Uptrend

A sequence of higher swing highs and higher swing lows. Both conditions are required — rising highs alone are not an uptrend.

Both conditions are required. Higher highs with lower lows describes an expanding, unstable market rather than a trend, and is usually a reason to stand aside.

An uptrend stays intact until a higher low fails. That failure is a change of character — the first structural evidence the sequence has stopped repeating.

Taught in

Highs, Lows and the Shape of a TrendMarket Structure

Swing highs and swing lows are the skeleton of every chart. Learn to mark them, and "trend" stops being a feeling.

Also covered in that lesson

Swing highA candle whose high is higher than the candles either side of it — a local peak where an advance stalled.Swing lowA candle whose low is lower than the candles either side of it — a local trough where a decline stalled.DowntrendA sequence of lower swing highs and lower swing lows.

Related terms

Downtrend Swing high Range