I'm experimenting with Point & Figure charts. I have long been interested in them for their graphical depiction of support and resistance, as well as their price targeting.
However, there are so many different ways to set up a P&F chart that I am often left confused. Should I use traditional settings? Percentage settings? Should I use Average True Range settings? If so, what ATR period should I use? To confound matters, each of these different settings seems to produce a different price target.
So I have come up with an idea I am trying out with respect to price targeting. I experiment with the "User Defined" settings until I come up with a box size and a time period that allows me to match the dominant trend line on a normal chart to the 1x1 trend line on a P&F chart.
For example, on a normal S&P 500 chart the dominant trend line connects the March 2009 low with the August 2010 low. In order for me to construct a daily P&F chart that has a 1x1 trend line which correlates, I have to use a box size of 2.15 points. When I do, I get a bullish price objective for the entire move since March 2009 of 1369.55:
But wait, there's more. In order for me to construct a P&F chart whose 1x1 trend line matches a normal chart connecting the late August 2010 and late November 2010 lows, I have to go to a 60 minute setting with a box size of 4.0 points. When I do, I get a price objective of 1348.0:
Finally, if I choose 1.141 points per box on a 30 minute chart, I can construct a P&F chart whose 1x1 trend line connects the late November 2010 and late January 2011 lows. When I do, I get a price objective of 1352.09:
What does all this mean? Like I said, I'm experimenting so who the hell knows. But here's a guess: the current move in the S&P tops out at (or perhaps fails to achieve) 1348-52, we get a correction, and the next move (which is expected to top in late May or early June per the 14-week cycle) culminates at 1369.55.
We'll revisit this post in the future and see how it turns out. In the meantime, if there are any P&F experts out there, please feel free to chime in.