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, A Traders Favourite Pattern

Symmetrical triangles show no clear tendency to break up or down. Despite the fact 56% of the patterns break out to the upside this is likely due to the fact the market tends to move higher. Around half (44%) of these breakouts are profitable and on average the profit per trade is 0.85% over a period of 9 days.

Improve Your Trades

Surprisingly a break to the upside works better in a falling or consolidating market. By using filters that require the market to be in a consolidation or a down trend you can improve the results. If the sector is consolidating or rising the results also improve. This is more as you would expect.

Symmetrical triangles are sensitive to the length of the pattern with breakouts that occur in less than 25 days, from the start of the pattern, performing the best. While the pattern breakout works best in the range specified, avoid trading patterns that breakout early, in the first 30% of the pattern length.

Volume is very important with symmetrical triangles ensure that the volume is highly supportive of the breakout with the volume as the share rises 40% or more than volume as the share falls.

Symmetrical Triangles Deliver Strong Profits

Following a series of simple rules to determine which symmetrical triangle to trade can improve results dramatically. By applying these filters symmetrical triangles are profitable on 55% of the trades and return an average of 1.87% per trade in 11 days. This is a very profitable pattern to trade.

Note: Statistics for this article have been provided by Patterns Trader after analyzing over 60,000 chart patterns on the Australian market from 2000 – 2008.

Jeff Cartridge is a private trader and created the website LearnCFDs.com Discover Chart Pattern Secrets

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