Tech Charts Year in Review with Aksel – May 2020

Tech Charts Year in Review – Year Three

  • A study on Chart Pattern Reliability with the available sample data over the past year
  • Chart patterns with horizontal boundaries have been more reliable compared with breakouts from chart patterns with diagonal boundaries
  • Long-term trends impact the number of bullish and bearish chart pattern setups and breakout opportunities
  • H&S tops, H&S bottoms and descending triangles have been reliable with breakouts from well-defined horizontal boundaries
  • Developing breakout opportunities
  • Live Q&A
Member Questions
  1. When analyzing charts for possible trading opportunities, do you use good liquidity in the market as a trade filter, and what method do you use to determine good liquidity? 1:00:17
  2. It will be nice if the performance of chart alerts can be tracked in an excel sheet. 1:01:42
  3. How often do you trade personally? Did you trade all of the patterns summarized in the "Phases of market trends" slide? 1:02:19
  4. I understand you don't like to use volume, however in technical-analysis-and-stock-market, Richard talks a lot about high volume on upward breakouts, can you explain why you don't use this at least for breakouts? 1:03:15 (LINK: VOLUME AS A CONFIRMING INDICATOR)
  5. Can you talk about how you place stop losses after entering a position? 1:05:58 (LINKS: Breakout with a pullback – Application of ATR trailing stop-loss and ATR Trailing Stop-Loss – H&S Top)
  6. Do you ever look at charts adjusting for dividends? 1:06:32
  7. The statistics on page 7 - does Aksel include failure signals? Such as H&S failure, cup & handle failure, or even asc. des. triangle failures (breaking out of the diagonal line)? 1:07:11 (LINK: Head and Shoulders Top – Failure)
  8. Why do you ignore wedges? You mentioned this on slide 7; I just wanted to understand your reasons. 1:08:12 (LINK: DIAGONAL BOUNDARIES ARE LESS RELIABLE)
  9. Slide 9 - Can you repeat your MAs for weekly and daily timeframes? 1:10:22
  10. Slide 8 - Can you explain how you set your 'pattern failure' level? 1:10:35
  11. Your charts are mostly weekly - does it mean you disregard shorter timeframe formations? If yes, why? 1:11:35
  12. Your H&S examples are all with horizontal shoulders - what is your view of inclined H&S? 1:12:18
  13. Is it true some stocks follow classical patterns better than others over a long period of time? Hence if we find those names, we should follow them long term even if a chart finished this target/negation? 1:13:06
  14. It would be extremely useful to add to the statistics the average ratio between target and negation levels with respect to the breakout level (sort of profit/loss), per pattern type. 1:14:19
  15. Have you ever used a pullback strategy? It seems quite popular for some traders, what % of traders do you think are doing this? 1:14:34
  16. Do you recommend using different stop strategy in terms of the pattern length? i.e., weekly ATR stop if pattern > 12 month, daily ATR stop if the pattern is 4 - 26 weeks. 1:15:24
  17. Page 20, the symm. triangle, do you usually place negation level at the apex of the triangle because E&M book suggests that's a strong support? 1:16:26
  18. Could you show us a breakdown of BreakOut success/failure statistics by Exchanges (or Countries, currencies)? It is relevant to those who do not trade signals in all exchanges/countries. 1:16:51
  19. Are there national markets that demonstrate less emphasis on chart patterns? i.e., heavier % of "fundamental investors"? 1:17:25
  20. Sometimes, you do not plot the 200MA, is there any particular reason? Besides 200d MA, do you use any other MA? 1:18:19
  21. Are you ever concerned with how extended the minor advance is in a stock prior to the breakout? FDN for example bounced straight from the lower boundary; do we have to be careful of profit-taking? 1:18:53
  22. How do you identify the price for horizontal and diagonal boundaries? 1:19:37
  23. I loved to see the slide of statistics - are there more studies available on the website? (Maybe also compared to different observed timeframes?) 1:19:58
  24. How do you treat spindles crossing the chart boundary during the weekly or daily chart development? Do you use a lower time frame to negate the false breakouts? 1:20:23
  25. In terms of timing, what is the time horizon you usually see breakouts playing out? 1:20:58
  26. How do you balance the initial stop loss positioning between chart pattern boundary and chart negation point to balance the position sizing and the risk as basis points in relation to the market volatility? 1:21:40
  27. Between log scale and linear scale, which one is better? 1:22:14
  28. For double tops-bottoms or H&Ss, is there a limit on the percentage (such as 3%) between highs and lows on double tops-bottoms or between right and left shoulders? 1:23:17
Read More

4 Types of Breakouts – March 2020 Tech Charts Webinar

4 Types of Breakouts - March 2020 Tech Charts Webinar

We are continuing our Member webinar series with a review of 4 types of breakouts. 

Type 1 are breakouts that immediately rally to price target. Type 2 are breakouts that pullback to chart pattern boundary after the breakout but do not challenge the previously broken support/resistance. These two breakouts are relatively easier to manage when compared with the breakouts that experience a hard re-test (penetrating the chart pattern boundary after a breakout) and those that fail (Type 3 & Type 4).

We will review all 4 types of breakouts with recent examples and discuss strategies to manage each condition.

Webinar Outline
  • We will review some of those chart pattern breakouts that rally to their price objective without any pullback
  • We will review some of the breakouts that complete an orderly pullback to chart pattern boundary
  • We will look at some of the breakouts that experience hard re-test and challenge chart pattern boundaries
  • We will review some of the breakouts that failed off of the starting gate.
  • We will have a member Q&A at the end of the webinar.
Live questions from Members  
  1. I know you're a classical market technician, but with such a severe one-sided breakdown, are you ever tempted to trade something for a pullback even though you don't have a classical pattern? 36:21
  2. Does the speed with which a pattern breakout achieves the target price indicate that you should let the trade run? 37:24
  3. Can you find signs in the chart that could indicate what type of breakout is going to occur? 38:02
  4. Do you reduce your position sizing (i.e., instead of 1% risk per trade, 0.50% risk) during extended volatility like we're seeing? 39:42
  5. Can you explain how to calculate the trailing stop loss again? 40:10
    1. Additional links ATR Trailing Stop-Loss – H&S Top & ATR plug-in
  6. How do you incorporate sentiment measures (COT DSI etc.) into your decision making? 40:48  
  7. Do you think that in market conditions such as these, the probability of a failed chart occurring is higher? 41:02
  8. Do you ever circumvent your ATR trailing stop and place it below a newly formed chart pattern negation level that's above the initial entry position? 42:32
  9. I noticed that on one trade, you placed an SL at the bottom of a gap, but on another, you placed it at the top of a GAP. Do you have rules for deciding this? 43:50
  10. Is it possible to use this method for long term investing? If yes, would you use the same trailing method? 45:13
  11. Can the ATR stop rule be implemented in a trading platform? 46:19
  12. How do you determine your ATR length and multiplier number? Is it historical chart based and specific to a specific chart? Are commodities different than stock charts? 47:13
  13. As volatility during the day can be larger, have you used one ATR multiple for intra-bar & a lesser ATR multiple near the close, whereby one cancels the other OCO? 49:20
  14. Over the years, the ratio between reversal patterns vs. continuation patterns? Do you cap that ratio, or you let the patterns dictate what you have currently? 50:08
  15. Do you always trade long? Never short? 51:13
Recorded live 03.26.2020    Read More

Short-Term Chart Patterns – December 2019 Tech Charts Webinar

Short-Term Chart Patterns - December 2019 Tech Charts Webinar This webinar is a discussion on chart patterns that develop and complete on a short-term time frame, in the duration between 1 month to 3 months. Webinar Outline
  • We will review some of those chart pattern breakouts that were featured in the Global Equity Markets report
  • We will review some of the conditions that are required for successful completion of different chart patterns both on daily and weekly time frame
  • We will look at some of the developing chart patterns
  • We will have a member Q&A at the end of the webinar
Live questions from Members  
  1. Do you use MA or EMA? 50:33
  2. I wanted to check if it is possible for you to include in your weekly report a performance of setup of your charts? 51:02 (Webinar mentioned A review of the most reliable chart patterns Tech Charts Global Equity Markets report featured over the past two years – September 2019 Tech Charts Webinar)
  3. Can the ascending or descending triangle be trend reversal patterns? 51:37
  4. Can you discuss success rates for weekly setups vs. daily? 52:37
  5. If the handle is a bit above the cup is the breakout level above the cup or above the handle? 53:48
  6. When you post a breakout alert on the website, is the red number dotted line a negation level or your initial stop loss? 54:17
  7. What's the ATR setting you use and do you check and adjust stops on a daily basis? 54:45 (Helpful link ATR Trailing Stop-Loss – H&S Top)
Recorded live 12.12.2019      Read More

A review of the most reliable chart patterns Tech Charts Global Equity Markets report featured over the past two years – September 2019 Tech Charts Webinar

A review of the most reliable chart patterns Tech Charts Global Equity Markets report featured over the past two years - September 2019 Tech Charts Webinar Webinar Outline
  • We will review some of those chart pattern breakouts that were featured in the Global Equity Markets report 
  • We will review some of the conditions that are required for successful completion of different chart patterns 
  • We will look at some of the developing bullish continuation chart patterns 
  • We will continue to highlight Tech Charts members favorite chart pattern setups in different equity markets
  • We will have a member Q&A at the end of the webinar
Live questions from Members  
  1. On triangle breakouts, how important do you feel it is to clear the last pivot point (as opposed to buying the breakout immediately) before enter ing a trade? 1:07:49
  2. Could you please comment the HUI or GDX graph? 1:08:30
  3. You have been using SSE50 to analyze China. May I suggest including or start using A50? The reason is apparently the futures contracts trading on SGX. Or, is there a leveraged way to trade SSE50 other than CFD? 1:09:15
  4. Slide 2 - Is the moving average simple, exponential, or something else? 1:09:52
  5. Can you start posting the slides with the member webinar on the member site? It would be very helpful. 1:10:52
  6. H&S bottom reversal: it looks like from the examples that the downtrend line would be breached, retested and form the right shoulder and then breakout. The question, would it be advisable to take position after right shoulder(retest of the down trend line)? 1:11:09
  7. When a H&S has a neckline that is slanted left or right, to which point do you trade? 1:12:08
  8. Why three times 10-period ATR? Is it from experience, is this the best setting for Aksel's time frame? 1:13:02
  9. Broadening triangle - It's probably not worth taking a position but when a flat top broadening triangle forms in the downtrend, is there a bias? Example Canada government bond 2-year rate. Flat top broadening triangle formed from March, in the middle of the downtrend. 1:14:30
  10. How do you answer something like this: "I never thought buying breakouts was a good way to trade. Takes so many buyer s to get a stock through resistance. You don't wanna be buying AFTER that...Pullbacks after the breakout or ahead of a breakout only for me.” 1:15:32
  11. When a premature breakout happens, and the stop is hit, if the breakout happens again, would you take the signal again? If yes, do you change the position size if the risk is lower this time (pivot closer to breakout level)? 1:16:47
  12. Have you calculated which patterns tend to assume which roles: continuation vs. reversal? 1:17:37
  13. Is there any suggestion, other than using the correlation table, which breakout signals to select from because you highlight many and they all look pretty good. 1:18:32
  14. What does on a daily closing basis mean - example when saying, “That the 3%-breakout-confirmation has to happen on a daily closing basis?” 1:19:14
Recorded live 9.15.2019    Read More

Inverse Head & Shoulder and Head & Shoulder Continuation – April 2019 Tech Charts Webinar

Inverse Head & Shoulder and Head & Shoulder Continuation - April 2019 Tech Charts Webinar
  • We will review some of those chart pattern breakouts that were featured in the Global Equity Markets report.
  • We will review some of the qualities we look for when identifying and differentiating H&S bottom and H&S continuation
  • We will look at some of the developing bullish continuation chart patterns
  • We will continue to highlight Tech Charts members favorite chart pattern setups in different equity markets.
  • Live questions from Members
Live questions from Members  
  1. Can we look at palladium, does recent price action indicate a topping pattern? 47:03
  2. Any thoughts on CVS? 48:07
  3. Can you talk about 285 in HK? My question is — the last nights close is 3% above the boundary, but it's also a candle with big upper wick. How do you handle an entry like this? 48:24
  4. Could you please address where you place stop losses? Do you use trailing stops? If so, how? 50:00 Link mentioned ATR Trailing Stop-Loss – H&S Top
  5. Peter seems to use just about any dipping movement as a right shoulder. Do you have conditions, strict or otherwise, as what counts as a valid right shoulder? 50:33
  6. In the continuation pattern, if we compare H&S to cup and handle, which one has better success rate in your experience? 51:46 
  7. Do you have any statistics as to the percentage of times H&S continuation patterns work? 53:35
  8. In H&S continuation pattern, do you ignore 200 Day MA totally? Some of them I noticed are really far above the long term moving average. Is that a concern? 54:49
  9. Do you regard H&S failure patterns as a valid tradeable pattern? 55:42
  10. With Peter Brandt’s retirement announced (April 2020), can you consider covering futures and commodities? Please. 56:59 
  11. While you are drawing boundary lines are you relaying more on candlestick close or candlestick high (on body or on wick)?  Is this discretionary and changes on pattern to pattern basis? Do you have some kind of method behind how you draw boundaries? 57:26
  12. When after breakout, a pullback below boundary, how long do you stick with it? All the way to failure point? Half way there? Do you study what % recover from a deep pullback below breakout? 58:40 
  13. Does pairs (ratio) charts can be followed and traded using the same classical patterns outlined here? 1:00:36
  14. Can you buy Singapore and Spanish indices via ETF? Futures? 1:01:33
  15. 200 Moving Average on your charts is 200 period Exponential Moving Average? Always 200 periods (200 weeks on weekly and 200 days on daily) or always 200 DAYS EMA on every timeframe? 1:02:21 
  16. Do you verify LT moving average on daily chart? Are you using the 200MA on daily chart 1:02:57 Link mentioned Moving Averages
  17. Could you discuss the significance of the divergence between SPX and the Russell 2000 - negative divergence (Russell underperforming)? 1:03:38
  18. Observations on RCI H&S setup? 1:04:52
  19. Do you have any observations on the use of options as a tactic to trade breakouts? 1:05:31
  20. By "Moving Average" is that the Simple Moving Average, or something else?1:05:44 Link mentioned Moving Averages
Recorded live 4.18.2019    Read More

Reversal Chart Patterns – January 2019 Tech Charts Webinar

Reversal Chart Patterns - January 2019 Tech Charts Webinar 
  • We will review some of those chart pattern breakdowns that were featured in the Global Equity Markets report.
  • We will review some of the qualities we look for when identifying reversal chart patterns
  • We will look at some of the developing top formations.
  • We will continue to highlight Tech Charts members favorite chart pattern setups in different equity markets.
  • Live questions from Members
Live questions from Members  
  1. I wondered if you could discuss gold and silver in dollars please? They seem to have bottomed, but not clear on what formations they may be making. 48:25
  2. Japan I have seen some folks draw non-horizontal boundary lines on potential H&S tops. Is this valid? 49:33 Link mentioned VEDANTA LTD (VDAN.NS)
  3. Italy would the buy signal come at a reversal to 15.8 or earlier? 51:16
  4. For the launching patterns you showed - where do you put your stop? Can you discuss trade management? 52:08
  5. Germany had a nice candle right where it should at the target low price, what do we need to see to be a buyer for a reversal upside? 53:44
  6. For PKG the right shoulder was higher than the left shoulder - What are your thoughts on this, do you prefer lower right shoulder? How much of a difference in shoulder height would you ignore? 56:06
  7. Can you talk about volume - how you use it? 57:25 - Link mentioned VOLUME AS A CONFIRMING INDICATOR
  8. Korea has an almost horizontal neck line, valid? 59:40
  9. On the breakdown of the H&S - Are you taking into consideration volume as a confirmation as well? 1:00:11
  10. What is the difference between consolidation, distribution, and continuation patterns? 1:00:44 
  11. You mention a price target on the charts, what about stop loss? Where would you set your stop loss? 1:03:00 Link mentioned ATR Trailing Stop-Loss – H&S Top 
  12. If you are new to trading - How would you suggest starting? 1:03:43
  13. If a breakout signal is missed, would you try to enter at a rebound? 1:07:24
  14. If the price target is met do you take profit on the whole position? Or keep some on and use a trailing stop? 1:08:20
  15. When you draw your diagonal trend channels, do you start with the line on the top of the candles or the bottom? And are the charts linear or log? 1:09:06 
  16. On the DAX why draw the neckline as horizontal? 1:10:23
  17. For ascending and descending triangles are there a minimum/ideal number of contact points you look for to define these? 1:11:45
  18. When you have 2 patterns e.g. H&S and rectangle, which price target should we use? 1:13:40
Recorded live 1.10.2019  Read More

Symmetrical Triangle Chart Patterns – September 2018 Tech Charts Webinar

Symmetrical Triangle Chart Patterns - September 2018 Tech Charts Webinar
  • The symmetrical triangle is a chart pattern with diagonal boundaries and it is a neutral chart pattern. It can form as a reversal as well as a continuation chart pattern.
  • A symmetrical triangle forms due to the indecision between buyers and sellers.
  • Review chart pattern breakouts that were featured in the Global Equity Markets report.
  • Review some of the failed breakouts and try to analyze what differentiates a successful breakout from a failed breakout.
  • Developing symmetrical triangle chart pattern setups.
  • Highlight Tech Charts members favorite symmetrical triangle setups in different equity markets. Discuss and share some of the best classical chart patterns that members identified or those charts that members might have questions about.
  • Recent chart pattern breakouts
  • Q&A
  • Live questions from Members
Live questions from Members  
  1. Is there a way to distinguish better, stronger, higher probability chart patterns from the large number of those that get published on your watchlist/breakout lists. I am having a hard time choosing the few that I can afford to trade. I am giving priority to horizontal patterns where breakout will be new all time high? Is there another characteristic you would suggest using to screen for higher quality patterns? 54:35 
  2. What’s your minimum W/L Ratio for entering a trade? 56:53
  3. What's the difference between symmetrical triangle reversal formation and a bullish or bearish pennant, before the breakout happens? (For example, Peter Brandt has been talking about USD/TRY pair, is that a pennant or a triangle?) 58:48
  4. In your Global Equity Market update you have charted "ACWI" as a symmetrical triangle on the weekly chart - what would need to happen for you to reclassify the chart as an ascending triangle? 1:00:26
  5. The 3% break out rule is it valid also for the futures market or only for stocks? 1:01:34
  6. Is the 'red' line on the chart patterns a stop level or pattern negation level? If the latter, where does one place stops typically? 1:03:14 
  7. I hear you say often that the best breakouts are those that ‘never look back’. In hindsight analysis I very much agree. But in realtime, without some sort of pullback, I find it very difficult to enter such breakouts with a good reward-to-risk ratio (the price runs away from Moving Averages and other stop-loss indicators and never allows them to catch up). How would you recommend trying to enter these ‘best’ breakouts? How to place stop loss if reversal? 1:05:59
  8. Confused about what to consider a breakout. Can you define at what point exactly a symmetrical triangle can be considered a pattern breakout? (Not the 3% confirmation point, but the actual level required to call it a breakout). Seems like you are using the actual chart boundary in some cases, but a prior high in other cases (for upward breakouts). 1:07:56  
  9. It seems like most of the charts are around 10 months to 24 months or so; is that what you focus on as a time length for these patterns? Of the successful triangles; how long (as a %) of the pattern length does it take to meet the target (or 70% of target for those that don't make it all the way)? 1:09:22 
  10. Most of the charts you show are generally 1:1 or 1:1.5 risk reward. That means my batting average should be more than 50% to be profitable. How to reduce the risk and increase 1:3 risk reward? 1:11:16
  11. Do you have any statistics on success rates of breakouts reaching targets vs. failure, etc.? 1:12:14
  12. Is it appropriate to have increased confidence in patterns with another launching pattern within it. For example, increased position size? 1:14:01
  13. Is there a point in the triangle where strength of the pattern diminishes (e.g., past 50% or 75% of the distance to the apex of the triangle? 1:14:30
  14. Just be clear on breakouts... So 3% confirmation point is calculated from the point that price first penetrates the triangle boundary? Am I right? 1:15:55
Recorded live 08.25.2018  Read More

Tech Charts Year in Review – Year One

Tech Charts Year in Review - Year One May 2018 
  • A study on Chart Pattern Reliability with the available sample data over the past year
  • Chart patterns with horizontal boundaries have been more reliable compared with breakouts from chart patterns with diagonal boundaries
  • Long-term trends impact the number of bullish and bearish chart pattern setups and breakout opportunities
  • Rectangles, H&S continuations, H&S bottoms and Ascending triangles have been reliable with breakouts from well-defined horizontal boundaries
  • Developing breakout opportunities
  • Live Q&A
Read More

Ascending Triangle Chart Patterns – March 2018 Tech Charts Webinar

Ascending Triangle Chart Patterns - March 2018 Tech Charts Webinar 
  • Ascending triangle is a reliable bullish chart pattern that can act as a bottom reversal and continuation
  • Breakouts from chart patterns with horizontal boundaries are more reliable when compared with breakouts from diagonal boundaries
  • Important technical points when identifying ascending triangle chart patterns
  • Importance of several tests of chart pattern boundary before a breakout takes place
  • The broader context of price action and where the ascending triangle chart pattern forms
  • Ascending triangle as a launching pattern
  • Ascending triangle forming as a bottom reversal will take longer to develop
  • Review of ascending triangle chart pattern breakouts between May 2017 and February 2017
  • Defining chart pattern negation level and a logical point to label chart pattern negation on ascending triangle
  • Recent chart pattern breakouts
  • Developing ascending triangle chart patterns; a review of watchlist candidates
  • Q&A
Live questions from Members  
  1. Which broker do you recommend, where I can trade these stocks? I’m having a hard time finding one. 48:05
  2. If I’m new to classical charting, what should I do to learn how to identify each pattern? 49:45
  3. Any comment you care to make on the state of global markets? Europe and Japan look on edge… 51:44
  4. Do you actually search through hundreds of charts each week or do you use a software that alerts you to a breakout taking place across various markets? 53:14
  5. Science vs Art question - on the SBLK chart can you discuss your reasons for drawing the horizontal line where you did? 58:13
  6. Do you sell all your positions at profit target, if not how do you scale out? 1:00:33
  7. Do you look at currency and commodity patterns?1:01:23
  8. Do you look also for short sale candidates? 1:02:30
  9. Is there any point to consider when applying classical chart patterns on forex charts instead of stock? 1:04:50
  10. Do you have an estimate of timing - when the target should be met breaking out of these ascending triangle? 1:05:45
Recorded live 3.8.2018    Read More

Rectangle Chart Patterns – December 2017 Tech Charts Webinar

Rectangle Chart Patterns - December 2017 Tech Charts Webinar 
  • Rectangle is a reliable chart pattern with horizontal boundaries.
  • Breakouts from chart patterns with horizontal boundaries are more reliable when compared with breakouts from diagonal boundaries
  • 5 important technical points when identifying rectangle chart patterns
  • Importance of several tests of chart pattern boundary before a breakout takes place
  • The broader context of price action and where the rectangle chart pattern forms
  • Rectangle as a launching pattern
  • Long-term chart patterns will launch strong uptrends
  • Breakout above more than one technical resistance is significant
  • Review of all rectangle chart pattern breakouts between May 2017 and December 2017
  • Developing rectangle chart patterns; a review of watchlist candidates
  • Member charts, analysis of Tech Charts members charts
  • Q&A
Live questions from Members  
  1.  Any thoughts on gold? 48:01
  2. Comments on general questions from members 48:59
  3. What charting platform do you use or recommend for Canada? 51:07
  4. Profit target / exit strategy: any views on the most profitable as 1/ exit 2/ half exit, half keep in trade 3/ trailing stop? 52:22
  5. Broker to trade international stock from Canada? 53:48 (Member reply 58:30)
  6. Could you please explain how you proceed to look at a chart? For a beginner, it's often we don't know where to start when looking at a chart. 54:02
  7. Do you use any indicators to support the breakout or avoid fake breakouts like rsi macd etc? 57:20
  8. I am using CMC Markets which is a free platform. How does this compare with Metastock? 58:54
  9. Would you consider an initial trade at the lower boundary of a rect. after it has been tested 3-4 times and held? 1:00:18
  10. Re entry on a pattern failure, are there any parameters you have? 1:01:36
  11. Can you discuss how you calculate the Negation Point? Do you still keep the stock that triggers the Negation Levels / Point in your watch list? 1:01:36
  12. What do you think is the success rate of the weekly rectangle in % (like 60 or 70%)? 1:04:34
  13. Do you keep statistic of triggered breakouts that failed vs successful ones that you posted in a member section? I mean a ratio between them. 1:06:25
  14. Could you talk a little on the Bitcoin chart. 1:07:39
Recorded live 12.14.2017 Read More