point in a midterm year to its peak in the ensuing pre-election year. To put that growth into perspective with current market values, a jump of that size would be comparable to the index rising from 40,000 to nearly 60,000.

The next chart focuses on the S&P 500, comparing the broader midterm average (blue) against the sixth year of a presidency (red), second-term Republican midterms (green), and Jeffrey A. Hirsch's Stock Trader’s Almanac aggregate cycle (black). Across all categories, early-year gains eventually yield to mid-year volatility, and a strong rally consistently emerges from October onward.

S&P 500 Midterm Election Year Seasonal Pattern, 1949-2024.

The second-term Republican midterm cycle (green) begins with a minor January dip, followed by a steady ascent that peaks at roughly 6-8% by April-June. After third-quarter volatility—where gains typically compress to a 1% floor in September—the market enters a year-end rally exceeding 8% by December.

Gold, Midterm Year Seasonal Pattern (1975-2024).

Silver, Midterm Year Seasonal Pattern (1973-2024).

Copper, Midterm Year Seasonal Pattern (1973-2024).

Crude Oil, Midterm Year Seasonal Pattern (1984-2024).

Natural Gas, Midterm Year Seasonal Pattern (1991-2024).

Reference:

Jeffrey A. Hirsch (December 23, 2025) - 2026 Market Forecast & Outlook: 6th Year of Presidency (webinar).

Performance of the S&P 500 during the Presidential Cycle:
Midterm Years see both the largest pullbacks, and the best recovery rallies.

S&P 500 Peak-to-Trough Declines in Midterm Election Years, 1950-2022.

The table above outlines every S&P 500 peak-to-trough decline during midterm election years between 1950 and 2022. These declines averaged 17.3% over 115 calendar days, typically beginning in late April and finding a floor by mid-August. However, all of these declines consistently acted as springboards, fueling recovery rallies that averaged 31.7% gains one year later.

» In the VI years there is a noticeable tendency to form a saddle.
February or March is without exception higher than some subsequent
month between May and August inclusive; but also without exception
November is higher than March. «

Edgar Lawrence Smith (1939) - Tides in the Affairs of Men:

An Approach to the Appraisal of Economic Change.

2026 in the Four-Year Presidential Cycle aligned with the Decennial Cycle.

J.M. Hurst's 18-Month Cyclic Model: Component cycles

and the aggregated Composite Cycle (thick black line).

While the ideal period for Hurst’s nominal 40-week cycle (also known as the 9-month cycle) is 272 days (38.86 weeks), current data from TimeSeriesSCC and Sentient Trader indicate a shorter realized average in the S&P 500 and NASDAQ. Over the last ten iterations, the measured 40-week cycle has averaged 257 to 262 days (36.7 to 37.4 weeks).

Projecting this duration forward from the major troughs of April 7 and April 21, 2025, the next 40-week cycle trough was initially expected to occur in a window between December 20, 2025, and January 8, 2026. However, considering the recent 80-, 40-, and 20-day troughs—including those from the DJI, NDX, ASX, DAX, NIFTY, and BTCUSD—shifts the projected window toward mid-late-January.

Blancmange Curve.

Jeffrey A. Hirsch (December 23, 2025) - 2026 Market Forecast & Outlook: 6th Year of Presidency.

Jeffrey A. Hirsch (2011) - S&P 500 Projection Chart from 2009 to 2025.

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Upcoming 40-Day Hurst Cycle Troughs: SPX, NDX, Crude Oil, Gold, Bitcoin

S&P 500 (daily bars): 40-day cycle trough ideally due December 23 (Tue)(± 5.49 CD).

While the 20-week, 40-week, and 18-month cycles all remain in decline, a choppy counter-trend Santa Claus rally of uncertain

magnitude is expected into year-end early-January 2026 (see 'Schematic Structure of Hurst's Nominal 40-Day Cycle' below).

Next 80-day, 40-week, and 18-month troughs are currently projected to around January 25 (Mon), 2026.

[Actual average lengths of the nominal 20-day, 40-day, 80-day, 20-week, and higher-order cycles of

each instrument are indicated in the stacked, color-coded boxes at the bottom right of the charts.]

Schematic Structure of Hurst's Nominal 40-Day Cycle.

DJIA / CPI (daily bars): Long-Term Cycles (1940-2025).

NASDAQ (daily bars): Long-Term Cycles (2000-2025).

NASDAQ (daily bars): 40-day cycle trough due ± December 23 (Tue).

Next 80-day, 40-week, and 18-month cycles troughs are currently projected to around January 25 (Mon), 2026.

Crude Oil (WTI, daily bars): Long-Term Cycles (2000-2025).

Crude Oil (WTI, daily bars): Current 18-Month Cycle (October 2024-December 2025).

Crude Oil (WTI, daily bars): 80-day cycle trough due ± December 19-21 (Fri-Sun). One more 80-day cycle into a 18-month

cycle trough: Next 40-week and 18-month cycles troughs are currently projected to around February 17 (Tue), 2026.

Gold (daily bars): Long-Term Cycles (1995-2025).

Gold (daily bars): 80-day cycle trough due ± December 28 (Sun) and January 5 (Mon), 2026.

One more 80-day cycle into a 18-month cycle trough: Next 40-week and 18-month cycle troughs

are currently projected to around late February-mid March 2026.

Bitcoin (daily bars, log-scale): Long-Term Cycles (2010-2025).

Bitcoin (daily bars): 40-day cycle trough due ± December 20 (Sat).

Next 80-day, 40-week, and 18-month cycles troughs are currently projected to around January 19 (Mon), 2026.

[Cycle Analysis as of December 18, 2025 | 11:00 a.m. EST]

Monday, December 15, 2025

Hurst Cycles Market Update and Outlook into Early 2026 | David Hickson

This is our final market update for the year, reviewing our usual set of instruments (SPX, NDX, ASX, DAX, NIFTY, Gold, BTCUSD) and outlining what to expect as we move into 2026.

S&P 500: The S&P 500 is advancing out of a November 21 trough that is definitively an 80-day cycle low and remains a viable candidate for a completed 40-week cycle trough. This advance is occurring within the larger context of an April 2025 trough phased as at least an 18-month cycle low, which continues to dominate the intermediate trend. Price behavior has been consistently bullish: clean crossings above the 20-day FLD, achievement of FLD targets, and successful defense of the 20-day FLD during the most recent 20-day trough (Dec 10). No bearish structural behavior has emerged to invalidate the 40-week trough interpretation.

Actual average lengths of the nominal 20-day, 40-day, 80-day, 20-week, and higher-order cycles of

each instrument are indicated in the stacked, color-coded boxes at the bottom right of the charts.

A 40-day cycle trough is expected into late December (± Dec 26-29), likely producing a shallow pullback. This should be followed by another advance before a larger corrective phase into an 80-day or 40-week trough in late January or early February (± Jan 30-Feb 6). Unless bearish confirmation appears, that trough is expected to be corrective rather than trend-ending, with the larger structure remaining bullish.

NASDAQ: The NASDAQ shares the same broad cycle architecture as the S&P 500, with a confirmed 80-day trough on November 21 and the unresolved question of whether the 40-week trough is already in place or still ahead. However, relative weakness is evident: price has struggled to remain above the 20-day FLD, and short-term momentum is softer. The orange dashed composite model line reflects this by projecting a deeper decline into the next larger trough compared with the S&P 500.

A 40-day trough is expected near year-end or early January, followed by a decline into an 80-day trough in late January or early February. If downside pressure increases meaningfully, that later trough may resolve as the 40-week cycle low. Synchronization with the S&P 500 remains the dominant expectation.

Australian ASX: The ASX also shows a November 21 trough that could be either an 80-day or a 40-week cycle low, but unlike U.S. indices, price action has failed to confirm bullish intent. The market crossed above the 20-day FLD but did not achieve its projected upside target, and subsequent price action has been weak. While the 20-day trough found approximate FLD support, the amplitude and momentum are noticeably inferior, introducing bearish risk.

A 40-day trough is expected into late December, followed by a more important trough in late January or early February. Given current behavior, the probability is increasing that this later trough resolves as a 40-week cycle low. A decisive bearish turn in the ASX would materially strengthen the global commonality case for a synchronized 40-week trough.

German DAX: The DAX cycle labeling is less precise, but price action provides important guidance. The November 21 low has been phased as a 40-day trough but sits close to the projected positions of the 20-week and 40-week cycles. Despite analytical ambiguity, price crossed above the 20-day FLD, achieved its target, and remains above short-term support—behavior more consistent with a market that has already completed a larger-degree trough.

A pullback into a late-December 40-day trough is expected, with another due toward late January. Unless price begins to display clear bearish characteristics, the evidence favors the interpretation that the 40-week trough formed in November, implying that forthcoming declines should remain corrective.

Indian NIFTY: The NIFTY exhibits one of the clearest cycle structures. A 20-week trough occurred in early August, followed by an 80-day trough in early November. Recent price action suggests a 40-day trough has just formed near the projected centers of both the 20-week and 40-week cycles, raising the possibility that the larger cycle trough has already occurred. The current advance is consistent with a market rebounding from a significant cycle low.

Price is expected to cross and hold above the 20-day FLD and achieve its upside target. If the 40-week trough is already in place, the coming weeks should remain upward-biased. Risk only increases if the advance fails and the cycle structure shifts into a bearish-shaped configuration toward year-end.

Gold: Gold is operating within a structurally bullish environment despite uncertainty surrounding a possible 54-month cycle peak in October. Price action since that peak has challenged its validity, suggesting either that the peak was misidentified or that longer-degree bullish cycles (9-year, 18-year) are overwhelming it. Trough behavior has been exemplary, with repeated successful interactions with the 20-day FLD, including support during the most recent 40-day trough.

Gold is likely to retest or exceed the October highs before encountering its next significant corrective phase. The next major timing window is the 20-week cycle trough expected in the third week of January, which should be monitored closely for trend continuation or structural change.

Bitcoin: Bitcoin’s November 21 low is currently labeled as an 80-day trough, but it remains a candidate for a larger 18-month cycle trough. Unlike equities, Bitcoin has not displayed strong post-trough bullish expansion. Price has struggled to hold above the 20-day FLD, and recent action shows mild bearish leakage below it, keeping the larger trough question unresolved.

Focus is now on the development of the next 40-day cycle trough. Continued weakness would increase the likelihood that the true 18-month trough still lies ahead. Until stronger bullish confirmation appears, Bitcoin should be treated as structurally uncertain rather than trend-confirmed.