Reversal · Bearish · Medium reliability
Broadening Top Pattern Explained
Break below support after expanding swings at highs.
What it looks like
Swing highs rise while lows hold or drift — volatility expands into a megaphone shape, often late in an uptrend.
Volatile; often appears near emotional market tops.
Visual example
Illustrative geometry on ChartNox charts — not a live trade signal.
How to identify it
- Swing highs rise while lows hold or drift.
- Volatility expands into a megaphone shape.
- Often late in strong uptrends — watch support breaks.
When the read is wrong
Invalid if highs stop expanding and price compresses again.
Common mistakes
- Trying to draw it from only one or two swings. It needs several swings to show the widening shape.
- Expecting clean moves. Wide swings and false breaks are part of this pattern.
Questions and answers
Why does a broadening top look like a megaphone?
Each swing gets bigger: highs push higher while lows hold or drop, so the two lines spread apart.
What does a broadening top tell you?
It shows rising volatility, often late in a strong uptrend. The read is bearish when support breaks.
Ask ChartNox AI about Broadening Top
Open the tutor with this pattern pre-seeded. Educational coaching only — not a trade recommendation.
- How do I identify a Broadening Top on a chart, step by step?
- What usually invalidates a Broadening Top pattern?
- What mistakes do beginners make with Broadening Top?