Tips for Trading Symmetrical Triangles Short with CFDs
The symmetrical triangle is sometimes referred to as a wedge. It is a very well known and easily recognized chart pattern that has been used by many successful traders over the years. A symmetrical triangle is formed when the price action is contained within two lines. The top line slopes down while the bottom line slopes up towards the top line. The angle of the two lines is similar giving rise to the name symmetrical.
Symmetrical Triangles Can Be Profitable Short
Symmetrical triangles provide no clear breakout direction, but 45% break out to the downside making it possible to trade on the short side. Just 44% of these breakouts are profitable and on average the profit per trade is only 0.33% over a period of 9 days. The symmetrical triangle is not one of the best chart patterns when it breaks to the downside, but applying some filters can make this pattern more attractive to trade.
Specific Setups to Improve Profitability
Short breakouts from symmetrical triangles work better in falling markets which is clear from the historical results that were achieved. The market, sector and the stock should be in a down trend or consolidating for the best results when trading symmetrical triangles short.
Symmetrical triangles that breakout early in the pattern, which is not many, produce inferior results to those that breakout later. The best results are achieved when the stock climbs up from the lower boundary and collapses back before reaching the upper boundary of the pattern.
If volume supports a symmetrical triangle breakout then the profitability of the trades improves. For volume to support the breakout, volume when the stock is going down should be greater than volume when the stock is going up. A close lower than the previous day, before the breakout, results in better trades.
Symmetrical Triangles Can Be Profitable
Incorporating these simple changes when selecting symmetrical triangles to trade short, dramatically improves the results. With an average return per trade of 1.58% in 9 days and a hit rate of 47% it is possible for symmetrical triangles to be traded short successfully.
Statistics for this article have been provided by Patterns Trader after analyzing over 60,000 chart patterns on the Australian market from 2000 - 2008. - 23226
Symmetrical Triangles Can Be Profitable Short
Symmetrical triangles provide no clear breakout direction, but 45% break out to the downside making it possible to trade on the short side. Just 44% of these breakouts are profitable and on average the profit per trade is only 0.33% over a period of 9 days. The symmetrical triangle is not one of the best chart patterns when it breaks to the downside, but applying some filters can make this pattern more attractive to trade.
Specific Setups to Improve Profitability
Short breakouts from symmetrical triangles work better in falling markets which is clear from the historical results that were achieved. The market, sector and the stock should be in a down trend or consolidating for the best results when trading symmetrical triangles short.
Symmetrical triangles that breakout early in the pattern, which is not many, produce inferior results to those that breakout later. The best results are achieved when the stock climbs up from the lower boundary and collapses back before reaching the upper boundary of the pattern.
If volume supports a symmetrical triangle breakout then the profitability of the trades improves. For volume to support the breakout, volume when the stock is going down should be greater than volume when the stock is going up. A close lower than the previous day, before the breakout, results in better trades.
Symmetrical Triangles Can Be Profitable
Incorporating these simple changes when selecting symmetrical triangles to trade short, dramatically improves the results. With an average return per trade of 1.58% in 9 days and a hit rate of 47% it is possible for symmetrical triangles to be traded short successfully.
Statistics for this article have been provided by Patterns Trader after analyzing over 60,000 chart patterns on the Australian market from 2000 - 2008. - 23226
About the Author:
Jeff Cartridge has been trading chart patterns since 1998 and created the website LearnCFDs.com Trading Chart Patterns - All The Insider Tricks

