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One of the key principles of technical analysis is identifying and understanding resistance and support levels. The most basic patterns of resistance and support are price levels where prices have previously reversed or moved within a horizontal range for an extended period. These patterns are relatively easy to understand and observe. However, trading at higher levels requires looking for other levels that can provide technical signals about future price movements. When a stock is in an uptrend, support levels are typically defined by connecting higher lows and drawing a line extending into the future. If the price falls below this trend line, the support is broken. Conversely, resistance levels are usually formed by connecting higher highs on the price chart. For assets in a downtrend, which has both lower highs and lower lows, the price usually moves within a trend channel as well. In the formation of a pennant pattern, price creates lower highs and higher lows, causing the price range to gradually narrow. The connection of these highs and lows forms a pennant or flag pattern. As time passes and the price approaches the end of the pattern, the likelihood of a significant price movement, either up or down, increases greatly. A breakout of the pennant pattern, in either direction, is generally considered a strong signal of a future trend.
Moving averages can also function as support and resistance levels. There are several types of moving averages that investors pay attention to, but they generally refer to standard numerical values such as the 200-day moving average, the 60-minute moving average, or the 4-hour moving average. Generally, if the price moves too far above the moving average, it tends to retrace to the support level. Conversely, if the price trades significantly below the moving average, it tends to recover and test the moving average, which then acts as an upper resistance level.
When a support level is broken, that previous level becomes resistance if the price attempts to recover. Conversely, when a resistance level is broken, that previous level becomes support. A common occurrence is when the price breaks through a support or resistance level and then retraces to test the previous level again. This process is called a re-test, and if the re-test is successful, it often presents an attractive entry point for trading.
A clear example is the Double Bottom pattern, where the price retraces to test a support level, bounces back up, and then retraces to test the same support level again after a period of time. If the support remains strong on the second test, it is considered that the price has formed two bases, which may lead to a strong upward movement. The same principle applies to resistance in the opposite direction. If the price hits resistance twice, forming a Double Top pattern, it is often followed by a significant downward correction.
Support and resistance levels don't always provide accurate information. Price can break through support or resistance, but then move in an unexpected direction. A breakout where the price fails to continue in the original direction is called a false breakout. This can occur because traders incorrectly identified support and resistance levels, or it may be due to new information entering the market, causing a price reaction that the market hadn't previously reflected.
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