BRVX Glossary · Cup and handle pattern · Updated September 25, 2026
The cup and handle is a bullish continuation chart pattern: a rounded U-shaped recovery (the cup) followed by a small downward drift (the handle) before price breaks above the cup's rim. It was popularised by William O'Neil in 1988 and usually forms over weeks to months.
On this page
Anatomy
- Prior uptrend: the pattern continues a rise, it does not start one.
- Cup: a rounded bottom, typically a 12–35% pullback, not a sharp V.
- Handle: a shallow drift down in the upper third of the cup, on falling volume.
- Breakout: a close above the rim, ideally on rising volume.
Measured target and stop
The usual target adds the cup's depth to the breakout level: a cup from $100 down to $80 projects $120 after a break of $100. The stop typically goes under the handle's low, which keeps the risk smaller than the distance to the target.
Where it fails
A handle that drops into the lower half of the cup, a V-shaped cup, or a breakout on thin volume all weaken the pattern. The inverse version — an upside-down cup — is read as bearish.
On BRVX
BRVX's TradingView chart includes drawing tools to outline the cup and mark the rim. On stock perpetuals, BRVX prints weekend candles, so a cup drawn on a BRVX daily chart can look smoother than the same stock on an exchange chart with weekend gaps.
Questions about Cup and handle pattern
Is cup and handle bullish?
Yes. It is a bullish continuation pattern that completes on a break above the rim.
How long does a cup and handle take to form?
Usually from several weeks to several months on a daily chart.
What is an inverted cup and handle?
The same shape upside down, read as a bearish continuation pattern.
Cup and handle pattern: next steps on BRVX
Spot Cup and handle pattern on NEAR/USDT: TradingView chart, one of 41 markets, up to 100x, 0.05% a side, prices moving at weekends too.
Read next: Chart patterns, Bull flag and Support and resistance.
Leverage works both ways: a small move against you can lose you the whole margin.
Open NEAR/USDT in the app
Open appLeverage raises both gains and losses. Start with a size you are comfortable with. Not available to US persons.