Falling Three Methods

What Is the Falling Three Methods Pattern?

The "falling three methods" is a bearish, five candle continuation pattern that signals an interruption, but not a reversal, of a current downtrend. The pattern is characterized by two long candlesticks in the direction of the trend — in this case, down — at the beginning and end, with three shorter counter-trend candlesticks in the middle.

This can be contrasted with rising three methods.

Understanding the Falling Three Methods Pattern

Falling three methods occurs when a downtrend stalls as bears lack the impetus, or conviction, to keep pushing the security's price lower. This leads to a counter move that is often the result of profit-taking and, possibly, an attempt by eager bulls anticipating a reversal. The subsequent failure at making new highs, or closing above the opening price of the long down candle, emboldens bears to re-engage, leading to a resumption of the downtrend.

The falling three methods pattern forms when the five candlesticks meet the following criteria that are depicted in the image below:

Image by Julie Bang © Investopedia 2019

The series of small-bodied candlesticks at left in the falling three methods pattern is regarded as a period of consolidation before the downtrend resumes. Ideally, these candlesticks are bullish, especially the second one, although this is not a strict requirement. This pattern is important because it shows traders that the bulls still do not have enough conviction to reverse the trend and it is used by some active traders as a signal to initiate new, or add to their existing, short positions. The pattern’s bullish equivalent is the "rising three methods."

Trading the Falling Three Methods

Entry Points

The falling three methods pattern provides traders with a pause in the downtrend to initiate a new short position or add to an existing one. A trade can be taken on the close of the final candlestick in the pattern. Conservative traders may want to wait for other indicators to confirm the pattern and enter on a close below the final candle. For example, a trader might wait for the 10-period moving average to be sloped downward and near the high of the fifth bar in the pattern to confirm the market is in a downtrend.

Traders should make sure the pattern is not sitting above a key support level, such as being located just above a major trend line, a round number, or horizontal price support. Even though there may not be support, it's prudent for traders to check other time frames to confirm the downtrend has ample room to continue.

For example, if the pattern forms on the 60-minute chart, traders should check that there are no major support levels on the daily and weekly charts before taking a trade.

Risk Management

The falling three methods pattern offers traders several options for placing suitable stop-loss orders. Aggressive traders may want to set a stop above the fifth candle in the pattern. Traders who want to give their position more wiggle room could either place a stop above the third small countertrend candle or the high of the first long black bearish candle in the pattern.