CFD Trading Strategy – Symmetrical Triangles Downside Breakout

Symmetrical triangles have been very popular with traders over the years trading the chart pattern when it breaks out in either direction. A symmetrical triangle is defined by two lines, one on the upper boundary of the price movement which slopes down and one on the lower side which slopes up. The lines have almost the same angle, hence the name symmetrical.

Symmetrical Triangles Can Be Profitable Short

The symmetrical triangle can be traded both long and short and when it does break down, historically 45% of the time, it can be profitable. A symmetrical triangle breakout to the downside is not as reliable as a breakout to the upside with only 44% of the trades being profitable. The average profits are just 0.33% in 9 days.

Refine Your Entries

When you look at the performance of a symmetrical triangle in bearish market conditions you will see the results were stronger than they were in more bullish years. The market, sector and stock should be in a down trend or consolidating to make the best profits.

Very few trades break down at the start of the pattern, but those that break in the first 30% of the pattern should be avoided. Another key to picking successful short breakouts from symmetrical triangles is to look for a turning point up from the lower boundary that fails to reach the upper boundary and then falls away. This is not a prerequisite, but does produce better trades.

If the volume supports the breakout the results are better. Supportive volume means the volume on the way down is higher than the volume on the way up. Better breakouts occur when the stock closes lower than the previous day.

Symmetrical Triangles Profitable on the Short Side as Well

You can improve your trading results by using a series of simple filters that have been outlined here. This select group of symmetrical triangles delivers an average profit of 1.58% in 9 days and is profitable on 47% of the trades. Overall this makes symmetrical triangles attractive to trade on the short side.

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 the author of Supercharge Your Trading with CFDs and created the website LearnCFDs.com A Simple Timeless Method for Huge Gains