As of 05/21/2025   Indus: 41,860 -816.80 -1.9%     Trans: 14,559 -403.42 -2.7%     Utils: 1,034 -16.91 -1.6%     Nasdaq: 18,873 -270.07 -1.4%     S&P 500: 5,845 -95.85 -1.6%	YTD -1.6%   -8.4%    +5.2%   -2.3%   -0.6%	Targets    Overview: 05/12/2025     43,700 or 40,900 by 06/01/2025   16,000 or 14,000 by 06/01/2025   1,075 or 1,000 by 06/01/2025   19,500 or 17,700 by 06/01/2025   6,000 or 5,600 by 06/01/2025
Chart Pattern Indicator: on 5/19/25

As of 05/21/2025   Indus: 41,860 -816.80 -1.9%     Trans: 14,559 -403.42 -2.7%     Utils: 1,034 -16.91 -1.6%     Nasdaq: 18,873 -270.07 -1.4%     S&P 500: 5,845 -95.85 -1.6%	YTD -1.6%   -8.4%    +5.2%   -2.3%   -0.6%
Targets    Overview: 05/12/2025     43,700 or 40,900 by 06/01/2025   16,000 or 14,000 by 06/01/2025   1,075 or 1,000 by 06/01/2025   19,500 or 17,700 by 06/01/2025   6,000 or 5,600 by 06/01/2025
Chart Pattern Indicator: on 5/19/25

Bulkowski on the Descending Triangle Elliott Wave Pattern

This page describes the descending triangle pattern of the Elliott wave principle, how price moves not in a straight line but in a series of rises and retracements.

The figure to the right shows what a descending triangle looks like in a bull market. The descending triangle is a region of horizontal price movement, a consolidation of a prior move, and it is composed of "threes." That means each of the A-B-C-D-E waves have three subwaves. I labeled the B subwaves with red numbers, 1, 2, and 3 as an example. Expect volume and volatility to recede as the pattern moves toward the breakout, but this is not a requirement.

In a descending triangle, the bottom of the triangle finds support at a horizontal trendline (the horizontal red line), and the top of the triangle slopes downward following another red trendline.

A descending triangle in a bear market is not an inverted picture of a bull market triangle. Rather, the chart to the right shows a descending triangle with the waves inverted while still obeying the flat bottom and down sloping top trendlines. The A-B-C-D-E waves subdivide into threes, forming a 3-3-3-3-3 configuration.

On rare occasions, a descending triangle can nest inside a descending triangle. You see this when the wave count exceeds the A-B-C-D-E format, forming a nine wave pattern. Also, Frost and Prechter say that when price reaches the apex of the triangle, expect the market to turn.

Descending Triangle Rules

The descending triangle has rules that govern its shape. They are listed here.

• The waves bottom near the same price, following a horizontal trendline.
• The tops of the waves generally follow a down-sloping trendline.
• Five waves compose the descending triangle (A-B-C-D-E), unless extended.
• Each of the A-B-C-D-E waves are composed of three subwaves, so it has a 3-3-3-3-3 configuration.
• Volume and volatility tend to recede over the life of the pattern, but this is not a requirement.

-- Thomas Bulkowski

See Also

• This article has performance statistics for descending triangles.
• Here is the main resource for Elliott wave information.
• Support and resistance. Learn the various types.
• Market direction. 7 tips to determining.
• Trading cycles help time your entries and exits.
• Trend change detection using a triangle apex.

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