9 Trading Chart Patterns You Should Know

Technical analysis involves analyzing historical price and volume data to forecast future price changes in financial markets. Chart patterns are visual representations of price movements on a financial chart that traders use to determine future trend reversals, continuations, or a security's general direction. 

What Are Chart Patterns?

Chart patterns are formations created by the movements of a security's price on a chart. They are formed by repeating patterns of market behavior, reflecting the underlying psychology of traders. They help traders identify potential market reversals or continuations, providing insights into future price movements. Traders use these formations to make informed decisions, as they often signal buying or selling opportunities based on historical trends.

Here are the technical analysis patterns you should know in trading:

• Head & Shoulders (H&S)
• Double Top and Double Bottom
• Triangles
• Flags and Pennants
• Cup and Handle
• Wedges
• Rectangles
• Triple Top and Triple Bottom
• Diamond Top and Diamond Bottom

Let's take a look at them one by one to see how they are used.

Head & Shoulders

Head and Shoulders is a chart pattern that shows three peaks with the middle one being the tallest (head) and the other shorter ones (shoulders) on either side. It is used by traders to predict bullish or bearish reversals. There are two types of this pattern, head & shoulders top and head & shoulders bottom (Inverse H&S).

Head & Shoulders Top: Shows a potential reversal of an uptrend.

Head & Shoulders Bottom: Shows a potential reversal of a downtrend. It has the same layout as the top but it is inverted. 

Double Top and Double Bottom

Double top and double bottom are chart patterns that traders use to identify possible trend reversals. They indicate locations where the market has made two failed attempts to break through a support or resistance level.

• Double Top: Forms after an uptrend and suggests a possible reversal.
• Double Bottom: Forms after a downtrend and suggests a possible reversal.

Triangles

Triangles are prominent chart patterns in technical analysis that indicate a market consolidation period in which prices move along converging trendlines.

• Symmetrical Triangle: Indicates a period of consolidation, with the potential for a breakout in either direction.
• Ascending Triangle: Usually bullish, suggesting a potential breakout to the upside.
• Descending Triangle: Typically bearish, indicating a potential breakdown to the downside.

Flags and Pennants

Flags or pennants are a set of charts created after an asset goes through an upward movement and then consolidation. Usually, there is a strong increase in the early phases of the trend followed by a succession of smaller upward and downward movements.

• Bullish Flag/Pennant: Forms a strong price movement, indicating that the trend will continue.
• Bearish Flag/Pennant: Similar to the bullish version but signals a potential continuation of a downtrend.

Cup and Handle

The cup and handle is a bullish continuation pattern that indicates that an upward trend has stalled but will resume if it’s validated. The reason why it's called the cup and handle is the ''U'' shaped pattern and another one following it that looks like the ''U'' shaped cup's handle. 

Wedges

Wedges indicate an asset's price movements are either bullish or bearish. There are two types of wedges, rising wedge and falling wedge. 

• Rising Wedge: Usually bearish, suggesting a potential breakdown.
• Falling Wedge: Usually bullish, indicating a potential breakout to the upside.

Rectangles

Rectangles are consolidation patterns in technical analysis that are distinguished by horizontal support and resistance lines, with price movement inside a rectangular range. There are two types of rectangles; rectangles top and bottom.

• Rectangle Top: Bearish pattern suggesting a potential reversal.
• Rectangle Bottom: Bullish pattern indicating a potential reversal.

Triple Top and Triple Bottom

Triple tops and bottoms are potential trend reversals. A triple top occurs when the price reaches a resistance level three times, suggesting a possible downturn, while a triple bottom forms when the price hits a support level three times, indicating a potential upward reversal.

• Triple Top: Similar to the double top but with three peaks, signaling a potential trend reversal.
• Triple Bottom: Similar to double bottom but with three troughs, signaling a potential trend reversal.

Diamond Top and Diamond Bottom

Diamond top and bottom indicate potential trend reversals. The diamond top indicates a potential shift from an uptrend to a downtrend in the market while the diamond bottom indicates the opposite. 

• Diamond Top: Bearish reversal pattern.
• Diamond Bottom: Bullish reversal pattern.

Analyzing Chart Patterns

It is better to know how the volume and moving average work for better analysis. You can see these charts in all kinds of trading, it is also possible to interpret them as stock chart patterns as well. Let's see how volume and moving average work in analyzing.

Volume

Volume is the number of shares or contracts traded in a given period. Analyzing volume helps traders confirm the validity of a price movement. 

An increase in volume during a breakout from a chart pattern adds credibility to the move, indicating a stronger market conviction, this is called breakout confirmation.

The divergence between price and volume can signal a weakening trend, which is called a divergence warning. For example, decreasing volume during an uptrend or breakout may suggest a lack of strong buying interest. 

Moving Averages

Moving averages (MAs) smooth out price data over a specified period, helping traders identify trends and potential trend reversals. They have three main roles in charts:

• Trend Confirmation
• Crossovers
• Support and Resistance

Trend confirmation is when moving averages can confirm the direction of the trend implied by a chart pattern.

Moving average crossovers, such as the golden cross (short-term MA crossing above a long-term MA) or death cross (short-term MA crossing below a long-term MA), can provide additional confirmation of trend changes.

Moving averages can act as dynamic support or resistance levels, adding significance to price movements when they align with these averages.

The Bottom Line

We have explained the nine trading chart patterns you should know as a trader. If you're in the trading business, whether it is stock trading or currency exchange, you will have to be familiar with these charts. Understanding them one by one can improve your trading skills and save you money. 

We have also explained how to analyze these trading patterns by volume and moving averages, which can help you better understand the logic behind them. 

FAQ About Chart Patterns

Which chart pattern is the best for trading?

What's important is not the type of chart pattern but it is how you analyze them. Whether they're stock market patterns or foreign exchange, you have to understand the logic behind the volume and the moving average of what you're trading when reading them.

Which chart patterns are bullish?

The bullish chart patterns are the ascending triangle, double bottom, inverse head and shoulders, bullish flag/pennant, cup and handle, symmetrical triangle, and the rising wedge. 

Are chart patterns 100% accurate?

They are not always accurate. There might be technical errors that can lead to wrong information. Be sure to check several sources when trying to analyze. 

What is the strongest chart pattern?

It depends on the trader's methods and preferences. The chart pattern that offers the best insights for traders' strategies can be considered the strongest. 

Do patterns repeat in the stock market?

Yes, they seem to repeat continuously in the stock market. However, it can be in different time frames.