The Fractal Breakout - Trading Setups

Mike Smith

8/9/2025

•

0 min read

Share this post

Rather than looking for a reversal, fractal breakouts use the last fractal high (in an uptrend) or last fractal low (in a downtrend) as confirmation of a trend after a retracement in priceIt is a continuation strategy designed to capture momentum once the price has confirmed direction. When price breaks beyond the most recent fractal, it signals that the prevailing trend has the strength to continue.

Bullish Fractal Breakout

A bullish fractal breakout occurs when price pushes above the last swing high (marked by a fractal). This indicates buyers have overcome the previous barrier, and the uptrend may continue after a small pullback in price.Confirmation is strengthened when the breakout candle also closes above both the 14 EMA and the 200 EMA, showing alignment of short-term momentum with long-term trend direction.

A: Prior uptrend (bull candles) → sustained buying pressure pushing toward resistance.B: Fractal high → the last swing high marked by a fractal, acting as a breakout trigger.C: Breakout candle → strong bullish candle closing ABOVE the fractal high (and ideally above both 14 EMA and 200 EMA).You can see a real chart example of this on the 1-hourly Gold (XAUUSD) CFD chart:[caption id="attachment_713057" align="aligncenter" width="722"]

Red squares show the last fractal of note. “E” shows where the entry points could be placed[/caption]

Bearish Fractal Breakout

A bearish fractal breakout occurs when price pushes below the last swing low (marked by a fractal). This shows that sellers have reconfirmed control after a small retracement, and the downtrend is likely to continue.As with the bullish version, the signal is considered stronger if the breakout candle also closes below both the 14 EMA and the 200 EMA.

A: Prior downtrend (bear candles) → sustained selling pressure pushing toward support.B: Fractal low → the last swing low marked by a fractal, acting as a breakout trigger.C: Breakout candle → strong bearish candle closing BELOW the fractal low (and ideally below both 14 EMA and 200 EMA).You can see a real-world example of this on the 1-hourly EURUSD chart: [caption id="attachment_713059" align="aligncenter" width="793"]

Red squares show the last fractal of note. “E” shows where the entry points could be place[/caption]

Stop Placement and Exits for Fractal Breakouts

Stops are logically placed on the opposite side of the breakout fractal:

For bullish breakouts: The stop goes below the breakout candle or below the prior swing low.
For bearish breakouts: The stop goes above the breakout candle or above the prior swing high.

Exits can be managed by:

Targeting the next logical resistance (bullish) or support (bearish) level
Using a fixed risk-reward ratio (e.g., 2 or 3:1)
Trailing stops along a moving average (e.g., the 14 EMA).
Variation: Some suggest a close beneath this (rather than just a touch) may be worth exploring as a variation.

The combination of fractals with moving averages can assist in avoiding weaker signals, but a failure to follow through on this concept is at the basis of exit approaches.

Final Thoughts

The fractal breakout setup is a clean and structured way to trade with the trend. It provides confirmation that buying pressure still exists, even after a recent pullback in price. By waiting for price to confirm beyond the last fractal point, rather than the common “buy on the dip,” you can avoid premature entries and align with the story that price action is telling you.Adding moving average filters, such as the 14 EMA for momentum and the 200 EMA for long-term bias, can significantly improve reliability, though different combinations may suit different market types and timeframes.Like all strategies, it will not always go in your favour, and even if it does, you should endeavour to reduce the amount of “give-back” of potential profit. Breakout ideas can fail, especially in choppy conditions. Risk management and unambiguous pre-defined exit criteria are essential — the only real failure is when you fail to have these in place or fail to execute your risk management.

Mike Smith

Mike Smith (MSc, PGdipEd) Client Education and Training

Os artigos são elaborados por analistas e colaboradores da GO Markets e baseiam-se na sua análise independente ou em experiências pessoais. As opiniões, pontos de vista ou estilos de negociação expressos são próprios dos autores e não devem ser considerados como representativos ou partilhados pela GO Markets. Qualquer conselho fornecido é de natureza “geral” e não leva em conta os seus objetivos, situação financeira ou necessidades pessoais. Antes de agir com base em qualquer conselho, considere se ele é apropriado para os seus objetivos, situação financeira e necessidades. Se o conselho estiver relacionado à aquisição de um produto financeiro específico, você deve obter a nossa Declaração de Divulgação (Disclosure Statement - DS) e outros documentos legais disponíveis no nosso site antes de tomar qualquer decisão.

No items found.

See all News & Insights

Calendário Olímpico da GO Markets

GO Markets Olympic Schedule

Feb 7