The head and shoulders pattern predicts future stock prices and is commonly used by technical analysts to analyze securities. The pattern starts with a high point, drops to a low, goes up again to a higher point, drops to a higher low, and rises to a lower high. The pattern resembles a head and shoulders, with three peaks forming the left shoulder, head, and right shoulder.
The head and shoulders pattern signals a bearish reversal, indicating weakened buyers and strengthened sellers in market control. In this article, we will explore it in-depth and provide a detailed analysis of its components, characteristics, and trading strategies.
What is the Head and Shoulders pattern?
It is a technical pattern that is formed after a bullish trend. Three peaks, with the highest in the middle and the other two almost equal in height, define the pattern. The pattern is named after it resembles a person’s head and shoulders.
The left shoulder is formed when the price rises to a peak and then falls. The head forms after the price increases to a higher peak than the left shoulder and subsequently declines. Price rise fails to match the head’s height, falls again, and forms the right shoulder in technical analysis.
Components of the Head and Shoulders Pattern
The head and shoulders pattern is composed of three peaks and two troughs, which form the left shoulder, head, and right shoulder. A neckline connects the pattern’s troughs and peaks, which are alternatively located in the chart.
A left shoulder is created when an asset’s price hits a peak and subsequently drops to a low point. The head forms after a price peak, a drop, and a settling at a higher trough. The right shoulder forms as the price reaches a lower peak and subsequently falls to a higher trough.
The neckline is drawn by connecting the two troughs of the pattern. It acts as a support level and provides a target price for the pattern. Price falls below the neckline marking the completion of the pattern, signaling a reversal towards a bearish trend.
Characteristics of the Head and Shoulders Pattern
The head and shoulders pattern has several characteristics that make it a reliable predictor of a bearish trend reversal. These include:
- Symmetry: The left and right shoulders should be approximately the same height and width, with the head being the highest point of the pattern.
- Volume: The volume should be highest during the formation of the head, indicating a significant change in market sentiment.
- Neckline: The neckline should act as a support level, with the price bouncing off it several times before breaking through it.
- Confirmation: The pattern is confirmed when the price falls below the neckline, indicating a bearish trend reversal.
Trading Strategies for the Head and Shoulders Pattern
The head and shoulders pattern provides several trading opportunities for traders. These include:
- Shorting the asset: Traders can short the asset when the price breaks below the neckline, indicating a bearish trend reversal.
- Target price: Traders can use the distance between the head and the neckline to determine a target price for the pattern.
- Stop loss: Traders should use a stop loss above the right shoulder to limit their losses if the pattern fails to materialize.
- Confirmation: Traders should wait for confirmation of the pattern before entering a trade, as false breakouts can occur.
Trading the Head and Shoulders pattern
Traders can use the Head and Shoulders pattern to make informed trading decisions. The pattern is considered a reliable indicator of a potential reversal in a bullish trend. Traders can use the pattern to enter short or exit long positions.
To enter a short position, a trader would wait for the breakout from the neckline and then enter a sell position.
Place stop-loss order above the right shoulder to limit a potential loss. Set a target based on distance from the neckline to the top of the head to determine the next move.
To exit a long position, a trader would wait for the formation of the Head and Shoulders pattern and then exit the position. This would help the trader avoid potential losses resulting from the reversal of the bullish trend.
Formation of the Head and Shoulders pattern
The formation of the Head and Shoulders pattern is a result of the market sentiment changing from bullish to bearish. The left shoulder is formed when the market is still bullish, and the price rises to a peak. The subsequent decline in price forms the neckline. The neckline is the level of support that connects the lowest points of the left shoulder and the head.
Market sentiment shifts from bullish to bearish, creating a head as the price peaks higher than the left shoulder before declining. The decline in price forms the second part of the neckline. Right shoulder forms as the market recovers but fails to reach head height, causing the price to fall to the neckline again.
The Breakout:
The breakout from the Head and Shoulders pattern occurs when the price breaks below the neckline. The neckline acts as a support level, and the gap below the neckline indicates a reversal of the bullish trend. Confirmation of a breakout occurs as the price drops below the neckline with an increase in trading volume.
The Target:
To determine the Head and Shoulder pattern’s objective, measure from the neckline to the peak of the head. This distance is then projected downwards from the neckline. The target indicates the potential price movement after the breakout from the Head and Shoulders pattern.
Conclusion
Traders use the Head and Shoulders pattern to identify potential reversals in bullish trends. There are three peaks with the middle one being the tallest and the first and third peaks almost equal. Traders can use the pattern to enter short or exit long positions. The distance between the neckline and the top of the head determines the target. Traders can use the pattern to make informed trading decisions because it’s a reliable indicator of a potential bullish trend reversal. If you want to know more such good articles then stay with OD News.