The cup and handle pattern occurs in both small time frames, like a one-minute chart, and in large time frames, like daily, weekly, and monthly charts. It occurs when there is a price wave down, followed by a stabilizing period, followed by a rally of approximately equal size to the prior decline. It creates a U-shape, or the "cup" in our "cup and handle." The price then moves sideways or drifts downward within a channel—that forms the handle. The handle may also take the form of a triangle.