As of 06/07/2023
  Indus: 33,665 +91.74 +0.3%  
  Trans: 14,406 +345.09 +2.5%  
  Utils: 918 +15.80 +1.8%  
  Nasdaq: 13,105 -171.52 -1.3%  
  S&P 500: 4,268 -16.33 -0.4%  
YTD
 +1.6%  
 +7.6%  
-5.1%  
 +25.2%  
 +11.1%  
  Targets    Overview: 05/30/2023  
  Up arrow33,950 or 32,000 by 06/15/2023
  Up arrow14,600 or 13,350 by 06/15/2023
  Up arrow935 or 880 by 06/15/2023
  Up arrow13,600 or 12,200 by 06/15/2023
  Up arrow4,350 or 4,000 by 06/15/2023
As of 06/07/2023
  Indus: 33,665 +91.74 +0.3%  
  Trans: 14,406 +345.09 +2.5%  
  Utils: 918 +15.80 +1.8%  
  Nasdaq: 13,105 -171.52 -1.3%  
  S&P 500: 4,268 -16.33 -0.4%  
YTD
 +1.6%  
 +7.6%  
-5.1%  
 +25.2%  
 +11.1%  
  Targets    Overview: 05/30/2023  
  Up arrow33,950 or 32,000 by 06/15/2023
  Up arrow14,600 or 13,350 by 06/15/2023
  Up arrow935 or 880 by 06/15/2023
  Up arrow13,600 or 12,200 by 06/15/2023
  Up arrow4,350 or 4,000 by 06/15/2023

Bulkowski's Congestion Quiz

This article is a quiz designed to test your knowledge of breakouts.

Two ascending triangles on the daily scale

Look at the chart of two fictitious ascending triangles on the daily scale. The triangle is outlined in blue with a horizontal top trendline and an up-sloping bottom trendline. Both A and B show upward breakouts but there is a difference between the two charts.

Which setup (A or B) represents the best trading opportunity?

The difference, if you didn't find it, is in the five days leading to the breakout. In A, price makes a straight-line run but in B, price runs into a congestion area in the five days before the breakout.

I proved in a study that the differences between trading a chart pattern with a straight-line run (A) and a congestion area (B) is not huge. In the straight-line run, on average, the rise after the breakout will be further, but the risk of failure increases, too. Throwbacks will occur more often and that is usually a bad thing.

When looking for chart patterns, trade those with a congestion area forming just before the breakout. If a straight-line run appears, then consider waiting for a throwback to occur and complete. Once price starts moving up again, then enter the trade.

-- Thomas Bulkowski

Top of page More

See Also

 

Support this site! Clicking any of the books (below) takes you to Amazon.com If you buy ANYTHING while there, they pay for the referral.
Legal notice for paid links: "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases."

My novels:  Remember Me book Bumper's Story book Head's Law book
My stock market books:  Chart Patterns: After the Buy Getting Started in Chart Patterns 2nd edition book Trading Basics book Fundamental Analysis and Position Trading book Swing and Day Trading book Encyclopedia of Chart Patterns 3rd Edition book

Copyright © 2005-2023 by Thomas N. Bulkowski. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer: You alone are responsible for your investment decisions. See Privacy/Disclaimer for more information.
Some pattern names are registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Home Advertise Contact Donate Links Privacy/Disclaimer

You worry too much about your job. Stop it. You're not paid enough to worry.Smiley