A market trend is a perceived tendency of the financial markets to move in a particular direction over time.[1] Analysts classify these trends as secular for long time-frames, primary for medium time-frames, and secondary for short time-frames.[2] Traders attempt to identify market trends using technical analysis, a framework which characterizes market trends as predictable price tendencies within the market when price reaches support and resistance levels, varying over time.
A future market trend can only be determined in hindsight, since at any time prices in the future are not known. Past trends are identified by drawing lines, known as trendlines, that connect price action making higher highs and higher lows for an uptrend, or lower lows and lower highs for a downtrend.