
ChartTalk: Is This Extended Consolidation a Trend Pause or Reversal For This Healthcare Provider?
The Rectangle pattern is a well-recognized price formation in technical analysis that represents a consolidation phase before the price makes a decisive move. It indicates a temporary balance between buyers and sellers, where the price fluctuates within a defined horizontal range. This pattern does not inherently suggest a directional bias but signals that the market is awaiting a catalyst for a breakout.
Identifying a Rectangle Pattern
A Rectangle is characterized by two parallel horizontal lines—one acting as resistance and the other as support. The price moves between these boundaries multiple times without breaking out, creating a sideways market. For a pattern to be considered a valid rectangle, the price should touch both the support and resistance levels at least twice. The longer the consolidation lasts, the more significant the breakout tends to be.
Volume often declines as the pattern develops, reflecting reduced conviction among market participants. However, volume expansion at the breakout level is a crucial factor, as it confirms the strength of the move. Rectangles can form over varying timeframes, from intraday to several months, but larger formations typically lead to stronger breakouts.
Interpreting the Rectangle: Continuation vs. Reversal
A rectangle can function either as a continuation pattern or a reversal pattern, depending on its position within a larger trend. Traders analyze the preceding price action and breakout direction to determine the likely outcome.
A rectangle pattern can serve as either a continuation or a reversal, depending on its context within the broader trend. When it forms within an ongoing trend, it typically represents a pause in momentum before the trend resumes—a breakout above resistance in an uptrend signals further upside, while a breakdown below support in a downtrend suggests continued selling pressure. Volume expansion on the breakout reinforces the strength of the move. However, when a rectangle appears after a prolonged trend, it may indicate trend exhaustion and potential reversal. A breakdown below support after an uptrend signals a bearish shift, while a breakout above resistance following a downtrend suggests a bullish reversal. In such cases, higher volume during the breakout against the prior trend strengthens the reversal signal, confirming a change in market sentiment.

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The chart of Narayana Hrudayalaya Ltd (NH) presents a well-defined Rectangle pattern, forming a year-long consolidation phase. The stock has been oscillating between a well-established resistance zone near ₹1,400 and a support level around ₹1,170, reflecting a state of equilibrium between buyers and sellers.
Why Continuation is More Likely
Rectangles are often trend continuation patterns, especially when they occur midway in an ongoing uptrend. The stock has been forming higher lows within the range, indicating accumulation rather than distribution. Additionally, RSI (Relative Strength Index) is holding above 50, suggesting that bullish momentum remains intact. A breakout above ₹1,400 would confirm trend continuation, fueled by fresh buying interest.
Given the strong prior uptrend, range-bound accumulation, and sustained RSI strength, the pattern leans towards a bullish breakout and continuation. Investors should watch for volume expansion on the breakout to validate trend resumption.
Foram Chheda, CMT