i'm a believer in technical analysis. I use fundamentals to screen stocks and technicals to time the market. if you only use one pattern make it the ascending triangle (bottom left chart above). very easy to follow. simply line up the resistance point; resistance is the price point at which the stock keeps bumping its head against. once a stock has broken through its resistance and it has high volume - typically 1.5x daily avg - it signals market conviction. meaning the big boys (banks, mutual funds, etc) are buying and the break is legit.

dont believe it works?  go pick a stock. any stock. and decide for yourself!