How to follow up after the long positive line breaks through the previous high?

A long positive candle with high volume breaking previous resistance signals a potential bullish trend, offering strategic entry points and requiring tight risk management.

Jun 17, 2025 at 07:29 am

Understanding the Long Positive Line Breakthrough

When a long positive line appears on a cryptocurrency chart, it typically signals strong buying pressure. A breakthrough of the previous high suggests that resistance levels have been overcome, potentially indicating the start of a new upward trend. Traders often look for confirmation of this breakout to avoid false signals and ensure they are entering at a favorable point.

The first step in following up after such a move is to assess the volume accompanying the long positive candle. If the volume is significantly higher than average, it reinforces the validity of the breakout. This can be confirmed by comparing the current volume bar with the average volume over the past 10–20 periods.

Analyzing Price Action Post-Breakout

After the breakout, it's essential to monitor how the price behaves in the following candlesticks. A healthy continuation usually involves higher highs and higher lows, which confirm the bullish momentum. One effective method is to watch for a pullback to the broken resistance level, which may now act as support.

Traders should also look for candlestick patterns like bullish engulfing, hammer, or morning star formations during pullbacks, as these can serve as potential entry points. It’s important not to chase the price too aggressively if it continues rising without retracing, as this could lead to poor risk-reward ratios.

Setting Up Entry Points After Confirmation

Once the breakout has been validated through volume and price action, traders can consider setting up strategic entry points. There are generally two approaches:

• Immediate entry after breakout confirmation: This strategy involves placing a buy order just above the high of the long positive candle.
• Wait for a retest of the broken resistance: In this case, the trader waits for the price to return to the former resistance level (now support) before entering.

For both strategies, it's crucial to use tight stop-loss orders—typically placed below the recent swing low or the breakout candle’s low—to manage risk effectively.

Managing Risk and Position Sizing

Following a breakout doesn't guarantee continued upward movement. Therefore, proper risk management becomes vital. Traders should never risk more than 1%–2% of their total trading capital on a single trade.

Position sizing should be calculated based on the distance between the entry point and the stop-loss level. For example:

• If your stop-loss is 5% away from your entry, and you're willing to risk $100, then your total position size should be adjusted so that a 5% drop equals $100 in losses.
• This ensures that even if the trade goes against you, the impact on your overall portfolio remains minimal.

Additionally, using trailing stops can help lock in profits as the price continues to rise, allowing for potential gains while limiting downside risk.

Monitoring Indicators for Trend Continuation

While price action is the primary tool for assessing breakouts, incorporating technical indicators can provide additional confirmation. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) are particularly useful in identifying overbought conditions or divergence that might signal a reversal.

• If RSI moves above 70, it indicates overbought territory, but it shouldn’t be used alone to short-sell unless there's visible bearish price action.
• The MACD line crossing above the signal line confirms positive momentum, especially when accompanied by increasing volume.

Using moving averages like the 50-period EMA (Exponential Moving Average) or 200-period SMA (Simple Moving Average) can also help determine whether the trend remains intact. As long as the price stays above these key levels, the bullish bias remains valid.

FAQs

Q: Should I always wait for a retest after a breakout?

A: No, it depends on your trading style. Aggressive traders may enter immediately after confirmation, while conservative traders prefer waiting for a retest to improve risk-reward ratios.

Q: How do I differentiate between a real breakout and a fake one?

A: Look at volume and follow-through. A real breakout will usually have above-average volume and subsequent candles that continue pushing higher without immediate rejection.

Q: Can I apply this strategy across all cryptocurrencies?

A: Yes, this approach works on most liquid cryptocurrencies. However, lower-cap altcoins may exhibit more volatility and false breakouts due to thinner order books and manipulation risks.

Q: What time frame is best for analyzing breakouts?

A: While this strategy applies to multiple time frames, daily and 4-hour charts are preferred for confirming major breakouts. Shorter time frames like 1-hour or 15-minute can be used for entries once the higher-time-frame trend is established.