Personal Notes on Demark Patterns by Emmanuel Nyemera, PhD
Buy Patterns TD Buy Setup
Sell Patterns
TD Sell Setup
Duration A TD Buy Setup starts with a bearish TD Price Flip, i.e. a trading bar with a close less than the close of the fourth trading bar before it which is immediately preceded by a trading bar with also a close greater than the close of the fourth trading bar before it . The bar on which the bearish TD Price Flip occurs becomes bar 1 of the TD Buy Setup. The TD Buy Setup phase is complete when you have a series of 9 or more consecutive price bars with each one having a close less than the close 4 price bars earlier. Nine bars is the minimum for a TD Buy Setup but the Buy Setup itself continues as long as there is no bullish TD Price Flip to interrupt it.
Duration A TD Sell Setup starts with a bullish TD Price Flip, i.e. a trading bar with a close greater than the close of the fourth trading bar before it which is immediately preceded by a trading bar with a close less than the close of the fourth trading bar before it. The bar on which the bullish TD Price Flip occurs becomes bar 1 of the TD Sell Setup. The TD Sell Setup phase is complete when you have a series of 9 or more consecutive price bars with each one having a close greater than the close 4 price bars earlier. Nine bars is the minimum for a TD Sell Setup but the Sell Setup itself continues as long as there is no bearish TD Price Flip to interrupt it.
TDST Support
The lowest true low of the last completed TD Sell Setup. For any trading bar, its true
TDST Resistance
The highest true high of the last completed TD Buy Setup. For any trading bar, its true high is defined as
low is defined as the lower of either
that bar's low or its previous bar's
close.
the higher of either that bar's high or its previous
bar's close.
Perfection
For TD Buy Setup perfection, the low of bars 8 or 9 of the TD Buy Setup or the low of a subsequent trading bar must be less than or equal to the lows of both bars 6 and 7 of the TD Buy Setup . This qualifier applies only to those who wish to trade the completed low-risk Setup indications. It has no bearing on the commencement of the other phases of TD Sequential, i.e the Intersection or the Countdown phases.
Perfection
For TD Sell Setup perfection, the high of bars 8 or 9 of the TD Sell Setup or the high of a subsequent trading bar must be greater than or equal to the highs of both bars 6 and 7 of the TD Sell Setup . This qualifier applies only to those who wish to trade the completed low-risk Setup indications. It has no bearing on the commencement of the other phases of TD Sequential, i.e the Intersection or Countdown phases.
Trading Prerequisites
- The TD Buy Setup is perfected. - None of the bars within the TD Buy Setup has closed below TDST Support. - Oscillators are in oversold zones.
Trading Prerequisites
- The TD Sell Setup is perfected. - None of the bars within the TD Sell Setup has closed above TDST Resistance. - Oscillators are in overbought zones.
-
Entry Techniques :
1. If the close of the TD Buy Setup bar 9 is in close proximity (around 23.6%) to TDST Support and the close of TD Buy Setup bar 9 is lower than the close of TD Buy Setup bar 8, buy on the close of TD Buy Setup 9.
Entry Techniques
1. If the close of the TD Sell Setup bar 9 is in close proximity (around 23.6%) to TDST Resistance and the close of TD Sell Setup bar 9 is higher than the close of TD Sell Setup bar 8, sell on the close of TD Sell Setup 9. 2. In other situations :
a. Sell on a bearish TD Price Flip, a reversal bar, a
2. In other situations :
a. Buy on a bullish TD Price Flip, a reversal bar, ta signal bar, a snap-back bar or a reversal confirmation bar.
b. Trail a buy-stop to go long 5 pips + the pip spread above the 1BH following the Stochastics’ bullish reversal.
c. Trail a buy-stop to go long above the high of the Bar satisfying the Bishop rule (ADX). ADX readings of over 40, and particularly over 60, have an excellent record of excellent buying opportunities.
d. Evaluate the lower time frames for TD Sequential, TD Combo, or qualified TD Lines breakouts.
e. Entry on the prior swing high violation and the crossing of the 5-day EMA above the 13-day EMA on daily charts, or the crossing of the 8-bar EMA above the 34-bar EMA on intraday charts.
signal bar, a snap-back bar or a reversal confirmation bar.
b. Trail a sell-stop to go short 5 pips + the pip spread below the 1BL following the Stochastics’ bearish reversal.
c. Trail a sell-stop to go short below the low of the bar satisfying the Bishop rule (ADX). ADX readings of over 40, and particularly over 60, have an excellent record of excellent selling opportunities.
d. Evaluate the lower time frames for TD Sequential, TD Combo, or qualified TD Lines breakouts.
e. Entry on the prior swing low violation or the crossing of the 5-DAY EMA of closes below the 13-day EMA of the closes on daily charts or the crossing of the 8-bar EMA of closes below the 34-bar EMA of the closes on intraday charts.
Stop-Loss Identify the TD Buy Setup bar with the lowest Stop-Loss Identify the TD Sell Setup bar with the highest true high
true low and subtract the true range of that bar from its true low. This is the maximum risk allowed.
and add the true range of that bar to its true high. This is the maximum risk allowed.
Expected Profit Target
The expectation would be for a return toward the high range extreme of the current TD Buy Setup, i.e. TDST Resistance. Buy if the expected return >= 2*Capital Exposure (Risk)
Expected Profit Target
The expectation would be for a return toward the low range extreme of the current TD Sell Setup, i.e. TDST Support. Sell if the expected return >= 2*Capital Exposure (Risk)
Trailing Stop and Exit
Single in/Scale out Money Management System and the Bishop Rule. Always enter with at least 2 units, one unit is to be exited when profit=risk. Risk no more than 2% of your equity on any one trade. Trail stop using the Swing high violation and oscillator reversal strategy: An oscillator bullish reversal and a swing high must be taken out before the stop los is adjusted. It doesn’t matter which event occurs first but they must both occur.
Traililng Stop and Exit
Single in/Scale out Money Management System and the Bishop Rule. Always enter with at least 2 units; one unit is to be exited when profit = risk. Risk no more than 2% of your equity on any one trade. Trail stop using the Swing low violation and oscillator reversal strategy : An oscillator bearish reversal and a swing low must be taken out before the stop los is adjusted. It doesn’t matter which event occurs first but they must both occur.
Intersection Intersection
Applicable to stocks only
Intersection requires that the high of trading bar 8 of the Buy Setup, or of the first subsequent bar thereafter, be greater than or equal to the low three or more trading bars earlier, up to and including the first bar of the TD Buy Setup. For intersection to be fulfilled, the high of bar 8 of a buy setup must be greater than or equal to the low of bars 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 of the Buy Setup. If this requirement is not met,
Applicable to stocks only
Intersection requires that the low of bar 8 of the Sell Setup, or of the first subsequent trading bar thereafter, be less than or equal to the high three or more trading bars earlier, up to and the first bar of the Sell Setup. For intersection to be fulfilled, the low of bar 8 of a sell setup
must be lower than or equal to the high of bars 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 of the sell setup. If this requirement is not met, then the low
of bar 9 of the sell setup must be lower than or equal to the high of sell setup bar 6 or any other price bar back to bar 1 of
then the high of bar 9 of the Buy Setup must be
greater than or equal to the low of buy setup bar 6 or any other price bar back to bar 1 of the Buy
Setup. If this is not fulfilled, then each successive price bar is compared until its high is greater
than or equal to the low of the price bar three or
more price bars earlier back to bar 1 of the Buy
Setup. If intersection occurs on price Setup bar 8 or 9, then the buy Countdown begins on the 9 bar. If the intersection occurs after the completion of the Buy Setup, then the Buy Countdown can start at that bar.
the sell setup. If this is not fulfilled, then each successive price
bar is compared until its low is lower than or equal to the high of the price bar three or more price bars earlier back to bar 1
of the sell setup. If intersection occurs on price Setup bar 8 or 9, then the sell Countdown begins on the 9 bar. If the intersection occurs after the completion of the sell Setup phase, then the sell Countdown can start on that bar.
Conventional TD Sequential Buy Countdolwn
Conventional TD Sequential Sell Countdown
Beginning From the close of Bar 9 (inclusive) of the TD Buy Setup and the search is onward. For stocks, the Countdown begins on the bar on which the Intersection is fulfilled and looks onward.
Beginning From the close of Bar 9 (inclusive) of the Sell Setup and the search is onward. For stocks, the Countdown begins on the bar on which the Intersection is fulfilled and looks onward.
Count 13 price bars. To qualify as a TD Sequential Buy Countdown bar, the bar must have a CLOSE <= LOW two trading bars earlier. The Buy Countdown identification process begins with the ninth bar of the Setup and looks forward. If the close of TD Buy Setup bar 9 is less than the low 2 trading bars earlier then it becomes the first bar of the Buy Countdown. Otherwise the following bars are evaluated and the first bar which meet the condition becomes the TD Sequential Buy Countdown
Count 13 price bars. To qualify as a TD Sequential Sell Countdown bar, the bar must have a CLOSE >= HIGH two
trading bars earlier. The Sell Countdown identification process begins with the ninth bar of the Setup and looks
forward. If the close of TD Sell Setup bar 9 is greater than
the high 2 trading bars earlier then it becomes the first bar
of the Sell Countdown. Otherwise the following bars are evaluated and the first bar which meet the condition
becomes the TD Sequential Sell Countdown bar 1. For very
short time frames, use the condition of a CLOSE > HIGH
bar 1. For very short time frames, use the condition of a CLOSE < LOW two trading bars earlier in the identification of Buy Countdown bars.
two trading bars earlier in the identification of Sell Countdown bars.
Cancellation
1. Price rallies and posts a true low above TDST Resistance 2. Reverse Setup. Price rallies and generates a Sell Setup before the completion of the TD Buy Countdown. 3. Any new Buy Setup whose true range (the difference between its highest true high and its lowest true low) is smaller than the true range of the prior Buy Setup or greater than 1.618 times the true range of the prior Buy Setup is ignored and the prior Buy Setup remains the active Buy Setup and its Countdown phase continues. 4. Within Setup (Setup with a closing range within the true range of the previous setup). This setup cancellation occurs when a setup recycles but the extreme high close and the extreme low close of the recently completed buy Setup phase are contained within the extreme high and the extreme low of the previously completed buy Setup. In this case, the current buy setup is ignored and the
Cancellation
1. Price declines and posts a true high below TDST Support 2. Reverse Setup. Price declines and generates a Buy Setup before the completion of the TD Sell Countdown. 3. Any new Sell Setup whose true range (the difference between its highest true high and its lowest true low) is smaller than the true range of the prior Sell Setup or greater than 1.618 times the true range of the prior Sell Setup is ignored and the prior Sell Setup remains the active Sell Setup and its Countdown phase continues. 4. Within Setup (Setup with a closing range within the true range of the previous setup). This setup cancellation occurs when a setup recycles but the extreme high close and the extreme low close of the recently completed sell Setup phase are contained within the extreme high and the extreme low of the previously completed sell Setup. In this case, the current sell setup is ignored and the previous sell Setup is dominant and its Countdown phase remains intact.
5. Extended Setup. If Setup bars extend to 18, the Countdown is cancelled and an R appears where the countdown bar’s 13 would otherwise be.
previous buy Setup is dominant and its Countdown phase remains intact. 5. Extended Setup. If Setup bars extend to 18, the Countdown is cancelled and an R appears where the countdown bar’s 13 would otherwise be.
Recycling
1. A new Buy Setup occurs « before, on, or after» completion of the TD Buy Countdown and prior to a bullish price flip (which perfects the Buy Countdown) and its true range is equal to, or greater than, the size of the previous TD Buy Setup but less than 1.618 times its true range. The TD Buy Setup with the larger true range becomes the active TD Buy Setup and the Countdown phase associated with it is the valid one. 2. Extended Setup. A Recycle occurs when a new TD Buy Setup which started « before, on, or after » completion of the Buy Countdown and prior to a bullish price flip extends to 18 bars- that is 18 closes, with each one less than the close 4 price bars earlier.
Recycling
1. A new Sell Setup occurs « before, on, or after » completion of the Sell Countdown and prior to a bearish price flip (which perfects the Sell Countdown) and its true range is equal to, or greater, the size of the previous TD Sell Setup but less than 1.618 times its true range. The TD Sell Setup with the larger true range becomes the active TD Sell Setup and the Countdown phase associated with it is the valid one. 2. Extended Setup. A Recycle occurs when a new TD Sell Setup which started « before, on, or after » completion of the Buy Countdown and prior to a bearish price flip extends to 18 bars – that is 18 closes, with each one greater than the close 4 price bars earlier.
Qualifier
The standard condition is a CLOSE of bar 13 of TD Buy Countdown <= CLOSE of bar 8 of TD Buy Countdown. The minimum requirement is the LOW of bar 13 of Buy Countdown <= CLOSE of bar 8 of the TD
Qualifier
The standard condition is a CLOSE of bar 13 of TD Sell Countdown >= CLOSE of bar 8 of Sell Countdown. The minimum requirement is the HIGH of bar 13 of TD Sell Countdown >= CLOSE of bar 8 of TD Sell Countdown
Buy Countdown
TD Termination Count
In order to prevent the possibility of TD Buy Countdown proceeding to 12th bar and price reversing without recording the 13th bar of the TD Buy Countdown, you can also use the open or the low, instead of the close, and compares it to the low two price bars earlier. If either the open or the low is less than the low two price bars earlier, the 13th bar of the Buy Countdown is registered. This is the Termination Count process and applies only to the last bar, the 13th bar, of the TD Buy Countdown. TD Termination Count states that all that is required to record the final price of a buy Countdown would be for the close, the open, or the intrabar low to be less than the low two price bars earlier.
TD Termination Count
In order to prevent the possibility of TD Sell Countdown proceeding to 12th and price reversing without recording the 13th bar of the TD Sell Countdown, you can use the open or the high, instead of the close, and compares it to the high two price bars earlier. If either the open or the high is greater than the high two price bars earlier, the 13th bar of the Sell Countdown is registered. This is the Termination Count process and applies only to the last bar, the 13th bar, of the TD Sell Countdown. TD Termination Count states that all that is required to record the final price of a sell Countdown would be for the close, the open, or the intrabar high to be greater than the high two price bars earlier.
Entry Techniques
1. Buy on the close 2. Buy on the bullish TD Price Flip 3. Alternative entry methods :
a. the reversal bar, the signal bar, the snap-back bar or the reversal confirmation bar .
b. Trail a buy-stop to go long 5 pips + the pip spread above the 1BH following a bullish reversal in Stochastics indicator.
Entry Techniques
1. Sell on the close 2. Sell on the bearish TD Price Flip 3. Alternative entry methods :
a. the reversal bar, the signal bar, the snap-back bar or the reversal confirmation bar.
b. Trail a sell-stop to go short 5 pips + the pip spread below the 1BL following a bearish reversal in Stochastics indicator.
c. Trail a sell-stop to go short below the high of the bar satisfying the Bishop rule (ADX) .
c. Trail a buy-stop to go long above the high of the Bar satisfying the Bishop rule (ADX) .
d. Evaluate the lower time frames for TD Sequential, TD Combo, or qualified TD Lines breakouts.
e. Swing high violation and moving average crossover.
d. Evaluate the lower time frames for TD Sequential, TD Combo, or qualified TD Lines breakouts .
e. Swing low violation and moving average crossover.
Initial Stop Loss
a. Find the bar with the lowest true low throughout the entire TD Buy Setup and TD Sequential Buy Countdown process, whether or not it is a numbered price bar; b. Calculate its true range (difference between its true high and its true low); and c. Subtract that true range from that bar's true low d. An alternative stop-loss technique is to identify the TD Buy Setup bar with the lowest true low and to subtract from its low the difference between its close and low.
Initial Stop Loss
a. Find the bar with the highest true high throughout the
entire TD Sell Setup and TD Sequential Sell Countdown
process, whether or not it is a numbered price bar;
b. Calculate its true range (difference between its true
high and its true low); and
c. Add that true range at that bar's true high
d. An alternative stop-loss technique is to identify the TD Buy Setup bar with the highest true high and to add to its high the difference between its high and close.
Trailing Stop and Exit Strategy
Single In/Scale Out Trade Management System Adjust the Stop Loss following a Swing High violation and an oscillator bullish reversal. Always watch the ADX for the Bishop rule.
Trailing Stop and Exit Strategy
Single In/Scale Out Trade Management System Adjust the Stop Loss following a Swing Low violation and an oscillator bearish reversal. Always watch the ADX for the Bishop rule.
TD Sequential Reinforcement pattern (9-13-9)
TD Sequential Reinforcement Pattern Validation
1. The new TD Buy Setup must not begin before or on the same price bar of the completed TD Buy Countdown.
2. The ensuing TD Buy Setup must be preceded by a bullish price Flip.
3. There must be no completed TD Sell Setup prior to the appearance of the TD Buy Setup.
Note: This pattern is most effective if the lowest close of the Buy Setup formed after the
Validation
1. The new TD Sell Setup must not begin before or on the same price bar of the completed TD Sell Countdown.
2. The ensuing TD Sell Setup must be preceded by a bearish price Flip.
3. There must be no completed TD Buy Setup prior to the appearance of the TD Sell Setup.
Note: This pattern is most effective if the highest close of the Sell Setup formed after the 13th bar of the TD Sell
13th bar of the TD Buy Countdown is contained by the low of the classic TD Buy Sequential
Countdown is contained by the high of the classic TD Sell Sequential
Stop Loss
Subtract the true range of the price bar with the lowest true low in the TD Buy Countdown and the ensuing TD Buy Setup from the true low of that bar.
Stop Loss
Add the true range of the price bar with the highest true high in the TD Sell Countdown and the ensuing TD Sell Setup to the true high of that bar.
Aggressive TD Sequential Buy Countdown
Aggressive TD Sequential Sell Countdown Count
13 price bars. To qualify as an Aggressive TD Sequential Buy Countdown bar, the bar must have a LOW ≤ LOW two trading bars earlier.
Count
13 price bars. To qualify as an Aggressive TD Sequential Sell Countdown bar, the bar must have a HIGH ≥ HIGH two trading bars earlier.
Qualifier
LOW of the Aggressive TD Sequential Buy Countdown bar 13 < LOW of the Aggressive TD Sequential Buy Countdown bar 8
Qualifier
HIGH of the Aggressive TD Sequential Sell Countdown bar 13 > HIGH of the Aggressive TD Sequential Sell Countdown bar 8
TD Combo Buy Countdown Version 1
TD Combo Sell Countdown Version 1
Requirements
The TD Combo Buy Countdown process begins by referring back to the first price bar of the Buy Setup and check for the following conditions that must be met simultaneously for a qualified TD Combo Buy Countdown bar:
1. CLOSE ≤ LOW two price bars earlier as it is for the TD Sequential Buy Countdown
2. LOW < LOW of the previous price bar 3. CLOSE < CLOSE of the previous price
bar 4. CLOSE < CLOSE of the prior numbered
Requirements
The TD Combo Sell Countdown process begins by referring back to the first price bar of the Sell Setup and check for the following conditions that must be met simultaneously for a qualified TD Combo Sell Countdown bar:
1. CLOSE ≥ HIGH two price bars earlier as it is for the TD Sequential Sell Countdown
2. HIGH > HIGH of the previous price bar 3. CLOSE > CLOSE of the previous price bar 4. CLOSE > CLOSE of the prior numbered TD Combo
Sell Countdown price bar. Note: The first bar of the TD Combo Sell Countdown satisfy
TD Combo Buy Countdown price bar. Note: The first bar of the TD Combo Buy Countdown satisfy the first 3 conditions only as there is no prior Buy Countdown bar.
the first 3 conditions only as there is no prior Sell Countdown bar.
TD Combo Buy Countdown Version 2 TD Combo Sell Countdown Version 2
Requirements
Bar 1 to Bar 10 of the TD Combo Buy Countdown Version 2 satisfy the same conditions as in version 1:
1. CLOSE ≤ LOW two price bars earlier as it is for the TD Sequential Buy Countdown
2. LOW < LOW of the previous price bar 3. CLOSE < CLOSE of the previous price
bar 4. CLOSE < CLOSE of the prior numbered
TD Combo Buy Countdown price bar. However, TD Combo Buy Countdown bars 11, 12 and 13 satisfy 2 conditions only:
1. CLOSE < CLOSE of the previous price bar
2. CLOSE < CLOSE of the prior numbered TD Combo Buy Countdown price bar
Requirements
Bar 1 to Bar 10 of the TD Combo Sell Countdown Version 2 satisfy the same conditions as in version 1:
1. CLOSE ≥ HIGH two price bars earlier as it is for the TD Sequential Sell Countdown
2. HIGH > HIGH of the previous price bar 3. CLOSE > CLOSE of the previous price bar 4. CLOSE > CLOSE of the prior numbered TD Combo
Sell Countdown price bar. However, TD Combo Sell Countdown bars 11, 12 and 13 satisfy 2 conditions only:
1. CLOSE > CLOSE of the previous price bar 2. CLOSE > CLOSE of the prior numbered TD Combo
Sell Countdown price bar
TD Combo Buy Reinforcement Pattern (9-13-9)
TD Combo Sell Reinforcement Pattern (9-13-9)
Validation 1. The TD Buy Setup must not begin before or on the same price bar as the completed TD Combo Buy Countdown bar 13
2. The ensuing TD Buy Setup must be preceded by a bullish Price Flip, which
Validation 1. The TD Sell Setup must not begin before or on the same price bar as the completed TD Combo Sell Countdown bar 13
2. The ensuing TD Sell Setup must be preceded by a bearish Price Flip, which perfects the Sell Countdown, and
Suggested Readings DeMark, Thomas R., The new science of technical analysis, New York : Wiley, 1994
DeMark, Thomas R., New market timing techniques : innovative studies in market rhythm & price exhaustion, New
York : Wiley, 1997
perfects the Buy Countdown, and 3. There must be no completed TD Sell
Setup prior to the appearance of the TD Buy Setup
Note: This pattern is most effective if the lowest close of the Buy Setup formed after the 13th bar of the TD Combo Buy Countdown is contained by the low of the classic TD Combo Buy pattern.
3. There must be no completed TD Buy Setup prior to the appearance of the TD Sell Setup
Note: This pattern is most effective if the highest close of the Sell Setup formed after the 13th bar of the TD Combo Sell Countdown is contained by the high of the classic TD Combo Sell pattern.
Aggressive TD Combo Buy Countdown Aggressive TD Combo Sell Countdown
Requirements
All the following conditions must be met simultaneously:
1. LOW ≤ LOW two price bars earlier 2. LOW < LOW of the previous price bar 3. LOW < LOW of the prior numbered
Aggressive TD Combo Buy Countdown price bar.
Note: The first bar of this new TD Combo Buy Countdown satisfy the first 2 conditions only as there is no prior Buy Countdown bar.
Requirements
All the following conditions must be met simultaneously: 1. HIGH ≥ HIGH two price bars earlier 2. HIGH > HIGH of the previous price bar 3. HIGH > HIGH of the prior numbered Aggressive TD
Combo Sell Countdown price bar. Note: The first bar of this new TD Combo Sell Countdown satisfy the first 2 conditions only as there is no prior Sell Countdown bar.
DeMark, Thomas R., & DeMark, Thomas R. Jr., DeMark On Day Trading Options, MacGraw Hill, 1999 Tom Demark, Trend Spotting with TD Combo, in David Keller, Breakthroughs in Technical Analysis : New Thinking from the World’s Top Minds, pp. 25-34 Tom Demark on indicators and market timing, in The Technical Analyst (www.technicalanalyst.co.uk), Issue 21, March/April 2007, pp. 20-26
Trevor Neil, Demark Indicators on CQG
Kurt Magnus, Impressive Signals from Demark, in The Technical Analyst, September/October 2004, pp. 20-24 Perl, Jason, DeMark indicators, New York, NY : Bloomberg Press, 2008
Trevor Neil, Demark Indicators on CQG, 2007, 63 pages
Tom Demark and Rocke Demark, Countertrend forex trading with TD Sequential, Currency Trader magazine, January 2005, pp. 28-33
Lindsay Glass, Demarking trend exhaustion zones, Active Trader (activetradermag.com), July 2002, pp.64-67
Bloomberg, Technical Analysis: Demark Indicators, 20 May 2005, version: 2.00, 46 pages.
Jason Perl Interview, The Technical Analyst, Issue 30, October 2008, pp. 41-44
Trevor Neil, TD-Wave: A rule-based approach to Elliott Wave Analysis, Technical Analysis, Issue 30, pp. 32-33