disclaimer: I've been out of this game for a long time. This is simply an outline of how the current price pattern follows a known phenomenon called the "Bearish Pennant" (Inverse Pennant)
This is for all you newbie speculators out there! (I've seen your post count and join date
)
The price function is a complex thing. It is dangerous to go with your gut unless you know your gut is very smart. Price movements are
stochastic, meaning, like in quantum physics, they are impossible to predict with 100% accuracy. Don't be so sure of yourself. Never bet more than you can afford to lose. Quantify and minimize risk to the level with which you are comfortable. And I sincerely hope you didn't get burned too bad in this recent recklessness.
Fortunately, although price movements are stochastic, they do exhibit
time-dependent autocorrelations. This just means that there are deterministic rules in play as well, whose influence is visible through self-similar patterns.
A basic analogy goes as follows:Imagine betting someone a bitcoin that you could tell them the exact shape of the next snowflake to drop. This is ludicrous, and you would obviously lose, as the process of snowflake formation is so chaotic that that knowledge is profoundly beyond your grasp. It would make sense to bet that the next snowflake is hexagonal though, and you'd take the money of any fool who took that bet. Because of the physical constraints of the shape of the water molecule on the chaotic process of snowflake formation, it is possible to make
some,
limited predictions.
Let's see some of these self-similar patterns, then!
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HANDY GUIDE:
A is easy. The first confirmation of the downtrend occurred when the price formed a symmetrical top with $266 at its peak. Before the move up, there was a brief low-volume period around $230. The breaking of that support confirms the downtrend.
B is the triangle consolidation shape that is what is referred to as the "pennant". In my physics-based model of price, it is analogous to a Newton's Cradle that is quickly losing energy (oscillation with decreasing amplitude). The phenomenon of triangle formation is widespread (there was a brilliant one around $140 that was a bullish pennant -- broke out topside). These formations must be accompanied by decreasing volume in order to behave predictably.
C tests the critical resistance. It is the interesting 'last ditch effort' of the suppressed upwards correction. It is referred to as a "breakout" both because it breaks out of the tightening range, but also because the candle has a suddenly large volume in stark contrast to the waning volume inside the formation. This fully confirms the pattern. This candle generally reaches only as high as the highest point on the wide back-end of the triangle (in this picture it only reaches halfway), but is a nasty bulltrap* because it signals the failure of the price to overcome the resistance (white line near C) which the price was consolidating against. This is followed by the continuation of the trend, D.
*Why does this occur? Why not an immediate downside breakout into the trend continuation? The 'signal' explanation (above) is decent in terms of basic understanding, but is not complete. In my physics model, it is equivalent to momentum. In order to jump, one needs to push against the floor with a force equal and opposite. In a way, the price is 'bouncing off of a ceiling' as opposed to 'jumping', where the price pushes against the critical resistance to gain enough momentum to continue the downward motion.-===-
Also, for all you "hindsight is 20/20" naysayers, I had plenty of foresight. I hope this will help my somewhat tarnished TA reputation
From SwannyMatt's
Bearish Inverse Pennant Chart Formationit's all there -- the steadily decreasing volume throughout the pennant and just now, the spike in volume and price associated with the 'pattern confirmation'. this small spike is actually a bulltrap/sell signal for the smart money. get ready. target: sub $150 on the scale of ten hours
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-arepo
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