DSIJ.in JULY 8 - 21, 2019 I DALAL STREET INVESTMENT JOURNAL (^23)
- Rising Wedge
The 'rising wedge' is a bearish reversal pattern that begins wide
at the bottom and contracts as the price moves higher. A series
of higher swing highs and higher swing lows that form the
pattern narrow down into a apex point as the bulls become less
interested in buying.
Identification Guidelines:
Shape:
- The price must be in a clear uptrend.
- Draw two trendlines. Both trendlines are upward sloping
and eventually intersect. The upper trendline connects
minimum two highs and ideally three highs, and each high
should be higher than the previous one. The lower trendline
which connects minimum two lows and each low should be
higher than the previous one.
Volume: The volume is a key element in correctly identifying a
rising wedge. Most of the time, the volume trend is downward
throughout the formation. The volume becomes especially low
just before the breakout.
Time frame: A rising wedge takes time to form. The price
makes new higher highs and higher lows as it bounces from the
trendline to trendline. It takes over three weeks for the
formation to take on the wedge appearance. Rising wedges
rarely last more than three months.
Breakout: The bearish confirmation of the pattern does not
come until the lower trendline is broken in a convincing
fashion along with expansion of volume.
Pattern Psychology: The upper and lower trendlines
converge as the pattern matures. The advances from the
reaction lows become shorter and shorter, which makes rallies
unconvincing. The loss of momentum on each successive high
gives the pattern its bearish bias. The breakout of lower
trendline indicates that the forces of supply have finally won out
and lower prices are likely.
be the first target. To calculate the final target, we have to
measure the distance from head to neckline and then apply this
length downward, starting from the initial breakout point
through the neckline.
- Rounding Top
The 'rounding top' pattern may form at the end of an extended
uptrend and often indicates a reversal in the long term price
movement. This pattern appears as an inverted ‘U’ shape.
Identification Guidelines:
Shape:
- The price must be in a clear long term uptrend.
- As the price moves up, it bends over and rounds off at the
top, then continues its rounding turn until it is head down
and retraces the prior rise.
- The pattern's neckline is formed by the low point preceding
the inverted U’s formation.
Volume: The volumes are often lowest at the centre of the
formation and higher at the either end. This observation is just
a guideline and not an inviolable rule. What is important is the
price rounding over and forming a bowl-shaped pattern and
the volume trend just adds evidence to the veracity of the chart
pattern.
Time frame: This pattern can develop over several weeks,
months or even years and it is considered a rare occurrence.
Breakout: The neckline being broken by the price along with
strong volumes will indicate the original uptrend is reversed.
Pattern Psychology: A rounded top forms as investors'
sentiment shifts slowly from bullishness to bearishness. The
lowest volume in the centre of the formation indicates indeci-
siveness in the market. The neckline breakout, along with
strong volumes, indicate the major shift in investors' sentiment.
Price Target: Rounding tops generally do not lend well to
price targets because the pattern is meandering. In most cases,
one can expect a decline back to the longer term support level.