As of 12/05/2024
  Indus: 44,766 -248.33 -0.6%  
  Trans: 16,976 -190.93 -1.1%  
  Utils: 1,047 +2.22 +0.2%  
  Nasdaq: 19,700 -34.86 -0.2%  
  S&P 500: 6,075 -11.38 -0.2%  
YTD
 +18.8%  
 +6.8%  
 +18.8%  
 +31.2%  
 +27.4%  
  Targets    Overview: 12/02/2024  
  Down arrow44,000 or 46,000 by 12/15/2024
  Down arrow17,025 or 18,000 by 12/15/2024
  Down arrow1,025 or 1,100 by 12/15/2024
  Up arrow20,000 or 18,500 by 12/15/2024
  Up arrow6,200 or 5,900 by 12/15/2024
As of 12/05/2024
  Indus: 44,766 -248.33 -0.6%  
  Trans: 16,976 -190.93 -1.1%  
  Utils: 1,047 +2.22 +0.2%  
  Nasdaq: 19,700 -34.86 -0.2%  
  S&P 500: 6,075 -11.38 -0.2%  
YTD
 +18.8%  
 +6.8%  
 +18.8%  
 +31.2%  
 +27.4%  
  Targets    Overview: 12/02/2024  
  Down arrow44,000 or 46,000 by 12/15/2024
  Down arrow17,025 or 18,000 by 12/15/2024
  Down arrow1,025 or 1,100 by 12/15/2024
  Up arrow20,000 or 18,500 by 12/15/2024
  Up arrow6,200 or 5,900 by 12/15/2024

Bulkowski on Descending Scallops

Statistics updated 8/26/2020.

For more information on this pattern, read Encyclopedia of Chart Patterns Second EditionEncyclopedia of Chart Patterns 2nd Edition book., pictured on the right.

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-- Tom Bulkowski

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Descending scallops are backward J-shaped chart patterns which occur most often in downward trends.

Important Results
Identification Guidelines
Trading Tips
Example
See Also

 

A descending scallop chart pattern appears

Descending Scallop
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Descending Scallop: Important Bull Market Results

Overall performance rank for up/down breakouts (1 is best): 29 out of 39/12 out of 36
Break even failure rate for up/down breakouts: 14%/18%
Average rise/decline: 39%/16%
Throwback/pullback rate: 67%/65%
Percentage meeting price target for up/down breakouts: 52%/34%

The above numbers are based on over 2,000 of perfect trades. See the glossary for definitions.

Descending Scallop: Identification Guidelines

CharacteristicDiscussion
Price trendUsually downward leading to the descending scallop but you'll see them in retraces of an uptrend, too.
ShapeThe descending scallop looks like the backward letter J. Find two peaks with a rounded valley in between and the left peak higher than the right one.
Breakout, confirmation A close above the top of the chart pattern (it used to be the right lip) or below the lowest valley (downward breakout) signals a breakout, confirming the pattern as a valid one. The pattern breaks out downward 78% of the time.
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Descending Scallop: Trading Tips

Consult the associated figure on the right.

Trading TacticExplanation Descending scallop chart pattern measure rule
The Measure Rule
Measure rule Compute the height from the highest peak in the pattern (A) to the lowest valley (B) and then multiply it by the above 'percentage meeting price target.' Add it to the price of the right peak (upward breakouts, point C) or subtract it from the lowest valley (downward breakouts, point B) to get a target price (D).
Breakout volumeDescending scallops with upward breakouts on heavy volume outperform.
GapsTrade descending scallops with breakout day gaps.
HeightTrade tall patterns with downward breakouts, short patterns with upward breakouts.
StopsFor upward breakouts, place a stop below the lowest valley (B) if it's not too far away. For downward breakouts, a stop above the right peak (C) works well.
Reversal Descending scallops acting as reversals of the downward price trend (that is, breakout upward after a downtrend) do best.
Top of page

Descending Scallop: Example

Descending scallop chart pattern example

Two descending scallop chart patterns appear in the figure above. The first one begins at point A and ends at B. The second begins at B and completes at C. Both scallops breakout downward when price closes below the bottom of the associated chart pattern.

-- Thomas Bulkowski

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See Also

 

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