Descending Triangle - Full ExpanationWhat is descending triangle ??
The descending triangle is one of the top continuation patterns that appears mid-trend. Traders anticipate the market to continue in the direction of the larger trend and develop trading setups accordingly.
The descending triangle is a bearish pattern that is characterized by a descending upper trendline and a flat lower trendline that acts as support. This pattern indicates that sellers are more aggressive than buyers as price continues to make lower highs. The pattern completes itself when price breaks out of the triangle in the direction of the overall trend.
Element Of Descending Triangle
The descending triangle is fairly easy to spot once traders know what to look for. The below method can be applied to all financial markets.
1.)Downtrend: The market must be in a downtrend before the descending triangle pattern appears. This is important and emphasises that traders should not simply trade the pattern whenever the descending triangle appears.
2.)Consolidation: The descending triangle then appears while the market enters the consolidation phase.
3.Flat Lows Or Flat Line Lower trendline: The lower trendline acts as support. Price often approaches this level and bounces off until the breakout eventually occurs.
4.)Decsending or Lower Highs: While the market is consolidating, a downward sloping trendline can be drawn by connecting the highs. This downward sloping trendline shows that sellers are slowly pulling the price down – which provides further support for a bearish trading bias.
5.)Breakdown & Trend Continuation: After price posts a strong break below the lower trendline, traders will look for confirmation of the pattern via continued downward momentum.
Calculating Target
The descending triangle, often referred to as the ‘falling triangle’, has an inherent measuring technique that can be applied to the pattern to gauge likely take profit targets.
For the descending triangle, traders can measure the distance from the start of the pattern, at the highest point of the descending triangle to the flat support line. That same distance can be transposed later on, starting from the breakout point and ending at the potential take profit level.
The illustration below shows the distance from A to B can be transferred lower down, from C to D, in order to project a possible take profit level.
How to trade Descending triangle
When trading the descending triangle, traders need to identify the downtrend and this can be seen in the BANKNIFTY 15 Min chart below. Thereafter, the descending triangle appears as the candlesticks start to consolidate. The measuring technique can be applied once the triangle forms, as traders anticipate the breakout.
After viewing a strong break below support, traders can enter a short position, setting a stop at the recent swing high and take profit target in line with the measuring technique.
