Are Diamond Patterns Friend Or Foe?

05/26/11 03:33:26 PM

by Koos van der Merwe

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, so goes the song. Are they a trader's, though?

Security: AA
Position: Sell

Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but when a diamond pattern appears on a chart, the word "caution" should flash in your head. As an example, look at the chart of Alcoa, which is tracing a diamond pattern.

Alcoa is involved in the production and management of aluminum, fabricated aluminum, and alumina. The company has had a volatile share price movement, trading between $18 and $45. Then, starting June 2008, the price plunged to a low of $5.00 by March 2009. Since that date, the price has recovered.

FIGURE 1: ALCOA, DAILY. Here's a chart of Alcoa showing the trend.

Graphic provided by: AdvancedGET.

Figure 1 shows how the price of the share recovered from a low of $4.99 on March 6, 2009, to a high of $18.54 by April 8, 2011, a very nice return of 271%. So what now? The relative strength index (RSI) has given a buy signal.

FIGURE 2: ALCOA, DAILY. Here's a chart of Alcoa showing a diamond pattern.

Graphic provided by: AdvancedGET.

Figure 2, which is also a daily chart, highlights the diamond pattern that has formed. Note the RSI buy signals with only one RSI sell signal. Note also the falling volume as price fell, usually a sign of strength. However, the last three days of up trading have also been on falling volume, suggesting weakness ahead. The two pivot points of $15.43 and $15.86 offer resistance levels, as does the lower support line A-B. By all accounts, the share price should rise on the RSI buy signal and it probably will, so short-term traders could make a comfortable profit. However, long-term investors should be cautious. Diamond patterns are notorious for being reverse signals.

An interesting pattern to watch, but a pattern that shouts caution.

Koos van der Merwe

Has been a technical analyst since 1969, and has worked as a futures and options trader with First Financial Futures in Johannesburg, South Africa.

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Are Diamond Patterns Friend Or Foe?

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