--- title: "Traders Cafe with Zak Mir: Bulletin Board Heroes, Wednesday 19th August 2026" publisher: "Share Talk" author: "sharetalk" published: "2026-08-19T12:04:25+00:00" modified: "2026-08-19T12:04:25+00:00" date: 2026-08-19 canonical: "https://www.share-talk.com/traders-cafe-with-zak-mir-bulletin-board-heroes-wednesday-19th-august-2026/" category: "Bulletin Board Heroes" categories: ["Bulletin Board Heroes"] tags: ["Ajax", "ARC", "Bitcoin", "Cadence", "DAX", "Defence Holdings", "Dow", "Empire Metals", "Ethereum", "FTSE 100", "GCM", "Gold", "IMC", "KR1", "Nuformix", "Sabien", "Thor Explorations", "WTI Crude Oil", "Zenith"] image: "https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LONDON-20-MARCH-26-scaled.webp?fit=1920%2C889&quality=80&ssl=1" format: "news" language: "en-GB" --- # Traders Cafe with Zak Mir: Bulletin Board Heroes, Wednesday 19th August 2026 **Published:** August 19, 2026 **Author:** sharetalk **Categories:** Bulletin Board Heroes **Tags:** Ajax, ARC, Bitcoin, Cadence, DAX, Defence Holdings, Dow, Empire Metals, Ethereum, FTSE 100, GCM, Gold, IMC, KR1, Nuformix, Sabien, Thor Explorations, WTI Crude Oil, Zenith **Featured image:** ![](https://i0.wp.com/www.share-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/LONDON-20-MARCH-26-scaled.webp?fit=1920%2C889&quality=80&ssl=1) --- Zak Mir takes a charting look at some of the most closely followed small caps on the London Stock Exchange. Today’s charts are the **FTSE 100, DAX, Dow, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Gold, WTI Crude Oil, Arc, Ajax, Defence Holdings, Cadence, Empire Metals, GCM, IMC, KR1, Nuformix, Sabien, Thor Explorations, Zenith.** The market mood has turned more cautious across the major indices, with the FTSE 100, DAX and Dow all losing some of their early-month momentum. The more encouraging setups are currently in selected commodities, particularly crude oil, while Bitcoin and Ethereum are trying to improve after a long spell of inactivity. Among the smaller shares, there are several technical recoveries worth monitoring. The common thread is simple: hold above key moving averages and recent breakout levels, and the upside targets remain in play. ###### As always, do your own research and treat these as chart-based observations rather than hard recommendations ## FTSE 100: Still a Sell Into Strength Below 108.20 The FTSE 100 has disappointed after moving down towards the lower boundary of its rising trend channel. The break below 108.20 produced a sell signal, and although the market may find support around 106.80 at the channel floor, there is still a risk of a further move lower. The next important support comes from the rising 50-day moving average at 106.35. The index has not traded meaningfully below that average since early last month, so a test of the level would fit the current technical picture. The Relative Strength Index is also unhelpful at the moment. With RSI around 46 and below the neutral 50 level, the market has produced a bearish failure below neutral territory. That normally supports the case for downside continuation. - **Resistance to reclaim:** 108.20 - **Initial support:** 106.80 - **Deeper support:** 106.35 at the 50-day moving average - **Current stance:** Sell into strength while below 108.20 ## DAX: The Gap Down Is Becoming a Meaningful Sell Signal The DAX is also starting to peter out. The gap down remains open, and that is increasingly looking like a respectable sell signal. For the bulls, the key issue is whether the market can remain on the right side of 26,000. While the gap remains below that level, it is difficult to make a convincing bullish case. The more logical destination is the late July resistance area around 25,600, with the 50-day moving average rising just beneath it. A test of the mid-25,000s before month end would make technical sense if the open gap is not closed. ## Dow: April Channel Support Could Be the Next Destination The Dow has given back its initial gains for the month. The floor of the gap around 53,300 was tested near 53,256, which prompted a modest gap-fill rebound. However, if the index remains below 53,300, the downside risk is a move towards the floor of the rising trend channel from April. That area coincides with the 50-day moving average at approximately 52,400. RSI remains above neutral 50, but there is an RSI uptrend line close to that level which now needs testing. That suggests the market may weaken further over coming sessions before finding a more meaningful base. - **Near-term resistance:** 53,300 - **Potential downside target:** 52,400 - **Technical focus:** April channel floor and 50-day moving average ## Bitcoin and Ethereum: Better Setups, But Still Very Slow ### Bitcoin Holds Above Its 50-Day Moving Average Bitcoin has been remarkably quiet, but the chart is beginning to look better. The 50-day moving average is rising, and RSI has returned above the neutral 50 level. As long as Bitcoin remains above the 50-day average at 63,800, the probability improves for a break above the resistance line dating from October. A move towards the 200-day moving average at 68,975 would then become the principal upside target. The key downside level remains 61,000, which marks initial July support. A sudden market reversal could drag the price back towards that area, but the current setup is more constructive than it has been for some time. ### Ethereum Needs Momentum to Match the Setup Ethereum has the right technical ingredients, but it has lacked momentum. The price has held above a rising 50-day moving average at 1,856 for more than a month, which is a solid foundation. Provided that support remains intact, the next objective is the 200-day moving average around $2,001. That remains the favoured target before the end of the month, even if the pace of the market has been painfully slow. - **Bitcoin support:** 63,800, then 61,000 - **Bitcoin upside target:** 68,975 - **Ethereum support:** 1,856 - **Ethereum upside target:** $2,001 ## Gold: A Bull Flag Still Appears to Be Forming Gold had a promising setup earlier in the week, although the move has not yet fully delivered. The chart still resembles a mid-move consolidation, or bull flag, with support around 43.10. The market has dipped towards 42.40 over the past two sessions, which is disappointing, but the broader picture remains constructive. RSI is just below 60, which is a favourable area for a bullish continuation, while the 50-day moving average continues to rise. If this is indeed the bottom of the range, gold should be capable of moving towards its 200-day moving average near 45.09 before month end. ## WTI Crude Oil: Bullish While Above $80 Crude oil is one of the more interesting charts. The market has been working within a falling trend channel, with the top of that channel around $87. That is the immediate target, and there is also a gap to fill in the same area. An end-of-day close above $87 would strengthen the recovery case considerably and bring the July resistance zone at $93 to $94 into focus. On the downside, crude needs to remain above $80 and ideally above the 50-day moving average at $78.48. That moving average is still falling, but RSI at 58 is signalling continued upside potential. There is also a possible rising trend channel developing, which could eventually point back towards the $100 area. - **Immediate upside target:** $87 - **Breakout target:** $93 to $94 - **Key support:** $80 - **Deeper technical support:** $78.48 at the 50-day moving average ## SpaceX: Range Trading Between 140 and 150 SpaceX has gone sideways, but there are some modestly positive signs. The price closed above its 50-day moving average near 143, which helps the near-term outlook. The market is effectively contained within a 140 to 150 range. Holding above 140 would leave room for a move towards 156 and the 200-day moving average by month end. A break below the 138 to 139 region, however, would suggest a move down towards 130. With RSI at 55, the balance is currently tilted slightly in favour of the upside while 140 holds. ## The Levels That Matter Most The broad market picture is less convincing than it was earlier in the month. The FTSE 100, DAX and Dow are all vulnerable unless they reclaim their key resistance levels, while crypto remains constructive but lethargic. Gold still has the structure of a bull flag, and WTI crude oil looks the most compelling major-market recovery candidate as long as it stays above $80. In the small-cap space, the strongest technical setups are those already holding above rising 50-day and 200-day moving averages, particularly Arc Minerals, IMC, Cadence and Thor Explorations. The next few sessions should reveal whether these support levels produce fresh upside momentum or whether the broader weakness in the indices continues to weigh on risk appetite. **Disclaimer & Declaration of Interest:** The information, investment views, and recommendations in this Zaks Traders Cafe interview are provided for general information purposes only. Nothing in this interview should be construed as a promotion or solicitation to buy or sell any financial product relating to any companies under discussion or referred to or to engage in or refrain from doing so or engage in any other transaction. Any opinions or comments are made to the best of the knowledge and belief of the commentator but no responsibility is accepted for actions based on such opinions or comments. 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