Descending Broadening Wedge
Two falling lines that diverge, the lower one steeper; breaks either way.
The descending broadening wedge falls while widening. Bulkowski finds most break upward.
Easily mistaken for a falling channel; the widening must be clear.
How we define it
- Sloping lines: drawn through swing highs or lows with distinct touches (at least 3 candles apart) within about 0.4 ATR; no swing pokes through a line and no close is outside it before the break
- Both lines fall clearly, the lower one faster; at least 6 touches in total; the range widens by at least 60%
- Minimum length: 2 months on 1D, 3 months on 1W, 10 days on 4H
- Breakout (up) / breakdown (down): the first candle close beyond the boundary by at least 3% on 1D and 1W (1.5% on 4H)
- Failed breaks: a breakout or breakdown that closes back inside the boundary within 6 candles on 4H, 5 on 1D or 3 on 1W is removed from the list
- Trend filter: breakouts only above the 200-period EMA (40-week EMA on 1W), breakdowns only below it
- Watchlist: the pattern is complete but unbroken and price is within 3% (or 1 ATR, at most 6%) of the boundary
No recent breakout or breakdown
No descending broadening wedge has completed recently. See all patterns.
Nothing on the watchlist
No mature descending broadening wedge is close to its breakout or breakdown level right now.