Trend Continuation Patterns Trend Following Forex Patterns

Depending on your trading strategy, Stop Loss can be set in the middle of the channel, which would reduce the potential losses in case the price moves against your expectations. A bearish wedge is formed when the price makes a series of higher highs and higher lows. This is a bearish continuation chart pattern, indicating that the price will likely break below the lower trendline and continue to move lower. trend continuation patterns A bear flag is formed when the price moves lower sharply and then consolidates in an upward-sloping channel. This is a bearish continuation chart pattern, indicating that the price is likely to break out of the channel and continue to move lower. Unlike the flag where the price action consolidates within the two parallel lines, the pennant is a triangular pattern that helps the price action to consolidate.

The pattern is often characterized by a sharp price entering after intensive movement. This is generally a bearish signal and price will tend to break out lower when the pattern is complete. The price gets squeezed into a narrow range between a trend and a resistance level.

Understanding the Continuation Pattern

It’s not about the market itself, but is more about what the pattern reveals about price action. Trendlines with three or more points are generally more valid than those based on only two points. While triangles have swing highs and lows as the price oscillates back and forth, a pennant will often appear as a small price range or consolidation that gets even smaller over time. In a descending triangle, the swing highs are declining, forming a downward sloping trendline when they are connected. The swing lows reach similar levels, forming a horizontal trendline when connected.

The inverse head and shoulders – or ‚head and shoulders bottom‘ – is a reversal chart pattern similar to the head and shoulders, except it is inverted. Reversal patterns might signal that either the bulls or bears have lost control and that there might be a change of trend imminent. The current trend will see a pause and then the price will move in a new direction from the other side (bull or bear). Suppose the continuation pattern takes a while to complete and almost as big as the trend that preceded it. In that case, it may be a signal of increased volatility, a larger move against the trend, or a lack of conviction in the trending direction.

Wedge Chart Pattern: Forex Chart Pattern

The bullish continuation pattern occurs when the price action consolidates within a specific pattern after a strong uptrend. The continuation of a trend is secured once the price action breaks out of the consolidation phase in an explosive breakout in the same direction as the prevailing trend. The bearish continuation pattern works in the same fashion, with the difference being in the price action trading in a downtrend. The consolidation phase usually appears midway through the downtrend, after the sellers take a breather before continuing in the same direction.

• Nothing is fully certain in trading and you will witness many patterns that look like continuation, but end up as reversal formations.
• Wedge patterns are slightly more complex than other continuation patterns as they can signal a continuation or reversal of a trend, depending on what type they are and in what trend they are found.
• Volume may decline as the pattern develops and spring back once the price breaks above (in the case of a head and shoulders bottom) or below (in the case of a head and shoulders top) the trendline.
• Traders look for a subsequent breakout, in the direction of the preceding trend, as a cue to enter a trade.

However, it is more difficult to identify them in real time and act on the signals that they may provide, especially when trading on lower time frame charts. It might therefore help to use additional tools, such as technical indicators (RSI, MACD) and candlestick patterns. The Quasimodo Pattern can seem quite complex but it is actually rather easy to spot. As the name suggests, the continuation pattern for a triangle continuation pattern will follow a triangular shape. The asset’s value on the graph will bounce between two converging trendlines, where the volatility is slowly dying off.

Reversal patterns, continuation patterns and chart patterns

The appearance of such a combination of candles doesn’t mean that it’s necessary to enter the trade. For example, a trader enters the market when a reversal pattern is formed, which gives rise to this trend. A trader usually waits for the developments and faces the corrections, which end up as trend continuation patterns. Consequently, a trader doesn’t exit the initial trade and further waits, the final profit will increase as the price climbs higher. Triangle patterns are a commonly used continuation pattern by technical analysts. There are three variations of triangle patterns and they are all important to learn because they can help identify the continuation of a bullish or bearish market.

It basically consists of several large candlesticks that would form a long „flagpole“ and a small „flag“ called the consolidation zone. You can check the color of the candlesticks that formed the flag to determine the direction of the trend. If it’s going upwards, then the new trend will continue to go that way, and vice versa.

Separating lines

A trendline that angles up, or an up trendline, occurs where prices are experiencing higher highs and higher lows. Conversely, a trendline that is angled down, called a down trendline, occurs where prices are experiencing lower highs and lower lows. A continuation pattern is labeled as such because there is a slight tendency for the trend to continue after the pattern completes, assuming the right context of price action. Flag and pennant patterns usually go hand in hand, as both resemble flags — yet different in form. Both flag and pennant patterns can be either ascending or descendant. It’s usually not that easy to recognize the end of a correction.

The wedge is a signal that the current trend is going to pause. A rising wedge is found in a downward trend and is a bearish pattern with lines sloping up. A falling wedge is found in an upward trend and is a bullish chart pattern with lines sloping down. The bullish rectangle pattern forms when an uptrend stalls creating new support and resistance levels.