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Bottom Triangle Wedge
Monday, January 16, 2006

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Friday, January 13

Weekend Update - FRK, AOC, & CELG

I am focusing this update on three new stock picks.

Florida Rock Industries Inc. (FRK)- Daily Chart

FRK is a cement play. On the daily chart you can see that FRK has formed a symmetrical triangle pattern. Furthermore, it has broken out of the triangle and is now backtesting the breakout line. FRK is also a failed topping pattern. A very large one at that. Currently FRK is at support at $49.00 and resistance is at $55.00. Once it breaks above $55.00 we should start to see some momentum. The next resistance level is at $56.00. Furthermore, you can see that volume comes in at the lows to support the stock. Indicators and oscillators are bullish and starting to reverse up. The weekly chart looks very bullish. Indicators are bottoming and look to reverse to the upside and the stock is at support. I am adding FRK to the portfolio table.

Aon Corp. (AOC) - Daily Chart
The daily chart of AOC illustrates that AOC has been trading in a sideways rectangle or slim jim pattern. This is an insurance play. Slim jims are frustrating patterns to play because the coil sideways for so long. The reason why they have explosive breakouts is because this pattern is viewed as a continuation pattern. This is my favorite pattern. Indicators and oscillators are bullish. I am adding FRK to the portfolio table. Finally, just so that you know this is not a high beta momentum stock.

Celgene Corp. (CELG) - Daily chart
Celgene is a biotech stock. Celegene's daily chart shows that it has broken out of ascending triangle pattern. However, CELG is now pulling back on light volume. CELG will probably test the break out line. This is bullish action. Furthermore, the indicators and oscillators are bullish, and the PPO continues to make new highs along with price. The MACD is also making new highs. I recommend buying around $65.43 or at the pivot price of $66.70. This is a fast moving stock.

 

Bottom Triangle/Wedge Classic Pattern
 
 

Implication

A Bottom Triangle/Wedge is considered a bullish signal, marking a possible reversal of the current downtrend.

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Description

A Bottom Triangle/Wedge consists of a group of patterns which have the same general shape as Symmetrical Triangles, Wedges, Ascending Triangles and Descending Triangles. The difference is that the formations grouped together as this type are reversal and not continuation patterns. These patterns have two converging trendlines. The pattern will display two highs touching the upper trendline and two lows touching the lower trendline.

This pattern is confirmed when the price breaks upward out of the Triangle/Wedge formation to close above the upper trendline.

bottom triangle

Volume is an important factor to consider. Typically, volume follows a reliable pattern: volume should diminish as the price swings back and forth between an increasingly narrow range of highs and lows. However, when the breakout occurs, there should be a noticeable increase in volume. If this volume picture is not clear, investors should be cautious about decisions based on this Triangle/Wedge.

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Important Characteristics

Following are important characteristics for this pattern.

Occurrence of a Breakout

Technical analysts pay close attention to how long the pattern takes to develop to its apex. The general rule is that prices should break out - clearly penetrate the upper trendline - somewhere between three-quarters and two-thirds of the horizontal width of the formation. The break out, in other words, should occur well before the pattern reaches the apex of the Triangle/Wedge. The closer the breakout occurs to the apex the less reliable the formation.

Duration of the Triangle/Wedge

This pattern is a relatively short-term. While long-term Triangles/Wedges do form, the most reliable patterns take between one and three months to form.

Volume

Investors should see volume decreasing as the pattern progresses toward the apex of the Triangle/Wedge. At breakout, however, there should be a noticeable increase in volume.

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Trading Considerations

Duration of the Pattern

Consider the duration of the pattern and its relationship to your trading time horizons. The duration of the pattern is considered to be an indicator of the duration of the influence of this pattern. The longer the pattern the longer it will take for the price to reach its target. The shorter the pattern the sooner the price move. If you are considering a short-term trading opportunity, look for a pattern with a short duration. If you are considering a longer-term trading opportunity, look for a pattern with a longer duration.

Target Price

The target price provides an important indication about the potential price move that this pattern indicates. Consider whether the target price for this pattern is sufficient to provide adequate returns after your costs (such as commissions) have been taken into account. A good rule of thumb is that the target price must indicate a potential return of greater than 5% before a pattern should be considered useful. However you must consider the current price and the volume of shares you intend to trade. Also, check that the target price has not already been achieved.

Inbound Trend

The inbound trend is an important characteristic of the pattern. A shallow inbound trend may indicate a period of consolidation before the price move indicated by the pattern begins. Look for an inbound trend that is longer than the duration of the pattern. A good rule of thumb is that the inbound trend should be at least two times the duration of the pattern.

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Criteria that Supports

Support and Resistance

Look for a region of support or resistance around the target price. A region of price consolidation or a strong Support and Resistance Line at or around the target price is a strong indicator that the price will move to that point.

Moving Average

Watch for the 200 day moving average to flatten. When prices cross above the 200 day moving average (usually about two-thirds to three-quarters of the way through the pattern), the pattern is considered more reliable.

Volume

A strong volume spike on the day of the pattern confirmation is a strong indicator in support of the potential for this pattern. The volume spike should be significantly above the average of the volume for the duration of the pattern. In addition, the volume during the duration of the pattern should be declining on average.

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Criteria that Refutes

No Volume Spike on Breakout

The lack of a volume spike on the day of the pattern confirmation is an indication that this pattern may not be reliable. In addition, if the volume has remained constant, or was increasing, over the duration of the pattern, then this pattern should be considered less reliable.

Short Inbound Trend

An inbound trend that is significantly shorter than the pattern duration is an indication that this pattern should be considered less reliable.

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Underlying Behavior

This pattern is a result of converging trendlines of support and resistance which give this pattern its distinctive shape. This occurs because the trading action gets tighter and tighter until the market breaks out with great force. Buyers and sellers find themselves in a period where they are not sure where the market is headed. Their uncertainty is marked by their actions of buying and selling sooner, making the range of the price movements increasingly tight. As the range between the peaks and troughs marking the progression of price narrows, the trendlines meet at the "apex,".

The narrowing of the trading action and the decreasing volume of trade reflect the indecision in the market. Finally consensus or decision in the market is reached and this is reflected as the price breaks out of the Triangle/Wedge. A spike in volume on this breakout date reflects stronger consensus that the financial instrument should move in that direction.

Recognia has loaded five years of financial data into its database and our pattern recognition technology has identified over 4 million patterns. Our research and development team has started analyzing these patterns to develop statistics which reflect the actual historical performance of these patterns. We will be posting periodically as we continue our analysis.


Are Symmetrical Patterns More Successful?

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". The human eye naturally gravitates toward symmetry, and can more easily recognize a symmetrical pattern than an assymetrical one.

When applying technical analysis to the stock market, pattern definition and recognition is a key tool. Until recently, much of technical analysis has relied on the eye of the beholder. Chart analysis and pattern identification have usually been performed manually, and involve scanning thousands of charts. Every technical analyst has their own technique for spotting patterns, their own unique definition of whether a "pattern is a pattern", and their own assessment of the risk associated with trading a particular pattern. As a result, many people describe pattern recognition as an art rather than a science....Read More


Florida Rock Industries, Inc., a construction materials company, together with its subsidiaries, produces construction aggregates, ready mixed concrete, and concrete block. It operates in three segments: Construction Aggregates, Concrete Products, and Cement and Calcium Products. The Construction Aggregates segment engages in mining, processing, distribution and sale of sand, gravel and crushed stone. The Concrete Products segment engages in the production and sale of ready mix concrete, concrete block, and prestressed and precast concrete, as well as other building materials. The Cement and Calcium Products segment offers portland and masonry cement; calcium products to the animal feed industries; and imports cement and slag. Florida Rock has operations in Florida, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Washington D.C., Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, and Delaware. The company was founded in 1945 and is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.
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FRK
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Aon Corporation provides risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, human capital and management consulting, and specialty insurance underwriting solutions worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services, Consulting, and Insurance Underwriting. The Risk and Insurance Brokerage Services segment offers retail and wholesale brokerage services, affinity products, managing general underwriting, placement and captive management services, and finance services for small, mid-sized, and large companies; advisory services in program design and claim recoveries. It also offers risk identification and assessment, safety engineering, claims and loss cost management, and program administration services. The Consulting segment provides advice and services to clients for employee benefits, compensation, management consulting, communications, human resource outsourcing, and strategic human resource consulting. The Insurance Underwriting segment provides specialty insurance products, including supplemental and credit accident, health, and life insurance; extended warranty products, and select property and casualty insurance products and services. Aon Corporation was founded in 1919 and is based in Chicago, Illinois.
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Celgene Corporation engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapies designed to treat cancer and immunological diseases through regulation of cellular, genomic, and proteomic targets. Its lead product, THALOMID, is used for the treatment of acute cutaneous manifestations of moderate to severe erythema nodosum leprosum, and as maintenance therapy to prevent and suppress cutaneous manifestation recurrences. The company, through a supply and distribution agreement, with GlaxoSmithKline, distributes ALKERAN, a therapy for the palliative treatment of multiple myeloma and for palliation of carcinoma of the ovary. Its RITALIN family of drugs includes Focalin (d-MPH), which is used for the treatment of attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in school-age children. The company has various products in the preclinical and clinical-stage, including immunomodulatory drugs and selective cytokine inhibitory drugs. Celgene also produces compounds such as Benzopyrans and Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators, Kinases Inhibitors, Tubulin Inhibitors, and Ligase Modulators. The company has collaborative agreements with Novartis Pharma AG; and strategic partnership agreements with Pharmion Corporation, Penn Pharmaceuticals Services Limited, and GlaxoSmithKline. The company markets and sells its products in the United States and Canada primarily through wholesale distributors. Celgene was organized in 1980 as a unit of Celanese Corporation and was spun-off in 1986. The company is headquartered in Warren, New Jersey.
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