M 81 W WAVE PATTERNS
Arthur A. Merrill
Merrill Analysis Inc.
w PATTERN
M PATTERN
Aim:
Consider the zigzag movements of stock prices, ignoring minor fluctuations.
Pick any five consecutive turning points. If the first of the four swings
is upward, the pattern forms an -M. If the first swing is downward, the
pattern is a -W.
Are some of the four swing patterns bullish? Are some bearish? How big
was the swing following the pattern?
Robert Levy has attacked this problem for individual stocks'. He measured
the performance in the 4, 13 and 26 weeks following each pattern. The paper
which follows considers the market as a whole, as measured by the Dow Jones
Industrials, ignoring swings of less than 5%. The extent of the swing fol-
lowing each pattern was measured and averaged.
Classification:
Levy suggested identifying the pattern by ranking the five points from high-
est to lowest, then reading the ranks from left to right. In the example
above, the W pattern is number 15342; the M pattern is 41325.
we have separated the 32 possible patterns into 16 M patterns and 16 W
patterns.
'"Predictive Significance of Five Point Chart Patterns", Robert A. Levy,
Journal of Business, U. of Chicago July 1971.
43
Method:
The data source is "Filtered Waves, Basic Theory", which lists all D.J.
Industrial turning points, using a 5% filter, from March 25, 1898. There
are 688 turning points in the span to February 28, 1979, forming 342 com-
plete M and 342 W patterns.
A computer program was designed to identify the patterns and to measure
the extent of the swing following each pattern. It was designed for T159
programmable calculator, and had 476 instructions. This program was ap-
plied to the 688 turning points.
Geometric averages were calculated for the extent (percent rise or percent
decline) of the swing following each pattern classification.
In addition,the patterns were identified at the top of all bull markets
and at the bottom of all bear markets since 1989.
Results:
The average extent of the swing following the various patterns is noted in
the chart which follows. These rankings may be interesting but should
not be considered conclusive, since only the Ml average is far enough from
the overall average to rate a good significance score (for Ml: t = 2.50,
deg. of freedom = 27).
The patterns at the top of bull markets and at the bottom of bear markets
are noted on the following pages.
44
(Geometric ovemqes)
Ml6 w3 WI3
WII
,, M4,YIS
” W2 W4
Y8 @ wr w9
t f
MI4
I2 t-
‘O M3 us YII Yl2
Y2
Ml0
Y7 u9
@ = Ove roll Average
AAY
9i
I n the pages which follow,
n = the number of times the pattern waa found
in the 342 M or 342 W patterns since March 25, 1898.
7’0 rise: this is the percent rise average (geometric)
in the swing immediately following an M pattern, or
the percent decline in the swing following a W pattern.
It is compared with the overall average of all swings,
using a 5% filter.
45
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46
Ml n=28 (no.of occurrences: the total for the M
patterns is 3.42)
Aver. rise (swing following pattern): 13.89% This is
the highest of all the M patterns, and is
the only one that has a truly significant
difference for the overall average.
Bear market bottoms: This pattern appeared at the end
of seven of the fifteen bear markets since
1898. The fifth point of the pattern was the
2 I 4 3 5
low point of the bear. Is this a confirma-
tion of the selling climax idea? It certain-
ly indicates an oversold condition.
Bull market tops: This pattern appears at the top of
four bull markets, initiating the new bear
with a sharp downtrend.
\ M2
?
M2 n=16
4
I
Aver.
Bear
Bull
rise:
market
market
9.69%
bottoms:
tops:
This is
none
two
one of the lowest.
IP This is a downward
These reversals
shoulders".
of
Several
zigzag
zigzags
patterns
followed by an upward zigzag.
have been called
exhibit this
"head and
reversal.
M3 n= 43 This is the second most popular of the M
M3 patterns.
Aver. rise: 9.08% This is below the overall average.
Bear market bottoms: four
\\ Bull market tops: three (including the 1929 top)
This is a downtrend, but not as steep as Ml.
3
% I
3 14 2 5
M4 n= 16
I
11.12% This is close to the average.
\, I
M4 Aver. rise:
Bear market bottoms: three
Bull market tops: none
This is another reversal from a downward zigzag to an
/1J\. upward zigzag.
3 15 2 4
47
M5 n=13
Aver. rise: 9.94% This is below average.
Bear market bottoms: one
Bull market tops: none
This is a "broadening formation". The swings get
larger from left to right.
3241 5
M6 M6 n=6 This one of the rarest of the patterns.
Aver. rise: 11.86% This is the third best.
Bear market bottoms: one
Bull market tops: none
This is a downward zigzag followed by a sharp rise and
decline.
325 I4
M7 M7 n=28
Aver. rise: 9.29% One of the lowest.
Bear market bottoms: two
Bull market tops: six This is tied with Ml5 for the
\ ?
4
most tops.
h I This pattern
dymward
begins
zigzag.
with a sharp rise followed by a
4 1 325
M8 M8 n=4
Aver. rise: 10.65% This is average.
? Bear market bottoms: none
I Bull market tops: none
\
t This is a wide swing downward zigzag followed by an
upward zigzag.
r\r-
4 I 5 2 3
48
Y9
M9 n=15
Aver. rise: 9.24% This is one of the lowest.
\t
Bear market bottoms: one
?
4
I
Bull market tops: three
4 This is an upward trend followed by a steep downswing,
breaking through the preceeding low point.
423 I5
MI0 Ml0 n=18
Aver. rise: 9.55% This is one of the lowest.
Bear market bottoms: one
Bull market tops: one
i
I
\8 This is another downward zigzag followed by an upward
zigzag. It occurred recently; March 1, 1978 was the
third point of this pattern.
VP
425 I3
MII
Ii
1
Ml1
Aver.
n=20
rise: 9.95% This is low.
\
Bear market bottoms: eight This ties with Ml5 for the
highest frequency.
Bull market tops: one
41”
4 3 5 I 2
Another downward zigzag followed by an upward zigzag.
Ml2 Ml2 n= 15
Aver. rise: 9.80% This is below average.
Bear market bottoms: one
Bull market tops: three
\&Ic\ #Ip A sharp rise which changed into a downward zigzag.
5I 3 2 4
49
Ml3
?
A
I
Ml3
Aver.
Bear
n=12
rise:
market
12.79%
patterns.
bottoms:
This is
one
the second best of the M
\PI Bull
This
market
is
tops:
a triangle
none
with upward breakout.
51423
Ml4
I Ml4 n=24
Aver. rise: 10.12%
Bear market bottoms: one
Bull market tops: four (including 1929)
II? This pattern begins with a promising uptrend, but
\1 concludes with a bad break.
sJ\
52314
Ml5 n=44 This is the most frequent of the M patterns.
Ml5
Aver. rise: 11.15% This is close to average.
Bear market bottoms: eight This is tied with M 11 for
maximum frequency.
Bull market tops: six This is tied with Ml6 for top
frequency.
This pattern occurred recently. February 28, 1979 was
the fifth point of this pattern. It's a fine uptrend.
5 24 I3
Ml6 n=40 This is the third most frequent.
Ml6
Aver. rise: 11.50% This is the fourth best.
Bear market bottoms: four
Bull market tops: one
This is a sharp uptrend. Compare it to M15.
50
WI
Wl n=28
Aver. decline: 9.53% This isn't far from the overall
,I average.
Bear market bottoms: two
Bull market tops: seven This is tied with Ml6 for top
frequency. This pattern can be found at the
\ 1929 peak. The sharp downtrend initiated the
\2/ t super bear market.
;
I 3 2 5 4
w2 w2 n=43 This is the second most frequent pattern.
Gr. decline: 11.06% One of the deepest.
I Bear market bottoms: three
, Bull market tops: six
\ This is a downtrend, but not as steep as Wl.
c
?
;/\/
I 4 2 5 3
w3 w3 n=17
Aver. decline: 10.65% This is deeper than average.
I Bear market bottoms: two
I Bull market tops: three
I
t
7 This is a downtrend which ends in a steep rise. It
occurred at the March 1, 1978 bottom.
\2/
I4352
I w4 n= 9
Aver. decline: 11.09% This is one of the deepest.
Bear market bottoms: one
Bull market tops: none
This is a triangle with downward breakout.
I 5 2 4 3
51
w5 n=21
Gr. decline: 10.07% Close to average.
Bear market bottoms: three
Bull market tops: none
This pattern begins with a sharp drop but ends with
an uptrend.
I 5 3 4 2
W6 W6 n-16
Gr. decline: 10.17% Close to average.
Bear market bottoms: none
Bull market tops: four
This is an upward zigzag followed by a downward zigzag.
w7 w7 n=17
xr. decline: 11.22% This is one of the deepest.
Bear market bottoms: none
Bull market tops: three (including 1929)
I
I
1 This is another upward zigzag followed by a downward
/ # zigzag.
?
\ik
24153
W8 W8 n=24
Gr. decline: 8.31% This is the best of the W
1
1 averages.
1 7 Bear market bottoms: six
I Bull market tops: one
This is a downtrend followed by a sharp recovery.
)A/-
2 4 3 5 I
52
w9 n=lO
I A i- Aver. decline:
Bear market
11.23%
bottoms:
This
none
is one of the deepest.
Bull market tops: three
Wide fluctuations were followed by a very weak rally.
WlO n=19
x. decline: 9.94% This is close to average.
Bear market bottoms: one
Bull market tops: two
A sharp downswing followed by a strong upward zigzag.
2534 I
Wll n=3 This is the rarest of the W patterns.
Aver. decline: 10.77% This is below average, but the
number is low.
Bear market bottoms: none
Bull market tops: none.
34152
WI2
\9? w12
Aver.
n=16
decline: 9.92% This is average.
:4
Bear market bottoms: two
Bull market tops: one
There is a broadening formation, with the swings
increasing in magnitude from left to right.
34251
53
WI3
___~ .-- I w13 n=22
Aver. decline: 10.54% This is deeper than average.
Bear market bottoms: none
I Bull market peaks: four
c
I 3
I This is another upward zigzag followed by a downward
zigzag.
v’l’
3 5 I4 2
WI4 w14 n=36 This is the third highest in frequency.
Aver. decline: 9.67% This is better than average.
I Bear market bottoms: two
t
? Bull market tops: five
I 1 This is a fine uptrend. It occurred recently:
I i March 1, 1978 had this pattern.
d
35241
w15 n=13
Average decline: 8.47% This is second best.
Bear market bottoms: one
Bull market tops: two
A strong upward zigzag is followed by a minor downward
zigzag.
WIG W16 n=48 This is the most frequent W pattern.
Aver. decline: 8.97% This is the third best.
Bear market bottoms: seven
Bull market tops: seven (including 1929)
This uptrend is steeper than W14.
45231
54
