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The Descending Triangle: What is it & How to Trade it?

13 Nov 2019 12:58, GMT
Richard Snow, Markets Writer

The descending triangle (also known as the ‘falling triangle&rsquo is one of the top continuation patterns that appears mid-trend. Traders anticipate the market to continue in the direction of the larger trend and develop trading setups accordingly.

Descending triangle main talking points:

Definition of a descending triangle
Identifying a descending triangle pattern on forex charts
How to trade the descending triangle
Advantages and limitations of the descending triangle
Test your knowledge of forex patterns with our interactive Forex Trading Patterns quiz

What is a descending triangle?
The descending triangle is a bearish pattern that is characterized by a descending upper trendline and a flat lower trendline that acts as support. This pattern indicates that sellers are more aggressive than buyers as price continues to make lower highs. The pattern completes itself when price breaks out of the triangle in the direction of the overall trend.

Identifying a descending triangle on forex charts
How to identify a Descending Triangle Pattern on Forex Charts
The descending triangle is fairly easy to spot once traders know what to look for. The below method can be applied to all financial markets as well as forex.

Downtrend: The market must be in a downtrend before the descending triangle pattern appears. This is important and emphasises that traders should not simply trade the pattern whenever the descending triangle appears.
Consolidation: The descending triangle then appears while the market enters the consolidation phase.
Upper trendline: While the market is consolidating, a downward sloping trendline can be drawn by connecting the highs. This downward sloping trendline shows that sellers are slowly pulling the price down – which provides further support for a bearish trading bias.
Lower trendline: The lower trendline acts as support. Price often approaches this level and bounces off until the breakout eventually occurs.
Trend continuation: After price posts a strong break below the lower trendline, traders will look for confirmation of the pattern via continued downward momentum.
Descending triangle explained
Descending Triangle Measuring Technique
The descending triangle, often referred to as the ‘falling triangle’, has an inherent measuring technique that can be applied to the pattern to gauge likely take profit targets.

For the descending triangle,traders can measure the distance from the start of the pattern, at the highest point of the descending triangle to the flat support line. That same distance can be transposed later on, starting from the breakout point and ending at the potential take profit level.

The illustration below shows the distance from A to B can be transferred lower down, from C to D, in order to project a possible take profit level.

Measuring technique for descending triangle
How to Trade the Descending Triangle
When trading the descending triangle, traders need to identify the downtrend and this can be seen in the EUR/USD chart below. Thereafter, the descending triangle appears as the forex candlesticks start to consolidate. The measuring technique can be applied once the triangle forms, as traders anticipate the breakout.

After viewing a strong break below support, traders can enter a short position, setting a stop at the recent swing high and take profit target in line with the measuring technique.

descending triangle EUR/USD trading example
Advantages and Limitations of the Descending Triangle
The descending triangle pattern can be a great indicator of trend continuation, but it does have its limitations too: