A cup-and-handle chart pattern resembles a cup of tea. These are bullish continuation patterns where the growth has paused. momentarily, it trades down and then continues its upward pattern. This pattern must always be at least 5 weeks long and can last up to a year.

The options collar strategy is designed to limit the downside risk of a held underlying security. It can be performed by holding a long position in a security, while simultaneously going long a Put and shorting a Call.

An inverted dead-cat bounce is quite the opposite of the dead-cat bounce. A quick look is if a trader owns a stock following a quick and large (5-20%) gain there is normally a gap up. If you sell on the next day after the gap up day, thus unlocking profits its because prices normally start falling before beginning a new move upward (Bulkowski, 2005).

A gap in a chart is basically an empty space between one trading period and the one prior to that trading period. They normally form on account of an important and material event that will affect security, like an earnings surprise or a merger agreement.

Flags and Pennants are categorized as a continuous pattern. They normally represent only brief pauses in a dynamic stock. They’re typically seen immediately after a quick move. The stock will then take off again in the same direction. Research shows that these patterns are many of the most reliable continuation patterns. Take a look at typical Flags and Pennant pattern.

The V top is a reverse V-shaped top thus the name. The top is quite sharp. It’s due to the irrationality of actors leading to a steep increase that will be corrected shortly afterwards. The V top will occur most often in an upward trend and will often signal a trend reversal. It can also appear in a downward trend, like when in an economic announcement.

The V bottom is shaped like a V thus the name. The dip will be quite sharp. It’s because the irrationality of actors leading to a steep fall which will be corrected shortly after. The V bottom will occur most often in a downward trend and will generally offer a signal trend reversal. It can also appear in an upward trend (like in an economic announcement).

A horizontal channel is a pattern that underlines investor’s indecisiveness. This horizontal channel is assembled by two horizontal and parallel lines that build the progress of the price. To confirm a line, there should be at least two points of contact with the price. The more contact points it will has, the more these will be durable and their breakout will give an substantial buy/sell signal.

The descending triangle is a bearish continuation pattern. This pattern forms two converging lines. The initial is a downward slant which resistance and the other is a horizontal support. To validate the descending triangle, there must be oscillation between the two lines. The lines must be touched at least twice for validation.

The symmetrical triangle top is a bullish continuation pattern. This pattern forms two trend lines which are symmetrical to the horizontal and convergent. The initial pattern is a bearish slant that gives resistance and the other is a bullish slant that will be the support. To prove a symmetrical triangle top, one must have oscillation between the two lines. Each of these lines must be touched at least twice for validation.

A symmetrical triangle bottom is a bearish continuation pattern. This pattern forms two trend lines that are symmetrical to the horizontal and convergent. The initial one is a bearish slant that gives support and the other will be a bullish slant that will create a resistance. To prove a symmetrical triangle bottom there must have oscillation between the two lines. Each line has to touch at least twice for validation.

The cup with handle has a continuous pattern. This pattern is formed by two rounded bottoms, the first is deeper and wider than the second. The height of the cup and the handle will be aligned along a straight horizontal resistance. This is the neckline of the pattern.

The rounding top pattern is a reverse U-shape, also called a “reverse saucer. ” The top is rounded with a flat top. But as you’ll see in many cases there are several bullish peaks and they will not put in question the validity of the pattern.

The U-shaped bottom is a rounding bottom, also called a “saucer. ” The dip is rounded with a flat bottom. But we’ll see in many cases there are several bearish peaks, but they do not question the validity of that pattern.

The descending flag shows as a continuation pattern. The flag is built by two straight downward parallel lines which is shaped like a rectangle. It is oriented in the direction of that trend which it consolidates. Contrary to a bearish channel, this pattern is quite short term and shows the fact that buyers will need a break.

A bullish channel is called a continuation trend pattern. The bullish channel is assembled by two parallel lines that frame the upward price trend. A line is validated when there has been at least two points of contact with the price. The more contact points it has, the stronger the trend line is and the more their breakout will give a strong sell signal.

The triple top is a bearish pattern with an MN shape. Three bottoms will come in succession, reflecting an important resistance. This marks a reversal will.

Reverse head and shoulders is a trend reversal pattern. It will mark a desire to make a bullish reversal. The theory is the same as a triple bottom other than the second bottom will be lower than the others, which are technically at the same height. The reverse head and shoulders pattern will be formed by three bottoms that will succeed.

The double top is a bearish pattern shaped like an M. Two tops must succeed, imaging an important resistance. This marks a reversal. The pattern may also be in WV shape. We can consider a triple top as well.

A reversal pattern is called a diamond bottoms. This pattern is formulated by two juxtaposed symmetrical triangles. It is shaped like a diamond.

A falling wedge is a bullish reversal pattern made by two converging downward slants. To prove a falling wedge, there has to be oscillation between the two lines. Each of the lines must be touched at least twice for validation.

A bearish reversal pattern formed by two assembled upward slants is called a rising wedge. To validate rising wedge there must be oscillation between the two lines. These lines must be touched at least twice for validation.

Stock charts print different topping formations. Some are classics, like the Descending Triangle, which can be understood and traded with little effort. However the emotional crowd additionally generates many undependable patterns while greed slowly evolves into mindless fear. Complex Rising Wedges will challenge a technician’s best effort at prediction while the unusual Diamond pattern burns trading capital swinging randomly back and forth.

The right-angled and ascending broadening chart pattern is not one you might choose to trade. Other chart patterns perform much better. Downward breakouts have a big break even failure rate which may disqualify them from your trading tools. Upward breakouts have only a middling average rise, and that is if you trade them perfectly.

The broadening bottom is one of those chart patterns that appears often, but you might want to avoid trading. The performance rank approaches the bottom of the list with a comparatively high break even failure rank and low average rise in a bull market. Its only redeeming value is the partial decline which does an excellent job of predicting an upward breakout.