Cup and handle: how to recognise and trade it

Bobby

Written by Bobby

Cup and handle: how to recognise and trade it
✅

The cup and handle is a bullish continuation chart pattern.

How do you recognise it?

You'll usually see the following, in order:

  • An uptrend before the pattern appears
  • Price begins to pull back, moving through a series of highs and lows that form the cup
  • It rises towards the neckline, then forms a handle, often shaped like a small descending channel
  • The pattern is confirmed when price breaks above that channel

The cup and handle also has a bearish version.

Price then forms an upside-down U, followed by a small handle and a downward breakout.

How do you trade a cup and handle?

You can enter long when price breaks above the handle.

To calculate the take-profit, measure the cup's height, from its bottom to the neckline, and project that distance above the breakout point.

The stop-loss can go at the most recent low formed by the handle.

It's much easier than you think...

Apex Trader Funding payout received in Qonto
Bobby

Written by

Bobby

Independent trader

I'm a former financial engineer and spent seven years on trading floors and at a hedge fund. For over three years, I've been sharing my trading experience and what I know about finance.