[malaguti]

Agreed, great question, Malaguti...and great answers, MalcomSmith and theory6453.

This very same question runs through my head every day when I look at my trades, and tbh, it is going to be experience that is going to shape my ultimate 'getting out process'.

What Theory6453 touches on, with the stocks that rise sharply, the 10 week MA is what acts as the path of support. From what I am seeing, the first touch of the 30 week MA is potentially the start of a stage 3 forming, which could then be a continuation of stage 2.

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thanks everyone, really appreciate the answers.
I've been going through bar by bar in replay mode for almost all of the FTSE350 to test identification of phases. The main one was stage 3, which has often coincided with a stage 2 continuation, so Theory's answer sits well in that situation.
This is where I may only lighten up on a position (rather than a target), and then add again after continuation, but I'd like to just do some more testing. Often stage 3 can occur higher than your stop loss, as no higher high means the stop is left lower.
I'll start a thread on this topic as well as another which I'm working on within the premium section to take the subject from here.
But this really helps, thanks guys