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Chart Patterns ~ An Oldie but Goodie
Much of our understanding of chart patterns can be attributed to the work of Richard Schabacker. His 1932 classic, Technical Analysis and Stock Market Profits, laid the foundations for modern pattern analysis. In Technical Analysis of Stock Trends (1948), Edwards and Magee credit Schabacker for most of the concepts put forth in the first part of their book. We would also like to acknowledge Messrs. Schabacker, Edwards and Magee, and John Murphy as the driving forces behind these articles and our understanding of chart patterns.
Pattern analysis may seem straightforward, but it is by no means an easy task. Schabacker states:
The science of chart reading, however, is not as easy as the mere memorizing of certain patterns and pictures and recalling what they generally forecast. Any general stock chart is a combination of countless different patterns and its accurate analysis depends upon constant study, long experience and knowledge of all the fine points, both technical and fundamental, and, above all, the ability to weigh opposing indications against each other, to appraise the entire picture in the light of its most minute and composite details as well as in the recognition of any certain and memorized formula.
Even though Schabacker refers to "the science of chart reading", technical analysis can at times be less science and more art. In addition, pattern recognition can be open to interpretation, which can be subject to personal biases. To defend against biases and confirm pattern interpretations, other aspects of technical analysis should be employed to verify or refute the conclusions drawn. While many patterns may seem similar in nature, no two patterns are exactly alike. False breakouts, bogus reads and exceptions to the rule are all part of the ongoing education.
Careful and constant study are required for successful chart analysis. On the AMZN chart above, the stock broke resistance from a head and shoulders reversal. While the trend is now bearish, analysis must continue to confirm the bearish trend.
Some analysts might have labeled the NVLS chart as a head and shoulders pattern with neckline support around 17.50. Whether or not this is robust remains open to debate. Even though the stock broke neckline support at 17.50, it repeatedly moved back above its support break. This refusal might have been taken as a sign of strength and justified a reassessment of the pattern.
Currency Manipulation: Currency manipulation is the act of changing its value against other currencies instead of leaving it free to fluctuate based on market dynamics. This can be done by fixing the exchange rate or deliberately increasing or decreasing its value.
This practice is usually frowned upon since it results to an artificial distortion in currency prices. In fact, it is considered an illegal practice based on US laws and international agreements.
This could also give way to unfair trade advantages since artificially devaluing a country's currency could make its exports relatively cheaper and more attractive. In the long run, this could eventually result to a global trade imbalance
Non-Random Walk Theory
A Non-Random Walk Down Wall Street is a collection of essays offering empirical evidence that valuable information can be extracted from security prices. Lo and MacKinlay used powerful computers and advanced econometric analysis to test the randomness of security prices. Although this book is a heavy read, the findings should be of interest to technical analysts and chartists. In short, this book documents the presence of predictable components in stock prices.
Just prior to this book, Andrew Lo wrote a paper for the Journal of Finance in 2000: Foundations of Technical Analysis: Computational Algorithms, Statistical Inference, and Empirical Implementation. Harry Mamaysky and Jiang Wang also contributed. The paper's opening remarks say it all:
"Technical analysis, also known as charting, has been part of financial practice for many decades, but this discipline has not received the same level of academic scrutiny and acceptance as more traditional approaches such as fundamental analysis. One of the main obstacles is the highly subjective nature of technical analysis. The presence of geometric shapes in historical price charts is often in the eyes of the beholder. In this paper, we propose a systematic and automatic approach to technical pattern recognition using nonparametric kernel regression, and apply this method to a large number of U.S. stocks from 1962 to 1996 to evaluate the effectiveness of technical analysis. By comparing the unconditional empirical distribution of daily stock returns to the conditional distribution conditioned on specific technical indicators, such as head-and-shoulders or double-bottoms, we find that over the 31-year sample period, several technical indicators do provide incremental information and may have some practical value." This paper can be found at www.nber.org
The final step is to synthesize the above analysis to ascertain the following:
Strength of the current trend.
Maturity or stage of current trend.
Reward to risk ratio of a new position.
Potential entry levels for new long position.
Descending Trendline: Descending trendlines are a variety of trendlines, one of the most fundamental tools for technical analysis. Descending trendlines are simply trendlines with a negative slope, indicating falling prices. There are two types of descending trendlines: descending top trendlines, in which the high prices for an asset are falling, and descending bottom trendlines, in which the low prices for the asset are falling.
The rules for trading using descending trendlines are the same as the rules for trading with trendlines in general. A descending top trendline is a measure of the resistance to an asset's price, and traders consider a break in price through the descending top to be buy signal for the asset. A descending bottom trendline is a measure of the support in an asset's price, and traders consider a break in price through the descending bottom to be a sell signal for the asset. Many traders consider it necessary for additional signals to appear on the chart before a broken descending trendline is confirmed, and before those traders will take the appropriate market action.
Support and Resistance Zones
Because technical analysis is not an exact science, it is useful to create support and resistance zones. This is contrary to the strategy mapped out for Lucent Technologies (LU), but it is sometimes the case. Each security has its own characteristics, and analysis should reflect the intricacies of the security. Sometimes, exact support and resistance levels are best, and, sometimes, zones work better. Generally, the tighter the range, the more exact the level. If the trading range spans less than 2 months and the price range is relatively tight, then more exact support and resistance levels are best suited. If a trading range spans many months and the price range is relatively large, then it is best to use support and resistance zones. These are only meant as general guidelines, and each trading range should be judged on its own merits.
Returning to the analysis of Halliburton (HAL), we can see that the November high of the trading range (33 to 44) extended more than 20% past the low, making the range quite large relative to the price. Because the September support break forms our first resistance level, we are ready to set up a resistance zone after the November high is formed, probably around early December. At this point though, we are still unsure if a large trading range will develop. The subsequent low in December, which was just higher than the October low, offers evidence that a trading range is forming, and we are ready to set the support zone. As long as the stock trades within the boundaries set by the support and resistance zone, we will consider the trading range to be valid. Support may be looked upon as an opportunity to buy, and resistance as an opportunity to sell.
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Diamond: The diamond formation, more commonly known as a diamond top, is a relatively rare chart formation used in technical analysis. When a diamond top forms, it forms at the conclusion of a long uptrend in price, and it indicates an imminent reversal of the trend. As such, the diamond top formation generates a very strong sell signal.
Traders and technical analysts recognize a diamond formation by first recognizing a head-and-shoulders formation (a peak and trough, followed by a higher peak and another trough, followed by a peak somewhere below the level of the previous peak: in other words, three peaks, the middle one being the tallest.) Four trendlines are drawn: one (ascending) from the first peak to the second peak, one (descending) from the second peak to the third peak, one (ascending) from the second trough to the low of the third peak, and one (descending) from the first trough to the second trough. The four lines altogether form a rough diamond shape, giving the chart its name.
The diamond top forms an overall descending trend channel, allowing traders to determine levels of support and resistance for the asset's price as it enters a downtrend or a momentary reversal. However, if the lower support line of the channel is broken, traders consider it likely that asset prices will reverse and begin again to climb.
Trend lines can offer great insight, but if used improperly, they can also produce false signals. Other items - such as horizontal support and resistance levels or peak-and-trough analysis - should be employed to validate trend line breaks. While trend lines have become a very popular aspect of technical analysis, they are merely one tool for establishing, analyzing, and confirming a trend. Trend lines should not be the final arbiter, but should serve merely as a warning that a change in trend may be imminent. By using trend line breaks for warnings, investors and traders can pay closer attention to other confirming signals for a potential change in trend.
The uptrend line for VeriSign (VRSN) was touched 4 times, and seemed to be a valid support level. Even though the trend line was broken in Jan-00, the previous reaction low held, and did not confirm the trend line break. In addition, the stock recorded a new higher high prior to the trend line break.
Descending Trend Channel: Descending trend channels are basic chart patterns used in technical analysis. A descending trend channel is formed by drawing two trendlines, one through the high prices for an asset and one through the low prices for the asset. If the trend in prices is downward, then the space between the trend lines forms a descending trend channel.
Descending trend channels, like ascending trend channels, are a tool for determining whether the short-term trend in price will continue. As long as prices remain within the region defined by the trend channel, traders expect the overall trend to go on as it is. Once prices break out of the channel, a strong signal either to buy or sell is generated. If prices break upward out of the channel, the signal is bullish; if prices break downward, the signal is bearish.
Descending trend channels often appear within an overall uptrend in prices, and represent either a continuation of the trend or a reversal of the trend, depending on the direction of the break.
Currency code: Currency codes are three letter abbreviations which identify a country's currency, established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Resistance: Areas of congestion and previous highs above the current price mark the resistance levels. A break above resistance would be considered bullish.
Support Equals Resistance
Another principle of technical analysis stipulates that support can turn into resistance and vice versa. Once the price breaks below a support level, the broken support level can turn into resistance. The break of support signals that the forces of supply have overcome the forces of demand. Therefore, if the price returns to this level, there is likely to be an increase in supply, and hence resistance.
The other turn of the coin is resistance turning into support. As the price advances above resistance, it signals changes in supply and demand. The breakout above resistance proves that the forces of demand have overwhelmed the forces of supply. If the price returns to this level, there is likely to be an increase in demand and support will be found.
In this example of the NASDAQ 100 Index ($NDX), the stock broke resistance at 935 in May-97 and traded just above this resistance level for over a month. The ability to remain above resistance established 935 as a new support level. The stock subsequently rose to 1150, but then fell back to test support at 935. After the second test of support at 935, this level is well established.
From the PeopleSoft (PSFT) example, we can see that support can turn into resistance and then back into support. PeopleSoft found support at 18 from Oct-98 to Jan-99 (green oval), but broke below support in Mar-99 as the bears overpowered the bulls. When the stock rebounded (red oval), there was still overhead supply at 18 and resistance was met from Jun-99 to Oct-99.
Where does this overhead supply come from? Demand was obviously increasing around 18 from Oct-98 to Mar-99 (green oval). Therefore, there were a lot of bullish buyers of the stock around 18. When the price declined below 18 and fell to around 14, many of these (now unhappy) bulls were probably still holding the stock. This left a supply overhang (commonly known as resistance) around 18. When the stock rebounded to 18, many of the green-oval-bulls probably took the opportunity to sell and "escape" with little to no loss. When this supply was exhausted, the demand was able to overpower supply and advance above resistance at 18.
Consolidation: Consolidation illustrates the lack of a trend in a particular trading range. It frequently occurs after downtrends or uptrends, and can be seen as a stretch of indecision. Consolidation draws to a close when price breaks through existing lines of support and resistance.
Inflationary Relationships
The intermarket relationships depend on the forces of inflation or deflation. In a "normal" inflationary environment, stocks and bonds are positively correlated. This means they both move in the same direction. The world was in an inflationary environment from the 1970's to the late 1990's. These are the key intermarket relationships in a inflationary environment:
A POSITIVE relationship between bonds and stocks
An INVERSE relationship between interest rates and stocks
Bonds usually change direction ahead of stocks
An INVERSE relationship between commodities and bonds
A POSITIVE relationship between commodities and interest rates
A POSITIVE relationship between stocks and commodities
Commodities usually change direction after stocks
An INVERSE relationship between the US Dollar and commodities
POSITIVE: When one goes up, the other goes up also. INVERSE: When one goes up, the other goes down. Interest rates move up when bonds move down
In an inflationary environment, stocks react positively to falling interest rates (rising bond prices). Low interest rates stimulate economic activity and boost corporate profits. As interest rates fall and the economy strengthens, demand for commodities increases and commodity prices rise. Keep in mind that an "inflationary environment" does not mean runaway inflation. It simply means that the inflationary forces are stronger than the deflationary forces.
Will somebody always buy my stocks when I sell them?
No. If you try to sell more shares than people are willing to buy or if your price is unreasonable, it may take a long time for them to sell, if at all. However, if you use market orders on medium or high volume stocks you should not have any problems selling them immediately.
Arbitrage: Taking an equal and opposite position at the same time to benefit from small price differences between related markets.
Chartest: One who uses charts and graphs to trade. Referred to as a technical trader.
What is a Margin Account?
A margin account allows you to quickly and easily borrow money from your brokerage to purchase additional shares. In other words, it provides leverage for your account. It also allows you to do short selling. Of course interest is charged interest on any borrowed money and the SEC has very strict regulations on these accounts.
Detrended Price Oscillator: The Detrended Price Oscillator (DPO), as the name indicates, is a technical analysis tool designed to give information about the price of an asset without taking into account existing price trends. The logic behind this is that detrended prices can help traders to understand the buying and selling pressure in a market based on short-term fluctuations in the price of an asset, without taking into account larger upswings or downswings in price.
The Detrended Price Oscillator can be calculated by declaring a period of time that could be said to indicate a trend in price (for example, if prices steadily increase over a twenty-day period, then one could take "20" as the period of time that indicates a trend.) Divide this period by two and add one to arrive at a number n. Then take the moving average of an asset's price n days before the period in question, and subtract this from the asset's closing price for that period. The resulting number is the period's DPO. This calculation method ensures that although short-term price trends are included in a DPO chart, longer-term trends are excluded.
One of the fundamental assumptions of the DPO is that long-term price trends are composed of short-term price trends, and that only by looking at short-term trends can long-term trends be understood. By this rationale, particularly severe peaks and troughs in the DPO indicate probable reversals in the overall trend of the asset price, and traders should take appropriate positions to take advantage of these reversals in either direction.
How do I know which stocks to buy?
That is a great question. With over 8,000 different stocks to choose from, it can be overwhelming to pick some possible winners.
Devaluation: An intentional decrease in a currency's price due to official announcement.
Bullish Reversal Candlestick Patterns: The Bullish Reversal Candlestick Pattern has over 14 different pattern styles. These include the Bullish Engulfing, the Piercing Pattern, the Harami, the Hammer, the Inverted Hammer, the Morning Star, and the Abandoned Baby. To use Bullish Reversal Candlestick Patterns succesfully, look for the pattern in a downtrend and use Bullish Confirmation to validate your analysis. Further reinforce your results by using additional analysis to confirm the patterns.
Conclusion
There is an old saying that the market abhors a vacuum and all gaps will be filled. While this may have some merit for common and exhaustion gaps, holding positions waiting for breakout or runaway gaps to be filled can be devastating to your portfolio. Likewise, waiting to get on-board a trend by waiting for prices to fill a gap can cause you to miss the big move. Gaps are a significant technical development in price action and chart analysis, and should not be ignored. Japanese candlestick analysis is filled with patterns that rely on gaps to fulfill their objectives.
Austerity: Austerity refers to the government's reduction of spending in order to lower their deficit. Austerity measures, which usually involve wage cuts and tax hikes, are implemented by the government to ensure their creditors that they will be able to pay back their loans.
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   Investor Hub Alerts: Sign up for 'STOCKGOODIES PLAYS OF THE WEEK ' E-Mail ListUPDATE; 5-1-22 courtesy of charting /\ wit tweezer top calls /\ Tony @Montana_Trades Really good study sheet on Candlestick Patterns [-chart]pbs.twimg.com/media/FRn8188XMAAdZvk?format=jpg&name=small[/chart] 
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