Another observation is that a purpose of the gap is to jump over a support or resistance zone. We saw this in December during the stalemate between bulls and bears in the rectangle consolidation, till the option expiration day. Ok, now the nature of the market manipulation with futures over the weekends is clear to me: they create gaps and ease transition to the next target. Heck, tha't why the market falls so steeply now: it's rise to sky highs was artificially strong, so there is less resitance than in the other direction than it would normally have. Now Peter Campbells comment on the purpose of the such a long advance makes sense: it was engineered to recapitalize those who drive it at the expense of everyone else, to the hilt.

Now I can answer your question: we will revisit that gap, but not in wave 2. Wave 2 or B up will stop much lower than that gap zone, because it would be such an awesome shorting opportunity for everyone else. That trick cannot be played twice, now it's been exposed to the masses and it will not work again. What will happen is, the price will turn around at an odd point: a Fibbonacci retracement plus 2 or 3 points. This advance retraced 53% of the decline from 2003 to 2007. Wave 2 is (sometimes) engineered to exceed a known entrance point --such a MA(20) or EMA(20)-- by 11%, because stop loss orders are typically 10%. Or wave 2 retraces more than 61% of the decline in wave 1: most think that a move beyond 61% retracement is a genuine move in that direction. (This explains a sudden strong move after November lows above 1075, whereas before that a move up seemed weak. And remember that 1075 was around 61% of the retracement from the previous low at 1019). Quick moves are genuine moves, and they portend more action in the same direction. (In the EW parlance they are termed impulsive. Steve, if you are reading this: can you explain the purpose of extra moves beyond the minimally required number of 5 moves, such as 7, 9 or 12?)

I have plotted the Fibbonacci retracements between 1150 high and 1007=MA(200) low:

38%- 1093

50%- 1075

61%- 1057

70.7%- 1044

78%- 1032

Note that we closed at 1091, and 1075 is the 50% retracement. Now it's becoming very interesting. Now note incorrect Fib. retracements (the Fibbonacci retracements +3 and -3):

41%- 1088,    35% -1097

53%- 1071,    47%- 1079

64.8%- 1053,    58%- 1062

73% - 1039,   67%- 1048

So the current decline may turn around at 1088 (41%), 1079(47%),1071(53%),1062(58%),1053(64%). Assuming that the whole move is going to be ABC, and wave C is 61% of move A; I get 1051-1007=144, and 144:2.61=55, and 144-55=89. A drop from 1151 in 89 points would lead us to 1062, which is 58.8% retracement of the move from 1151 down to 1007.

Therefore, 1062 is a pretty realistic target for wave A down. As far as the whole move, 10% of 1150 is 115 points, leading us to 1036. The average decline so far has been 6.37%, or about 80 points, leading us to 1081. So, if 1071 is taken out, we are headed down to 1036 or 1007 for the entire move.

Disagreements and corrections are welcome!