If the futures take a decisive turn higher now without having achieved the 675.50 downside target I’ve drum-rolled, it could imply the onset of a bull cycle lasting for 3-4 weeks or even longer. The word “decisive” in this context can be empirically determined, and we shall attempt to do so by stipulating the following: an unbroken thrust surpassing two prior peaks on the 180-minute chart will fill the bill. For perspective, and most immediately, that would take a pop to 751.00 over the next 2-3 days. _______ UPDATE: The futures sagged, wiping out the previous day’s spurious gains. However, with an hour remaining in the session, they’d gone no lower than 680.50. The target at 675.50 remains both viable, important — and buy-able — nonetheless. If this trade triggers in the final minutes, as it well may, I wouldn’t take it overnight unless you are prepared to use a 673.75 stop-loss in after-hours trading. _______ FURTHER UPDATE: As anticipated, the futures made their low in the final minutes of the session. Some of you may have taken the trade; however, officially we did not, since the actual bottom was at 676.25 — three presumably front-run ticks above my target. Thirty minutes into after-hours trading, the little sonoabitch had run up as high as 686.75. Take partial profits if you hold more than one contract, but don’t be chintzy on the trailing stop, since this rally has home-run potential and could be wicked.