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 Diamond Tops

For more information on this pattern, read Encyclopedia of Chart Patterns Second EditionEncyclopedia of Chart Patterns 2nd Edition book., pictured on the right, pages 196 to 212.

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-- Tom Bulkowski

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Statistics updated on 8/26/2020.

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Diamond tops with upward breakouts in a bull market rank last for performance. Like diamonds bottoms, the top variety (with downward breakouts) can show a fast decline post breakout if a quick rise preceded the diamond reversal. The crash site (downtrend end) is often near the price level of the launch site (uptrend start).

Important Results
Identification Guidelines
Trading Tips
Example
See Also

 

Diamond top chart pattern

Diamond Top

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performance by clicking here

Important Bull Market Results for Diamond Tops

Overall performance rank for up/down breakouts (1 is best): 39 (last) out of 39/3 out of 36
Break even failure rate for up/down breakouts: 21%; 15%
Average rise/decline: 29%; 17%
Throwback/pullback rate: 57%; 58%
Percentage meeting price target for up/down breakouts: 65%; 63%

The above numbers are based on 733 perfect trades. See the glossary for definitions.

Diamond Top Identification Guidelines

CharacteristicDiscussion
Price trendUpward leading to the pattern.
ShapeLooks like a diamond, but one usually tilted to the side.
TrendlinesPrices form higher peaks and lower valleys (a broadening pattern) in the first part of the pattern, then price action narrows with lower peaks and higher valleys. Trendlines connect the peaks and valleys for a diamond shape.
TouchesPrices will touch each trendline once or twice. Don't worry if your lines cross some of the price outliers.
Volume trendDownward trend 55% to 59% of the time.
BreakoutDownward 54% of the time.

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Diamond Top Trading Tips

Consult the associated figure on the right.

Trading TacticExplanation Diamond top chart pattern measure rule
The Measure Rule
Diamond top chart pattern prince trend
Price Trend
Diamond top chart pattern half staff measure
Half Staff
Measure ruleSee the measure rule figure to the right. Compute the height from the highest peak (A) to the lowest valley (B) in the pattern and then multiply it by the above 'percentage meeting price target.' Add it (upward breakouts) or subtract it (downward breakouts) from the breakout price (the blue line) to get the price target (C).
Price trendSee the price trend figure to the right. If price makes a quick, nearly vertical rise (A) leading to the diamond and the breakout is downward, expect price to drop back to the price at which it started (B) the rise. However, the drop won't be as fast. Also, price must have something to reverse. Diamonds with short-term (less than three months) or intermediate-term (three to six months) price trends leading to the diamond perform best post breakout (depending on the breakout direction).
Half staffSee the half staff figure to the right. If the diamond acts as a continuation pattern, meaning that price exits (C to D) in the same direction as it entered the pattern (A to B), then the diamond can act as a half-staff pattern (half the move is still ahead). The move after the breakout (CD) will often fall short, so look for overhead resistance where price might stall.
Price velocityHigh velocity moves after the pattern often follow high velocity moves leading to the pattern.
Yearly lowFor best performance, diamonds with breakouts in the lowest third of the yearly price range perform best.
Volume trendA rising volume trend (upward breakouts) results in the best post breakout performance.
Throwbacks and pullbacksThrowbacks and pullbacks hurt post breakout performance.

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Diamond Top Example

Diamond top chart pattern example

The above figure shows an example of a diamond top chart pattern. Price begins the rise at point A and then forms the diamond top. The breakout from this diamond top is downward but it does not last long. Price pulls back and busts the diamond when price closes above the top of the diamond top chart pattern. The rise is also short and price plunges, stopping at B, near the launch price of A.

-- Thomas Bulkowski

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See Also

 

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