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When a reversal occurs on a chart on a heavy volume, it is supposed to signal the beginning of a strong reverse trend. For example, if a security was trending upwards and then it moves down on heavy volume, we will assume that the downward trend is strong because of heavy selling pressure, as stated here (the paragraph titled "Volume").

But when I look at a downward reversal on heavy volume, I think that many people are selling. In other words, whoever wanted to sell has already done it, so now the trend will discontinue. Why is the logic flawed?

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    Considering that studies have found that relying on head-and-shoulders patterns to make trading decisions is worse than randomly making a decision, I'd be careful about reading too much into it and similar patterns.
    – John Bensin
    Commented May 31, 2013 at 21:47
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    What a head and shoulder indicates is that a trend could be ending as it will have a lower high (in an uptrend) or a higher low (in a downtrend).
    – Victor
    Commented May 31, 2013 at 21:55
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    @JohnBensin lol, yeah. i always wonder where all the t/a guys are on the forbes richest. supposedly hft does a lot of custom t/a, but we still have yet to see a real master of the universe in the wild
    – user9302
    Commented May 31, 2013 at 22:04
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    @Sulla To be fair, firms that mix the TA indicators that can be defined quantitatively, and therefore tested objectively (so basically, firms that use quantitative finance) are some of the most profitable financial companies around. The problem with TA is that while it may still work in smaller markets, the increasing penetration of technology reduces the ability of the TA indicators (that work) to earn returns for retail traders.
    – John Bensin
    Commented May 31, 2013 at 22:07
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    @Victor Aaronson's book does, I believe. I referenced it and the Lo, et al. study in this answer, so if you're interested, that might be a good place to start. Aaronson's book considers a whole range of patterns and their application in combination; I haven't picked it up in about a year and I don't have a copy handy, but if you're interested in looking at empirical evidence for and against TA, start there.
    – John Bensin
    Commented May 31, 2013 at 22:24

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You have to look at the whole picture. What is happening to volume prior to the reversal? How long has the trend been going for? Is there any divergence between price and momentum before the reversal commenced? Have there been any bad reports by the company or any bad new stories? What is happening to the market as a whole?

When a reversal happens on heavy volume it may indicate that sentiment has changed, the bulls have been exhausted (no more buyers in the market), and the bears are taking charge (sellers starting to take profits). This effect may cause panic in other security holders and cause them to sell. Then you get other holder's stop losses being triggered and shorters entering the market. If this continues it can cause panic and fear throughout security holders and cause the downtrend to accelerate. Think of it as an uptrend climbing up stairs and a downtrend falling off the cliff at the top. Fear tends to be a stronger emotion than greed.

Something else to look out for just prior to the reversal is intraday highs not holding up by the close. If you look at a candlestick chart this is illustrated by long wicks on the up side with small real bodies. This may indicate that the bulls are trying to push the price higher during the day but the bears push it back down by the close. This is another indication that momentum in the uptrend may be drying up, especially if it occurs over a few consecutive days. If you get this behaviour followed by a drop in price on large volume, it may be the start of a steep reversal.

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