A descending triangle is a continuation pattern that is formed after a bearish move in the price.
It is formed between two trend lines where the lower trend line should be horizontal and the
upper trend line slope down and meet the horizontal trend line at some point. The descending
triangle starts wider like a usual triangle and then contracts as it moves towards its end. Price
should make at least two
minor lows and two minor
highs within the triangle.
This pattern can be formed
after a downtrend and
normally it breaks
downward. Although it can
break upward as well but the
odds of breaking low are
higher than breaking up.
One of the major reasons for this formation is that investors take the initial drop as a buying
opportunity and keep buying every time the price touches the initial drop low price which
results in the price bouncing from the same low again and again. But ultimately price breaks
down as market makers want it cheaper before getting into it again.
Let’s summarize the requirement of this pattern.
● Pattern forms during a downtrend
● Price consolidates between a flat and falling trend line
● The pattern starts wider and contracts afterward
● Price should make at least two minor lows and two minor highs
● Volume decreases during the formation of the triangle and spikes up during breakout
Statistics
It is always interesting to know the past performance of the pattern to adjust your position size
and SL accordingly. A study suggests that 54% of the time this pattern makes a bearish exit
and 61% of the cases this pattern works as a price continuation pattern. The study further
suggests that 54% of the cases price reaches the first target after the breakout and 64% of the
time price makes a pullback on the trend line. False upwards breakout ratio is only 6% while
50% of the time price breaks upward after a false breakdown.
Trading Descending triangle
As the descending triangle pattern is a continuation pattern it gives you the ability to short the
asset after its breakdown. You can enter on the breakout or on a pullback if you missed the
initial chance of entering. Your first profit target will be equal to the size of the triangle as
shown in the chart above. You can use Fibonacci levels to measure the further profit targets
and also make sure to place the stop loss above the upper trend line of the triangle.