LogoLogo
Return to StockChartsCharts & ToolsArticlesChartSchoolYour Dashboard
  • 📋ChartSchool
  • Table of Contents
    • Overview
      • Why Analyze Securities?
      • Technical Analysis
      • Fundamental Analysis
      • Random Walk vs. Non-Random Walk
      • Asset Allocation and Diversification
      • John Murphy's 10 Laws of Technical Trading
      • John Murphy's "Charting Made Easy" eBook
      • Technical Analysis 101
        • TA 101 – Part 1
        • TA 101 – Part 2
        • TA 101 – Part 3
        • TA 101 – Part 4
        • TA 101 – Part 5
        • TA 101 – Part 6
        • TA 101 – Part 7
        • TA 101 – Part 8
        • TA 101 – Part 9
        • TA 101 – Part 10
        • TA 101 – Part 11
        • TA 101 – Part 12
        • TA 101 – Part 13
        • TA 101 – Part 14
        • TA 101 – Part 15
        • TA 101 – Part 16
        • TA 101 – Part 17
      • Irrational Exuberance
      • Cognitive Biases
      • Arthur Hill on Goals, Style and Strategy
      • Arthur Hill on Moving Average Crossovers
      • Multicollinearity
      • "The Trader's Journal" by Gatis Roze
        • Stage 1: Money Management
        • Stage 2: Business of Investing
        • Stage 3: The Investor Self
        • Stage 4: Market Analysis
        • Stage 5: Routines
        • Stage 6: Stalking Your Trade
        • Stage 7: Buying
        • Stage 8: Monitoring Your Investments
        • Stage 9: Selling
        • Stage 10: Re-Examine, Refine, Re-Enhance
        • Additional Reading
      • Bob Farrell's 10 Rules
      • Richard Rhodes' Trading Rules
      • Donchian Trading Guidelines
      • Why and How To Use Correlation
    • Chart Analysis
      • What Are Charts?
      • Support & Resistance
      • Trend Lines
      • Gaps and Gap Analysis
      • Introduction to Chart Patterns
      • Chart Patterns
        • Broadening Top or Megaphone Top
        • Double Top Reversal
        • Double Bottom Reversal
        • Head and Shoulders Top
        • Head and Shoulders Bottom
        • Falling Wedge
        • Rising Wedge
        • Rounding Bottom
        • Triple Top Reversal
        • Triple Bottom Reversal
        • Bump and Run Reversal
        • Flag, Pennant
        • Symmetrical Triangle
        • Ascending Triangle
        • Descending Triangle
        • Rectangle
        • Price Channel
        • Measured Move—Bullish
        • Measured Move—Bearish
        • Cup With Handle
      • Chart Types
        • Arms CandleVolume
        • CandleVolume
        • Elder Impulse System
        • EquiVolume
        • Heikin-Ashi Candlesticks
        • Kagi Charts
        • Renko Charts
        • Three Line Break Charts
        • MarketCarpets
        • Relative Rotation Graphs (RRG Charts)
        • Seasonality Charts
        • Yield Curve
      • Candlestick Charts
        • Introduction to Candlesticks
        • Candlesticks and Traditional Chart Analysis
        • Candlesticks and Support
        • Candlesticks and Resistance
        • Candlestick Bullish Reversal Patterns
        • Candlestick Bearish Reversal Patterns
        • Candlestick Pattern Dictionary
      • Point and Figure Charts
        • Point and Figure Basics
          • Introduction to Point & Figure Charts
          • Point & Figure Scaling and Timeframes
          • P&F Trend Lines
        • Classic Patterns
          • P&F Bullish Breakouts
          • P&F Bearish Breakdowns
          • P&F Signal Reversed
          • P&F Catapults
          • P&F Triangles
          • P&F Bull & Bear Traps
        • P&F Price Objectives
          • P&F Price Objectives: Breakout and Reversal Method
          • P&F Price Objectives: Horizontal Counts
          • P&F Price Objectives: Vertical Counts
        • Point & Figure Indicators
        • P&F Scans and Alerts
          • P&F Pattern Alerts
      • Chart Annotation Tools
        • Andrews' Pitchfork
        • Stock Market Cycles
        • Fibonacci Retracements
        • Fibonacci Arcs
        • Fibonacci Fans
        • Fibonacci Time Zones
        • Quadrant Lines
        • Raff Regression Channel
        • Speed Resistance Lines
    • Technical Indicators & Overlays
      • Introduction to Technical Indicators and Oscillators
      • Technical Indicators
        • Accumulation/Distribution Line
        • Alligator Indicator
        • Aroon
        • Aroon Oscillator
        • ATR Bands
        • ATR Trailing Stops
        • Average Directional Index (ADX)
        • Average True Range (ATR) and Average True Range Percent (ATRP)
        • Balance of Power (BOP)
        • Bollinger BandWidth
        • %B Indicator
        • Chaikin Money Flow (CMF)
        • Chaikin Oscillator
        • Chande Trend Meter (CTM)
        • CMB Composite Index
        • Commodity Channel Index (CCI)
        • ConnorsRSI
        • Coppock Curve
        • Correlation Coefficient
        • DecisionPoint Price Momentum Oscillator (PMO)
        • Detrended Price Oscillator (DPO)
        • Distance From Highs
        • Distance From Lows
        • Distance To Highs
        • Distance To Lows
        • Distance From Moving Average
        • Ease of Movement (EMV)
        • Force Index
        • Gopalakrishnan Range Index
        • High Low Bands
        • High Minus Low
        • Highest High Value
        • Linear Regression R2
        • Lowest Low Value
        • Mass Index
        • MACD (Moving Average Convergence/Divergence) Oscillator
        • MACD-Histogram
        • MACD-V
        • MACD-V Histogram
        • Median Price
        • Money Flow Index (MFI)
        • Negative Volume Index (NVI)
        • On Balance Volume (OBV)
        • Percentage Price Oscillator (PPO)
        • Percentage Volume Oscillator (PVO)
        • Performance Spread
        • Price Relative/Relative Strength
        • Pring's Know Sure Thing (KST)
        • Pring's Special K
        • Rate of Change (ROC)
        • Relative Strength Index (RSI)
        • Relative Volume (RVOL)
        • RRG Relative Strength
        • StockCharts Technical Rank
        • Slope
        • Standard Deviation (Volatility)
        • Stochastic Oscillator (Fast, Slow, and Full)
        • StochRSI
        • Traffic Light
        • TRIX
        • True Range
        • True Strength Index
        • TTM Squeeze
        • Typical Price
        • Ulcer Index
        • Ultimate Oscillator
        • Vortex Indicator
        • Weighted Close
        • Williams %R
      • Technical Overlays
        • Anchored VWAP
        • Bollinger Bands
        • Chandelier Exit
        • Double Exponential Moving Average (DEMA)
        • Hull Moving Average (HMA)
        • Ichimoku Cloud
        • Kaufman's Adaptive Moving Average (KAMA)
        • Keltner Channels
        • Linear Regression Forecast
        • Linear Regression Intercept
        • Moving Averages—Simple and Exponential
        • Moving Average Ribbon
        • Moving Average Envelopes
        • Parabolic SAR
        • Pivot Points
        • Price Channels
        • Triple Exponential Moving Average (TEMA)
        • Volume-by-Price
        • Volume-Weighted Average Price (VWAP)
        • ZigZag
    • Market Indicators
      • Introduction to Market Indicators
        • Market Indicator Dictionary
      • Advance-Decline Line
      • Advance-Decline Percent
      • Advance-Decline Volume Line
      • Advance-Decline Volume Percent
      • Arms Index (TRIN)
      • Bullish Percent Index (BPI)
      • DecisionPoint Intermediate-Term Breadth Momentum Oscillator (ITBM)
      • DecisionPoint Intermediate-Term Volume Momentum Oscillator (ITVM)
      • DecisionPoint Swenlin Trading Oscillator (STO)
      • High-Low Index
      • High-Low Percent
      • McClellan Oscillator
      • McClellan Summation Index
      • Net New 52-Week Highs
      • Percent Above Moving Average
      • Pring's Bottom Fisher
      • Pring's Diffusion Indicators
      • Pring's Inflation and Deflation Indexes
      • Pring's Net New High Indicators
      • Put/Call Ratio
      • Record High Percent
      • Volatility Indices
    • Market Analysis
      • Dow Theory
      • Sector Rotation Analysis
      • Intermarket Analysis
      • The DecisionPoint Chart Gallery
      • DecisionPoint Rydex Asset Analysis
      • Wyckoff Analysis Articles
        • Wyckoff Market Analysis
        • Wyckoff Stock Analysis
        • The Wyckoff Method: A Tutorial
      • Elliott Wave Analysis Articles
        • Introduction to Elliott Wave Theory
        • Identifying Elliott Wave Patterns
        • Guidelines for Applying Elliott Wave Theory
    • Trading Strategies & Models
      • DecisionPoint Trend Model
      • Trading Strategies
        • Bollinger Band Squeeze
        • CCI Correction
        • CVR3 VIX Market Timing
        • Faber's Sector Rotation Trading Strategy
        • Gap Trading Strategies
        • Harmonic Patterns
        • Hindenburg Omen
        • Ichimoku Cloud Trading Strategies
        • The 'Last' Stochastic Technique
        • MACD Zero-Line Crosses With Swing Points
        • Moving Average Trading Strategies
          • Finding Support and Resistance in Moving Averages
          • Guppy Multiple Moving Average: An MA Ribbon Designed to Tip the Market’s Hand
          • How To Trade Price-to-Moving Average Crossovers
          • Trading the Bounce: Finding Support and Resistance in Moving Averages
          • Trading the Death Cross
          • Trading Using the Golden Cross
          • Using the 5-8-13 EMA Crossover for Short-Term Trades
        • Moving Momentum
        • Narrow Range Day NR7
        • Percent Above 50-day SMA
        • Percent B Money Flow
        • The Pre-Holiday Effect
        • RSI(2)
        • Six-Month Cycle MACD
        • Slope Performance Trend
        • Stochastic Pop and Drop
        • Swing Charting
        • Trend Quantification and Asset Allocation
    • Index & Market Indicator Catalog
      • Advance-Decline Indicators
      • Cboe Indices and Indicators
      • CME Futures and Spot Prices
      • DecisionPoint Sentiment Indicators
      • Dow Jones Breadth Indicators
      • Dow Jones Global Indices
      • Dow Jones Select Indices
      • Dow Jones Titans Indices
      • Dow Jones US Indices
      • Economic Indicators
      • ICE Futures and Spot Prices
      • Intellidex Indices
      • MSCI Indices
      • New 52-week Highs and Lows for Exchanges
      • NYSE Arca Equity Indices
      • NYSE Equity Indices
      • Philadelphia Indices
      • S&P 500 Sector and Industry Groups
      • S&P GSCI Indices
      • StockCharts AD Percent
      • StockCharts AD Volume Percent
      • StockCharts Bullish Percent Index
      • StockCharts High-Low Index
      • StockCharts High-Low Percent
      • StockCharts Percent Above Moving Average
      • StockCharts Pseudo Symbols
      • StockCharts Record High Percent
      • StockCharts Theoretical Indices
      • US Treasury Yields
    • 📖Glossary
      • 📖Glossary - A
      • 📖Glossary - B
      • 📖Glossary - C
      • 📖Glossary - D
      • 📖Glossary - E
      • 📖Glossary - F
      • 📖Glossary - G
      • 📖Glossary - H
      • 📖Glossary - I
      • 📖Glossary - J
      • 📖Glossary - K
      • 📖Glossary - L
      • 📖Glossary - M
      • 📖Glossary - N
      • 📖Glossary - O
      • 📖Glossary - P
      • 📖Glossary - Q
      • 📖Glossary - R
      • 📖Glossary - S
      • 📖Glossary - T
      • 📖Glossary - U
      • 📖Glossary - V
      • 📖Glossary - W
      • 📖Glossary - X, Y, Z
    • Options Glossary
    • Educational Resources
Powered by GitBook
LogoLogo

ON STOCKCHARTS

  • Charts & Tools
  • Articles
  • StockCharts TV
  • ChartSchool

MEMBERS

  • Your Dashboard
  • Your ChartLists
  • Advanced Scans
  • Technical Alerts

HELP

  • Support Center
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Pricing

COMPANY

  • About Us
  • What's New
  • Careers
  • StockCharts Store

© StockCharts.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

On this page
  • What Are Harmonic Patterns?
  • Why Do Patterns Form?
  • Harmonic Patterns
  • Examples of Harmonic Patterns
  • List of Harmonic Patterns
  • Fibonacci Discussion
  • Advantages & Disadvantages of Harmonic Patterns
  • Advantages:
  • Disadvantages:
  • How to Trade Harmonic Patterns
  • Pattern Identification
  • Trade Identification
  • Pattern Completion Zone (PCZ)
  • Market Context Conditions
  • Trade Entries and Stops
  • Target Zones
  • About the Author

Was this helpful?

Export as PDF
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Trading Strategies & Models
  3. Trading Strategies

Harmonic Patterns

PreviousGap Trading StrategiesNextHindenburg Omen

Last updated 11 months ago

Was this helpful?

What Are Harmonic Patterns?

Chart Pattern recognition is the basic and primary ability any trader develops in Technical Analysis. It may be basic development, but the perfection of pattern recognition takes extensive practice and repetitive exposure. The expert recognition of patterns helps traders to quantify and react to the changing market environment. Chart patterns are categorized into “continuous” and “reversal” patterns, which are further classified as simple and complex patterns. The complex patterns structures may consist of collections of simple patterns and combination of prior swings. The knowledge of this classification of pattern recognition and its properties give traders greater potential to react and adapt to a wider range of trading conditions.


Why Do Patterns Form?

Market prices always exhibit trend, consolidation and re-trend behavior. They rarely reverse their trends and transitional phases to turn from a previous trend on a single bar. During this transitional phase, they experience trading ranges and price fluctuations. This ranging action defines identifiable price patterns. These consolidation phases occasionally favor prevailing trends prior to their formation and continue their direction. These are called “continuation” patterns. Examples of these patterns include , , and . Some phases result in a reversal of the prior trend and continuing in the new direction. These are called “reversal” patterns. Examples of these patterns include , , and .


Harmonic Patterns

The concept of Harmonic Patterns was established by H.M. Gartley in 1932. Gartley wrote about a 5-point pattern (known as Gartley) in his book Profits in the Stock Market. Larry Pesavento has improved this pattern with Fibonacci ratios and established rules on how to trade the “Gartley” pattern in his book Fibonacci Ratios with Pattern Recognition. There are few other authors who have worked on this pattern theory, but the best work to my knowledge is done by Scott Carney in his books of “Harmonic Trading.” Scott Carney also invented patterns like “Crab,” “Bat,” “Shark” and “5-0” and added real depth of knowledge for their trading rules, validity and risk/money management.

The primary theory behind harmonic patterns is based on price/time movements which adhere to Fibonacci ratio relationships and its symmetry in markets. Fibonacci ratio analysis works well with any market and on any timeframe chart. The basic idea of using these ratios is to identify key turning points, retracements and extensions along with a series of the swing high and the swing low points. The derived projections and retracements using these swing points (Highs and Lows) will give key price levels for Targets or Stops.

Harmonic patterns construct geometric pattern structures (retracement and projection swings/legs) using Fibonacci sequences. These harmonic structures identified as specified (harmonic) patterns provide unique opportunities for traders, such as potential price movements and key turning or trend reversal points. This factor adds an edge for traders as harmonic patterns attempt to provide highly trustworthy information on price entries, stops and targets information. This may be a key differentiation with other indicators/oscillators and how they work.

Examples of Harmonic Patterns

The Gartley pattern shown below is a 5-point bullish pattern. These patterns resemble “M” or “W” patterns and are defined by 5 key pivot points. Gartley patterns are built by 2 retracement legs and 2 impulse swing legs, forming a 5-point pattern. All of these swings are interrelated and associated with Fibonacci ratios. The center (eye) of the pattern is “B,” which defines the pattern, while “D” is the action or trigger point where trades are taken. The pattern shows trade entry, stop and target levels from the “D” level.

The following chart shows another 5-point harmonic pattern (Butterfly Bearish). This pattern is similar to the above 5-point Gartley pattern, but in reverse. Here the pattern is “W”-shaped with “B” being the center (eye) of the pattern. The pattern shows trade entry, stop and target levels from “D” levels using the “XA” leg.


List of Harmonic Patterns

  • ABC Bullish/Bearish

  • AB=CD Bullish/Bearish

  • 3-Drives Bullish/Bearish

  • Gartley Bullish/Bearish

  • Butterfly Bullish/Bearish

  • Bat Bullish/Bearish

  • Crab Bullish/Bearish

  • Shark Bullish/Bearish

  • Cypher Bullish/Bearish


Fibonacci Discussion

Any discussion on harmonic patterns must include Fibonacci numbers, as these patterns use Fibonacci ratios extensively. Fibonacci numbers are pervasive in the universe and were originally derived by Leonardo Fibonacci. The basic Fibonacci ratio or “Fib ratio” is the Golden Ratio (1.618). Fibonacci numbers are a sequence of numbers where each number is the sum of the previous two numbers.

The series of Fib Numbers begin as follows: 1,1,2,3,5,8,13,21,34,55,89,144,233,317,610….

There are plenty of materials and books about the theory of how these numbers exist in nature and in the financial world. A list of the most important Fib ratios in the financial world, which are derived by squaring, square-rooting and reciprocating the actual Fibonacci sequence, is shown below.

Key set of Fibonacci-derived ratios in trading. 0.382, 0.618, 0.786, 1.0, 1, 1, 2.0, 2.62, 3.62, 4.62

Secondary set of Fibonacci-derived ratios in trading. 0.236, 0.886, 1.13, 2.236, 3.14, 4.236

There are many applications of Fibonacci in technical analysis. Some of the applications include Fibonacci retracements, Fibonacci projections, Fibonacci Fans, Fibonacci Arcs, Fibonacci Time Zones and Fibonacci Price and Time Clusters, among others.

Most trading software packages have Fibonacci drawing tools which can show Fibonacci retracements, extensions and projections. Additionally, Fibonacci numbers can also be applied to “time” and “price” in trading.

The graphic below illustrates how Fibonacci ratios are used to apply retracement, extension, projection and expansion swings.


Advantages & Disadvantages of Harmonic Patterns

Advantages:

  1. Provide future projections and stops in advance, making them leading indicators

  2. Frequent, repeatable, reliable and produce high probable setups

  3. Trading rules are relatively standardized using Fibonacci ratios

  4. Work well with defined Market Context, Symmetry and Measured Moves rules

  5. Work in all timeframes and in all market instruments

  6. Other indicator theories (CCI, RSI, MACD, DeMark…) can be used along with them

Disadvantages:

  1. Complex and highly technical, making it difficult to understand

  2. Correct identification and automation (coding) of harmonic patterns is difficult

  3. Conflicting Fibonacci retracements/projections can create difficulty in identifying reversal or projection zones

  4. Complexity arises when opposing patterns form from either the same swings or other swings/timeframes

  5. Risk/reward factors from non-symmetric and low-ranked patterns are pretty low


How to Trade Harmonic Patterns

Pattern Identification

Harmonic patterns can be a bit hard to spot with the naked eye, but, once a trader understands the pattern structure, they can be relatively easily spotted by Fibonacci tools. The primary harmonic patterns are 5-point (Gartley, Butterfly, Crab, Bat, Shark and Cypher) patterns. These patterns have embedded 3-point (ABC) or 4-point (ABCD) patterns. All the price swings between these points are interrelated and have harmonic ratios based on Fibonacci. Patterns are either forming or have completed “M”- or “W”-shaped structures or combinations of “M” and “W,” in the case of 3-drives. Harmonic patterns (5-point) have a critical origin (X) followed by an impulse wave (XA) followed by a corrective wave to form the “EYE” at (B) completing AB leg. Then followed by a trend wave (BC) and finally completed by a corrective leg (CD). The critical harmonic ratios between these legs determine whether a pattern is a retracement-based or extension-based pattern, as well as its name (Gartley, Butterfly, Crab, Bat, Shark, and Cypher). One of the significant points to remember is that all 5-point and 4-point harmonic patterns have embedded ABC (3-Point) patterns.

All 5-point harmonic patterns (Gartley, Butterfly, Crab, Bat, Shark, Cypher) have similar principles and structures. Though they differ in terms of their leg-length ratios and locations of key nodes (X, A, B, C, D), once you understand one pattern, it will be relatively easy to understand the others. It may help for traders to use an automated pattern recognition software to identify these patterns, rather than using the naked eye to find or force the patterns.

Example: The following chart shows an example of the Bullish Bat pattern with embedded the ABC Bearish pattern. The identification pivots and ratios are marked on the pattern; the pattern also shows the entry, stop and target levels.

Trade Identification

In harmonic pattern setups, a trade is identified when the first 3 legs are completed (in 5-point patterns). For example, in Gartley Bullish pattern, the XA, AB and BC legs are completed and it starts to form the CD leg, you would identify a potential trade may be in the works. Using the projections and retracements of the XA and BC legs, along with the Fibonacci ratios, we can build a price cluster to identify a potential Pattern Completion Zone (PCZ) and D point of the pattern.

Pattern Completion Zone (PCZ)

All harmonic patterns have defined Pattern Completion Zones (PCZ). These PCZs, which are also known as price clusters, are formed by the completed swing (legs) confluence of Fibonacci extensions, retracements and price projections. The patterns generally complete their CD leg in the PCZ, then reverse. Trades are anticipated in this zone and entered on price reversal action.

As an example, the Pattern Completion Zone (PCZ) for the Bullish Gartley pattern is constructed using the following Fibonacci extensions and projections:

0.78 XA

1.27 BC

1.62 BC

AB = CD

Below is an example of idealized Potential Completion Zone (PCZ) formation:

Below is an example of real-world Potential Completion Zone (PCZ) formation:

Market Context Conditions

Most technical traders use chart analysis with market context concepts to trade. Market context concept is described as how current price is reacting to certain levels (pivots, support and resistance, MAs), how indicators are performing relative to historic price conditions (like oversold, overbought) and where/how patterns are developing in the current timeframe or multiple timeframes, etc. Each trader develops his own market context to trade. One of the elegant ways to define market context is through a Fibonacci Grid structure. Fibonacci Grid consists of Fibonacci bands (showing price reaction, trends), pivot levels (to show historic Support/Resistance areas) and Market Structures (to show potential turning points). On any trading chart, Fibonacci Grid layout is plotted to understand how the current price is reacting to the Fibonacci bands and whether the price is exhausted, whether price is trading above/below the extreme bands and whether or not the price is reacting to the support and resistance levels defined by pivots.

The confluence of these levels in the Fibonacci Grid structure, along with emerging pattern structure (and pattern target/stop levels), helps a trader make a good decision. Pattern trading is very precise, as each pattern has specific rules to entry/stop and targets. When combined, harmonic pattern analysis and market context give a great edge to trade. Harmonic patterns can fail, but their failure levels are well-defined and that information is clearly known prior to the trade. Hence, Harmonic pattern trading has many more positives than other trading methods.

Other market context/confirmation conditions and indicators include Divergence, Multiple Timeframes, Fibonacci Bands, Andrew's Pitchfork Analysis, Moving Averages, Pivots, Channels, Trendlines, Volume and Volatility.

Example: The following example shows how Market Context is used with pattern analysis. This example shows AAPL (date: Feb. 07, 2014) forming a Bullish Crab pattern above 200-SMA and outside the Fibonacci Bands (A, C points) and a D point is formed near the lower Fibonacci Bands with Crab pattern. Also, notice the pattern traded below mid-Fibonacci band level and trading near lower Fibonacci band, signaling a potential exhaustion setup. After completing Bullish Crab setup, price traded above the EL to signal a Long entry to the setup. The overall trend of AAPL is also bullish, as price slope is positive above 200-SMA. On Feb. 07, 2014, a Long bullish trade is entered above 73.71 with a Stop below 70.50 (-3.21). Target levels are 77.7 to 79.7 for the Target Zone1, 85.3 -89.4 for Target Zone2.

The following chart (June 9, 2014) shows AAPL Bullish Crab pattern progression and completion of targets.

Trade Entries and Stops

Trading harmonic patterns with computed entry levels are this author's preference rather than trading them blindly at retracement levels or reversal zones advocated by harmonic trading pundits. Most harmonic traders anticipate the pattern to reverse and attempt to trade these patterns in the “reversal zone” and end up taking contrarian (counter trend) trades. To enter a trade, I prefer a confirmation of reversal price-action combined with a reversal trend change from the “reversal zones.”

Most harmonic pattern trade entries occur around “D” point within the reversal zone. It could be a Buy (in bullish patterns) or a Sell (in bearish patterns). Usually, “D” is identified by a confluence of projections, retracements, and extensions of prior swings (legs), universally called as “reversal zone.” In my view, when prices started to reach this zone, it is signaling an opportunity for potential trade, not a signal to trade yet. The entry criteria and pattern validity are determined by various other factors like current volatility, underlying trend, volume structure within the pattern and market internals etc. If the pattern is valid and the underlying trend and market internals agreeing with the harmonic pattern reversal, then Entry levels (EL) can be calculated using price-ranges, volatility or some combination. Stop is placed above/below the last significant pivot (in 5 and 4-Point patterns it is below D for the bullish pattern, above D for bearish patterns).

Target Zones

Target zones in harmonic patterns are computed based on the retracement, extensions or projections of impulse/corrective swings and Fibonacci ratios from the action point of the pattern structure. For example, in Gartley bullish pattern, the target zones are computed using the XA leg from the trade action point (D). The projections are computed using Fibonacci ratios like 62% or 78.6% of the XA leg and added to the action point (D). The extension ratios like 1., 1.27, 1.62, 2., 2.27 or 2.62 are computed for potential target levels. The primary target zones are computed from D, with 62%-78.6% of the XA leg as the first target zone and 127%-162% as the second target zone.

Target Zone1: (D + XA*0.62) to (D+XA*.786)

Target Zone2: (D + XA*1.27) to (D+XA*1.62)

It is important to note that potential target zones in harmonic patterns are computed from a probability standpoint, not with absolute certainty. Strong money and risk management rules and full working knowledge of the pattern are necessary for any pattern trading success.

Example: The following chart shows a Bullish Gartley Pattern with an entry level, stops and target zones. The target zones are projected using XA swing length and Fibonacci ratios from D. Target Zone 1 comprises the range of 62%-79%, while Target Zone 2 runs from 127% to 162%.


About the Author

gartleybul2.jpg

This article was written by Suri Duddella, a private trader who uses proprietary mathematical and algorithmic models and pattern recognition methods. For more information about Suri or to follow his work, visit SuriNotes.com or .

click here
Symmetrical Triangle
Flags
Cup and Handle
Head and Shoulders
Double Bottoms
Broadening Patterns