Triangle Chart Patterns

Triangle chart patterns such as ascending triangle pattern, descending triangle pattern and symmetrical triangle pattern are some essential tools that are used by traders to determine the prices of assets while predicting the behavior of buyers and sellers. The triangle chart patterns are conventional patterns and have been used by investors or traders since decades. The triangle chart patterns are helpful in identifying the bullish or bearish pattern in the security. The price of a security follows a particular trend to form chart patterns which are helpful in determining the future price action.

Ascending Triangle Pattern

Ascending triangle patterns describe a bullish pattern as the price follows a continuous uptrend. The ascending triangle pattern is formed when there is a consistent buying pressure in the security. The price continuously moves in an upward direction indicating an upward trend and looking at this trend on the chart, analysts are able to identify an ascending triangle by joining the trend lines. The ascending triangle pattern is bullish in nature which confirms buying of the security for retail investors. Let’s identify the different components of the ascending triangle pattern that result in a bullish move.

Features of an ascending triangle pattern

Uptrend: The existence of an ascending triangle pattern is identified by an existing uptrend in the market. The highs of this uptrend are higher than previous ones while its lows are also higher than previous lows.

Top Horizontal Line: After the uptrend, high reactions almost equal the top horizontal line. The horizontal line that connects the highs represents the resistance level for the breakout of the pattern.

Lower Ascending Trend Line: The ascending line is formed to give the structure to the pattern which connects the higher lows to the lower lows, hence making an upward move. This is an important trend line that helps to examine the pattern correctly.

*Considering the lows; if the second low is lower than the previous low reaction then the pattern is not valid.

Breakout: The support line turns into the resistance to give breakout to the pattern. When the ascending trend line breaks the horizontal line or the support line in ascending triangle chart patterns represent an upward move with a bullish market trend.

Enter and Exit Point: Long position is considered in this pattern, wherein traders make an entry after the breakout and exit the security after gaining certain profits.

Behind the move

The uptrend before the ascending triangle pattern determines a strong buying pressure. The support line is the representation of overhead selling of the stock that prevents the price to move past a certain level. This determines a large selling pressure which is not able to execute because of higher lows or continued buying. The higher lows takes the price to a higher level which breaks the resistance level, therefore marking a bullish trend.

Descending Triangle Pattern

This chart pattern is helpful in determining price action trading that follows a continuous downward trend. The pattern implements a bearish trend where traders can make their decision about entry or exit in the market. It is identified as “flat bottoms and falling tops”. A descending triangle pattern forms a downward trendline connecting the lower highs. The descending triangle pattern is bearish in nature and hence helps retail investors to exit the security timely without making losses. Some major characteristics to identify the descending triangle pattern are:

Important Characteristics

Existing Downward Trend: To follow the trend, an existing downward trend line is required which determines the pattern of descending triangle.

Horizontal Line: This is the lower trend line or the support line in the descending triangle pattern connecting the lows of the price.

Descending Upper Trend Line: The descending upper trend line connects the two highs where the recent high is lower than the previous high depicting increased selling pressure of the security.

Breakout Point: When the selling pressure is able to breach the support line or resistance level then the traders are active and execute their trades to gain profits. The breakout determines the bearish trend depicting that the price will move downwards.

How does the descending triangle pattern form?

A descending triangle pattern implies the behavior of sellers. The pattern describes that sellers are more aggressive than buyers with a fall in prices and make continuous lower highs. This trend depicts that the demand for security is weakening but the horizontal line prevents the price from going down further. The price continues to decline for some time but does not cross the support line. When the price reaches the breakout point, it starts going down representing a start to the bearish trend in the security. The lower highs are responsible for a bearish trend indicating an increased selling pressure of the security.

Symmetrical Triangle Pattern

The principle of price consolidation directs the symmetrical triangle pattern where the two converging lines move together based on the direction of the market. It is unidentified that the pattern will make a bullish or bearish trend. The symmetrical triangle can be seen as these two converging lines get narrower, coming closer to the breakout point. The symmetrical triangle pattern is ‘neutral’. In a symmetrical triangle pattern, confirmation of the trend is required by an investor to make a decision as it can form a bullish or bearish pattern.

How to identify symmetrical triangle patterns?

Follow the steps to mark the symmetrical triangle pattern:

1.  Find the Trend: Firstly, find the trend i.e. upward or downward trend in the price chart. A trend must always exist in order to define a chart pattern.

2.  Trend Lines: Draw the trend lines on the chart that connect the highs and the lows, making converging lines that meet at the breakout point to form a market trend.

3.  Apex: Apex is the intersection of the two trend lines which represent that breakout is about to happen and the traders must make a decision.

4.  Breakout Point: The breakout point of a symmetrical triangle pattern is undefined and the traders must wait as it can give a bullish or bearish trend.

5.  Entry or Exit: If the pattern breaks out in an upward trend then the market is bullish and traders prefer to enter the market to gain profits. Else, in a downward breakout or bearish trend, they must consider a short position for entry or exit.

Main reason behind symmetrical triangle pattern

Symmetrical chart pattern describes a consolidation phase in the market due to indecision. When the market is uncertain, it takes a form of symmetrical triangle pattern where the buying and selling continues. The higher lows represent the increase of potential buyers while lower highs indicate selling pressure. This pattern enlightens the decreasing volatility where the price range contracts within the triangle. The potential breakout point is the main deciding point for traders which guide them about entry or exit.

Summing it up

Ascending Pattern	Descending Pattern	Symmetrical Pattern
Bullish Trend	Bearish Trend	Neutral
Upward Trend Lines	Downward Trend Lines	Converging Trend Lines
Long Position	Short Position	Long or Short

Limitations of Triangle chart patterns

Triangle chart patterns are mainly used by conventional traders and investors. Sometimes, these patterns do not prove to be effective because they are widely used by traders and hence most people already know the move which eventually decreases the accuracy of the price action. Considering this, there is a requirement of clubbing it with more in depth technical analysis methods like demand and supply theory. Demand and supply theory helps in increasing the probability of these patterns if used in the right way.

Conclusion

It is an undeniable fact that these chart patterns also fail sometimes as you cannot predict market volatility and other conditions. This is why Demand and Supply Theory is more reliable which helps to analyze the price action. Investors can easily manage their risks by setting their stop losses with the help of demand and apply theory. This is one intellectual method of trading where traders can enjoy huge returns while minimizing their risks simultaneously.

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