The Neutral Rectangle as a price pattern can be seen quite often as it presents frequently in all markets, time frames, & price ranges. They are one of the few patterns that can be considered a bullish or bearish trend continuation pattern, a reversal pattern, and even as a sideways ‘neutral’ pattern that may last quite some time depending on the trading environment.
Visually Neutral Rectangles are characterized by parallel or near-parallel trendlines drawn representing equal lows & equal highs in price. The pattern highlights the current indecision and doubt from traders as the price action is in ‘balance’ between buyers & sellers. The forces of supply & demand are basically equal. The horizontal upper trendline will experience multiple efforts and acts as price resistance. The horizontal lower trendline will also experience multiple efforts and it acts as price support. Typically Neutral Rectangles are horizontal or flat but they can also present with a slight slant upward/downward against a prevailing trend.
Neutral Rectangles vary quite a lot in their duration & the time involved in creating the pattern is key to helping the trader determine whether to risk taking a trade with such a balanced scenario. Often their sheer size will neutralize whatever momentum existed when the pattern first started to form. To be considered viable they must have a minimum of two swing highs and two swing lows in price to create the basic pattern. There is no limit or restriction on how large or how long the pattern may take. Traders should be prepared to adjust the trendlines as needed with additional swings. Volume usually diminishes as the pattern develops as buyers & sellers both become more indecisive with what seems to be ‘aimless’ range-bound price action.
Traders can look to trade the Neutral Rectangle with three basic methods & regardless of traders’ choice for entries, stop placement should be fairly tight with placement directly under support and directly above resistance.
- Trade with the swing action while in ‘the box’: trade short with hits on resistance &/or trade long with hits on support - regardless of the background environment.
- Wait until a confirmed breakout/down happens on either resistance or support & trade with the direction of the break.
- Trade only in the direction with the prevailing trend in the background looking for it to be an ‘edge’ . This method increases the risk-to-reward ratio for profits & relies heavily on the current strength or weakness of the trend. This method will be looking for the Neutral Rectangle to be a set up for a ‘trend continuation’ trade.
Traders looking for a bearish continuation pattern note it has 3 phases:
1) Background: A Strong impulsive, thrusting action with a surge in volume & price establishes a clear picture of the controlling bearish trend direction. In our neutral rectangle price pattern it is represented visually by a Pole. Deeper and more drama the better as the Pole is the Key to recognizing the potential for the continuation of the pattern. The Pole represents trend direction as well as its strength & often this pattern is initiated as a new breakdown in price from an established area & sellers are in control.
2) The second phase is a pause for consolidation of the action both in volume & price and is represented by the neutral rectangle. As traders we like to see this phase very short in duration with only 2 or 3 swings while our price action is range bound maintaining the equal lows & equal highs parallel or near-parallel shape and the volume is ‘resting’.
- Note: the main difference between this pattern and a Flag is the duration of the consolidation portion of the pattern. While we would like this phase to be short, traders should be prepared for this pattern to take some time.
3) The pattern confirms as a bearish continuation pattern if the action creates a new bearish breakdown with a surge again from the bears in both volume & price. The immediate lower support outlined by the neutral rectangle is the area traders look to see confirm the breakdown. Typically the action will mimic the volatility & energy experienced with the Pole creation. Since the neutral rectangle represents balance & neutrality it is highly recommended to pay close attention to the volume after the breakdown as an aid in recognizing further potential for the pattern. With large patterns where the momentum has been somewhat ‘dampened’, re-tests of the breakdown price are common before the trend can continue.
Options for Trading the Neutral Rectangle as a bearish continuation pattern:
Aggressive traders will enter trades right around the resistance trendline once sufficient resistance has confirmed. The concept is that the trend is on your side and the bears are maintaining a lower level of resistance below the resistance level in the background.
Stop placement can be fairly tight right above resistance & can be adjusted downward accordingly.
Note the middle price area of the neutral rectangle is a ‘muddy trench’ in this tug of war between buyers & sellers. It will offer an immediate incremental target after an entry. When price approaches the lower support line you should gauge the momentum: if you see that the momentum is strong stick to the position. However, if you see that support prevails, close the trade & take your profits to maximize the reward.
The aggressive trading method can highly increase the profit potential of any rectangle, as you can trade the same pattern several times & profit from the ranging swing movements inside the pattern. However, remember that as a trend continuation pattern traders want this consolidation rectangle formation to be relatively brief. Two or 3 swings may turn into more with this rectangle so traders need to be prepared to be patient & continue to evaluate the risk:reward parameters to fit the action.
Conservative traders will enter a trade once the lower support line has been broken &/or the new breakdown has confirmed.
False breakouts do happen and confirmation needed is always a traders’ choice. Several methods that apply here for either intrabar &/or close bar options offered in sequence: breakdown below support price, retrace holds BD line, price clears breakdown swing low price, larger chart combination.
Stop placement considerations can be aggressively lowered after the breakdown of the price.
Measured Move Targets based on structure of Pole & the Bear Neutral Rectangle:
Recommend:
- BreakDown price (minus) Neutral Rectangle measure = target
- Neutral Rectangle measure = (swing high price of rectangle (minus) swing low price of rectangle)
Aggressive with Momentum & Volume: duplication of the original move or trader choice measurement of the Pole:
- ‘50-50’ or mid-line price of Bear Neutral Rectangle (minus) Pole measure = target
- Pole measure = (Pole Base price (minus) Pole Tip price)
Example Neutral Rectangle as a bearish continuation pattern:
