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The identification of patterns and trends are techniques used by analysts studying the
supply and demand of an asset traded on an open market. A trend is the general
direction of a price over a period of time. A pattern is a set of data that follows a
recognizable form, which analysts then attempt to find in the current data.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
A pattern is a set of data that follows a recognizable form, which analysts then attempt
to find in the current data.
Most traders trade in the direction of the trend. Traders who go opposite the trend are
called contrarian investors.
Patterns
Patterns are the distinctive formations created by the movements of security prices on a
chart. A pattern is identified by a line that connects common price points, such as
closing prices or highs or lows, during a specific period of time. Chartists seek to identify
patterns as a way to anticipate the future direction of a security’s price.
There are bottoming, topping, and continuation patterns. A "follow-through day" pattern
is an example of a pattern used by some analysts to identify market bottoms. The
"head-and-shoulders" topping pattern is popular among day and swing traders, while
continuation patterns include the "cup-and-handle," "flat base," and "three weeks tight."
"The trend is your friend" is a common catchphrase among technical analysts. A trend
can often be found by establishing a line chart. A trendline is the line formed between a
high and a low. If that line is going up, the trend is up. If the trendline is sloping
downward, the trend is down. Trendlines are the foundation for most chart patterns.
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patterns-and-trends.asp