To form a descending wedge, the support and resistance lines have to both point in a downwards direction and the resistance line has to be steeper than the line of support.Ī falling wedge is essentially the exact opposite of a rising wedge. The falling wedge chart pattern is a recognisable price move that is formed when a market consolidates between two converging support and resistance lines. Open an IG account to start trading them now. Rising wedges can occur on any market that’s popular with technical traders, including indices, forex and stocks. This causes a tide of selling that leads to significant downward momentum. Those waiting to short the market, meanwhile, will jump in. This negative sentiment builds up, so that when the market moves beyond its rising support line, anyone with a long position might rush to close their trade and limit their losses. This is the sign that bearish opinion is forming (or reforming, in the case of a continuation).

But the key point to note is that the upward moves are getting shorter each time. After all, each successive peak and trough is higher than the last.

When a market is falling, they’re a short-term pause before the bear market takes hold once moreĪt first glance, an ascending wedge looks like a bullish move.

When a market is in an uptrend, they’re a sign that traders are reconsidering the bull move.

In the case of rising wedges, this breakout is usually bearish.Īscending wedges can occur when a market is rising or falling: Like head and shoulders, triangles and flags, wedges often lead to breakouts.

Falling wedge