As of 03/18/2024
  Indus: 38,790 +75.66 +0.2%  
  Trans: 15,418 -81.05 -0.5%  
  Utils: 853 +3.06 +0.4%  
  Nasdaq: 16,103 +130.28 +0.8%  
  S&P 500: 5,149 +32.33 +0.6%  
YTD
 +2.9%  
-3.0%  
-3.2%  
 +7.3%  
 +8.0%  
  Targets    Overview: 03/13/2024  
  Down arrow38,000 or 39,350 by 04/01/2024
  Up arrow16,300 or 15,350 by 04/01/2024
  Up arrow885 or 830 by 04/01/2024
  Down arrow15,200 or 16,600 by 04/01/2024
  Up arrow5,250 or 5,000 by 04/01/2024
As of 03/18/2024
  Indus: 38,790 +75.66 +0.2%  
  Trans: 15,418 -81.05 -0.5%  
  Utils: 853 +3.06 +0.4%  
  Nasdaq: 16,103 +130.28 +0.8%  
  S&P 500: 5,149 +32.33 +0.6%  
YTD
 +2.9%  
-3.0%  
-3.2%  
 +7.3%  
 +8.0%  
  Targets    Overview: 03/13/2024  
  Down arrow38,000 or 39,350 by 04/01/2024
  Up arrow16,300 or 15,350 by 04/01/2024
  Up arrow885 or 830 by 04/01/2024
  Down arrow15,200 or 16,600 by 04/01/2024
  Up arrow5,250 or 5,000 by 04/01/2024

Bulkowski on Inverted and Descending Scallops

Statistics updated on 8/27/2020.

For more information on this pattern, read Encyclopedia of Chart PatternsEncyclopedia of Chart Patterns 2nd Edition book., pictured on the right. The book gives a complete review of the chart pattern, including tour, identification guidelines, focus on failures, performance statistics, trading tactics, and sample trade. Below is just a sliver of the information contained in the book.

Inverted and descending scallops are robust performers in bull markets. Once the downward trend ends - if you can tell when that occurs - then buy and ride the new uptrend. Discovered by Thomas Bulkowski in mid 2004, but others may have found them sooner.

Inverted and descending scallop chart pattern
Inverted and Descending Scallop

 

Inverted and Descending Scallops: Important Bull Market Results

Overall performance rank (1 is best): 9 out of 39/10 out of 36
Break even failure rate (up/down breakouts): 16%/17%
Average rise/decline: 47%/16%
Throwback/pullback rate: 58%/66%
Percentage meeting price target (up/down breakouts): 62%/29%

The above numbers are based on more than 1,500 perfect trades. See the glossary for definitions.

Inverted and Descending Scallops: Identification Guidelines

CharacteristicDiscussion
Price trendUsually downward leading to the scallop or at bearish turning points.
ShapeLooks line an inverted J.
Smooth topLook for a rounded top, not V-shaped, but be flexible.
Down moveFrom the start of the pattern (point A in the above chart) to its high (B) averages 56% of the following down move from highest peak (B) to scallop end (C, the lowest valley).
EndsBoth the scallop start and end should form at price turning points.
ProportionThe height and width of the scallop should look proportional.
ConfirmationThe scallop confirms as valid when price closes below the lowest valley in the pattern without first closing above the scallop's peak.

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Inverted and Descending Scallops: Trading Tips

Trading TacticExplanation
Measure ruleCompute the height from highest peak (point B in the Measure Rule chart to the right) to lowest valley (C) then multiply it by the above 'percentage meeting price target.' Subtract the result from the lowest valley in the pattern (C) to get a price target for a downward breakout. Add the height to the top of the pattern for an upward breakout.
ShortFor downward breakouts, short the stock when price closes below the lowest valley in the pattern (C in the Measure Rule figure to the right).
CoverIf price retraces (rises) 67% of the decline from B to C in the Measure Rule figure to the right, then cover the short.
Volume trendScallops with upward breakouts and a rising volume trend perform best.
ConfirmationWait for confirmation before placing a trade.
HeightTall scallops perform better than short ones.
TrendScallops get narrower and shorter the lower they appear in a price trend.
ThrowbacksThrowbacks hurt performance.
Inverted and descending scallops chart pattern measure rule
The Measure Rule

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Inverted and Descending Scallops: Example

Inverted and descending scallop chart pattern example

The above figure shows an example of an inverted and descending scallop chart pattern. Point A begins the inverted scallop pattern and price peaks at B and then trends down to C, the end of the scallop. This one forms a handle, D, and that is quite common. Price resumes the downtrend after the handle completes.

-- Thomas Bulkowski

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See Also

 

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