For example, QQQ is presently forming the right shoulder of a
bearish head and shoulders pattern, which is most easily annotated with an intraday chart interval of 120 minutes (each bar is two hours of price action):
For this bearish pattern to remain intact, the price action should not run too far above the high of the left shoulder before reversing back down (click here to learn more nuances of the most
reliable head and shoulders patterns).
Today we do have three great trading occasions for you based on this popular pattern.First one is the USDCAD, where the price created a
big Head and Shoulders pattern.
Bitcoin has produced bullish action in recent days, forming an inverse
head and shoulders pattern on the 4 - hourly chart before breaking above resistance at roughly $ 9,000 area yesterday.
Within the 1 - hour time frame, a
potential head and shoulders pattern can be seen, the left shoulder has been formed, the head is currently on its way to the neckline, which is seen at $ 967, where the price should also find support.
The price peaked in December 2013, December 2014 and again in June 2015, resembling
a head and shoulder pattern.
As the target of the inverse
head and shoulders pattern was hit, those who bought the breakout locked in gains.
In addition to this $ VXZ trade setup, note that we still have $ QQQ on our watchlist as a potential short entry (or inverse ETF entry), due to
the head and shoulders pattern on its weekly chart (review our recent analysis of this setup on this blog post).
A head and shoulders pattern that forms after an extended rally follows through to the downside a relatively high percentage of the time.
Like every chart pattern, there is never a guarantee that
a head and shoulders pattern will follow through to much lower prices.
Since $ QQQ is affirmative on all three of the detailed nuances above, I would say
this head and shoulders pattern has pretty good odds of following through to the downside.
The Head and Shoulders pattern is probably the classic, definitive stock chart pattern.
On the chart below, we have annotated the components of the inverse
head and shoulders pattern.
In addition to being an inverse
head and shoulders pattern, notice that the right shoulder is higher than the left shoulder.
For us,
a head and shoulders pattern is no longer valid once the right shoulder extends much beyond the high of the left shoulder.
Although we pointed out
the head and shoulders pattern of PowerShares Nasdaq 100 Index ($ QQQ) in this March 24 post here on our trading blog, recall we said the bearish pattern was only valid for short selling entry IF $ QQQ fell below both its 50 - day MA and prior swing low.
When
a head and shoulders pattern fails, the breakout to the upside is usually explosive because the bears who were betting on a move lower become forced to cover their short positions.
# 3 Weekly IH&S Breakout: The weekly chart of HAL shows that it has broken out of an Inverted
Head and Shoulders pattern.
Risks to Consider The stock may reverse its overall trend if it breaks down with high volume from the neckline of the Inverted
Head and Shoulders pattern.
However, even if the NASDAQ is able to push through the high of the left shoulder and thereby invalidate
the head and shoulders pattern, a double top type of pattern would then be in play (as with $ QQQ at the moment).
The British Pound / Swedish Krona (GBP / SEK) pair started its downtrend in January 2008 when it broke below 12.70 support and triggered the bearish
head and shoulders pattern...
As such, be sure to monitor the $ 67.60 area very closely in the coming days, as a convincing breakdown below that level could be the impetus that sends $ QQQ on its way down to testing the neckline of
its head and shoulders pattern.
When determining the validity of
a head and shoulders pattern, there are a few factors we look for to determine whether or not this bearish pattern is likely to follow through to the downside.
Will
the head and shoulders pattern in $ QQQ eventually follow - through to the downside?
The second (and more important) point is that
the head and shoulders pattern, like all technical chart patterns, obviously does NOT work 100 % of the time.
Bitcoin Price Key Highlights Bitcoin price recently formed
a head and shoulders pattern on its 1 - hour chart.
Paper traders will consider themselves experts of the markets and in fact they may be able to recognize
a head and shoulders pattern forming from a mile away, but when it comes to controlling losses or calling it a day after achieving respectable profits on their account, they just can't quit.
Head and Shoulder patterns are patterns that Trend Followers look for.