bullish and bearish cup and handle pattern hello dear traders,
Here are some educational chart patterns that you must know in 2022 and 2025.
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What are the Cup and Handle chart patterns?
A cup and handle pattern is a pattern of price movement on a trading chart that resembles a cup with a handle, from which it derives its name. The cup section of the pattern is formed from a U-shaped price movement, while the handle is a short price channel from the edge of the cup. The handle is actually a pullback after the right Swing of the cup.
As is the case with other chart patterns, the cup and handle pattern shows you how the price has moved in the immediate past, which can help you predict future price movements. The time it takes for pattern formation varies: pattern formation can be as short as seven weeks or as long as 65 weeks or more.
There are two types of patterns: the more popular bullish cup and handle pattern that you can see in bull markets and the inverted cup and handle pattern, also known as the bearish cup and handle pattern, that you can see in bear markets.
In the bullish variant, which occurs in an uptrend, the pattern is formed by a downswing (pullback) that gradually turns into an upswing (in the trend direction) followed by a small pullback (a slight downward drift that creates a handle )
The reversal/bearish type, which appears in a downtrend, is formed by an upswing (pullback) that gradually turns into a downswing to continue the downtrend, but then pulls back (handle) a bit.
Understanding the structure and inversion of the cup and handle pattern
The cup and handle pattern can form in any time frame, but as a swing trader, you should focus on the daily time frame. To identify the cup and handle pattern or reversal type, you need to understand the price movements that form its structure. For example, to be a continuation pattern, there must be a prior trend before a cup and handle pattern can form. Let us look at both patterns one by one.
The bullish Cup and Handle pattern:-
An uptrend: For a bullish cup and handle pattern to form, there must be an established uptrend, but the trend must not be too mature because the more mature the trend, the less likely it is to continue. A trend on the daily time frame that is a few months old is fine.
Cup: The cup is formed from a normal bust that gradually curves upward, creating a "U" shape. It should have a bowl or round bottom and not a sharp "V" shaped bottom. The round bottom ensures that there is a consolidation pattern with valid support at the bottom of the "U" cup. In addition, the pattern on both sides of the cup should be of equal height, but this may not always be the case.
Cup depth: The cup should not be too deep. Generally, the cup depth should be around the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the previous advance. However, with overreaction in more volatile markets, retracements can range from 38.3% to 50% Fibonacci. In extreme cases, the retracement can reach 61.8% Fibonacci, which is in line with Dow Theory.
Handle: This is a pullback that forms after the higher forms on the right side of the cup. This is a minor pullback or consolidation that sometimes resembles a downward-sloping flag or pennant. This is just a small, final consolidation/pullback before a bigger breakout, but could lead to a retracement to the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the swing high of the cup. The smaller the retracement, the more bullish the formation and the more significant the breakout.
Duration: While the cup can last from 1 to 6 months (or several years on a weekly chart), the handle can take about 1-4 weeks to form.
The bearish/inverse Cup and Handle pattern:-
A downtrend (bear market): There must be an established downtrend for the inverted Cup and Handle pattern to be meaningful. However, the trend should be relatively young as downtrends don’t last that much. On the daily timeframe, the trend should be from a few weeks to a few months.
The dome (inverted cup): The dome of this pattern is formed by a normal price rally in a downtrend (pullback), which gradually turns to a downward swing, thereby forming a dome shape. It should have a rounding top and not a sharp pyramid top. A rounding top ensures that the inverted cup is a consolidation pattern with valid resistance at the top of the structure. Both sides of the dome may or may not have equal lows.
Dome height: The dome should not be too high. Usually, the height should be about 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the preceding downswing, but the retracement could range from 38.3% to 50% Fibonacci in more volatile markets with over-reactions. In extreme situations, it could be up to 61.8% Fibonacci.
The handle: This is a slight pullback that follows the downswing that forms the right side of the dome. It is a small consolidation that often looks like a bearish flag or pennant that slopes upward. The handle can retrace up to 38.2% Fibonacci of the dome’s swing down, but the smaller the retracement, the more bearish the formation and the more significant the breakout.
Duration: The dome may take about 4 to 6 weeks or more to form, while the handle may take about a week or two.
How to trade the Cup and Handle chart pattern:-
The Cup and Handle pattern and the inverse type are potent trend continuation signals. When you see any of them, you have to trade in the direction of the trend. While you can trade these price action chart patterns on their own, it may be wise to confirm the trend with some tools, like trend lines and moving averages.
Trading the bullish Cup and Handle pattern:-
The bullish Cup and Handle pattern forms an uptrend and gives a bullish breakout signal. You might have to fix an uptrend line or a moving average to confirm the trend. Here is how you trade the pattern:
Entry:-
With this pattern, a buy signal occurs when the price breaks out of the upper trend line of the price channel that forms the handle. There should be a substantial increase in volume on the breakout above the handle’s resistance. Go long at the close of the breakout candlestick. Alternatively, you place a stop-buy order slightly above that upper trend line. Sometimes, it is prudent to wait for a breakout above the resistance line established by the highs of the cup.
Stop loss:-
You need a stop-loss order to get you out of the trade if after buying the breakout, the price drops, instead of rising. Your stop loss should be at a level that invalidates the pattern’s signal, and that level is below the lowest point of the handle.
Profit target:-
There are two potential profit target levels for this pattern. The first profit target is estimated by measuring a distance equivalent to the size of the handle, starting from the breakout point. The second profit target is estimated by measuring a distance equal to the depth of the cup, again, starting from the point of the breakout.
Trading the bearish Cup and Handle pattern:-
The bearish Cup and Handle pattern forms a downtrend and is traded as a bearish breakdown signal. So, you can use it to go short on the market if you want. This is how you trade the pattern:
Entry:-
You have a sell signal when the price breaks below the lower trend line of the price channel that forms the handle. There should be a spike in volume when this breakdown happens. You may go short at the close of the breakdown candlestick, or you place a stop-sell order slightly below that lower trend line. It might be wise to wait for a break below the support line established by the lows of the inverted cup.
Stop loss:-
When you are trading the inverse Cup and Handle pattern, you should place your stop loss order above the highest point of the handle.
Profit target:-
Two potential levels are good for your profit target: the first profit level is estimated by measuring a distance equal to the size of the handle, starting from the breakdown point, while the second profit level is estimated by measuring a distance equal to the height of the dome (inverted cup), starting from the point of the breakdown.
Trade with care
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