Most patterns fall under the heading of consolidation or continuation patterns, meaning they are just a breather between further moves in the same direction. However, these patterns can sometimes appear at tops or bottoms and signal a reversal. We'll begin with the Rectangle, which is a pattern with both a flat top and a flat bottom, hence its name. The predicted move out of the pattern is, once again, the size of the pattern from the breakout point. The most perfect example this year probably belonged to Ariba, which surprisingly formed a rectangle at both a bottom and a top.
Triangles are another common pattern.
Like the rectangle, the Symmetrical Triangle is a neutral pattern, not giving away direction until the pattern is broken. However, it too is usually a continuation pattern. The symmetrical triangle is probably the least reliable of major patterns, giving false breakouts to either side. Right-angle Triangles are more reliable. The 18-point size of the pattern, from 32 to 50, predicted a move to 14.