How 10 candlestick patterns rise above
There are literally hundreds of candlestick patterns that traders use to increase their trading performance. Best used with other technical analysis tools, here are the top 10 patterns that provide the most consistent results.
* Dark Cloud Cover: This is a two-day formation which arises when the candlestick formed on the first day has a long white body followed by an opposite colored candlestick, which opened at a new high only to close below is the midpoint of the previous day's trading. This pattern is considered a bearish reversal signal.
* Doji: When the opening and closing price are essentially the same, the candlestick formed resembles a plus sign, cross, or inverted cross and is referred to as Doji. It represents indecision on the part of the market, and is interpreted by traders that a turning point is imminent.
* The engulfing pattern: The classic engulfing pattern consists of two candlesticks. The first candlestick open then closes, then the second has an open and close outside the open and close of the previous candlestick, thereby engulfing the previous session.
* Evening star pattern: The evening star is a 3 bar candlestick pattern. Initially the first candlestick is long and bullish resuming the bull trend. Second is a small candlestick that gaps up and fails after that to make much headway. The next day or session is a gap down and a bearish candlestick who's close reaches well into that of the first candlestick in the pattern.
* Hammer: The hammer is a 1 candlestick formation. It looks like a hammer. It has a hammer head and a handle. The handle tells us that price tried hard to push down, but failed to stay there and ended up closing near the open. This is bullish anywhere you see it.
* Hanging man: The hanging man is still a hammer, but when its on an uptrend its called a hanging man. Look to the long tail for the intuitiveness in the candlestick. Price pushed down but failed to stay there, this is bullish and so the hanging man tells us the trend will continue. A continuation candlestick.
* Harami candlestick: This is a 2 candlestick formation. It resembles the exact opposite as the engulfing pattern. This pattern will show price opening and closing within the open and close of the previous candlestick and demonstrates a potential reversal in the short term trend. This can be bullish or bearish depending on the color of each candlestick and where it appears in the trend. Each candlestick will be a different color.
* Morning star: This is a 3 bar candlestick pattern. Its a bullish reversal pattern and a very high probability one at that. The first candlestick will continue the bearish trend by closing well below the open. Next the second candlestick will gap down and close a bit higher than the open, but not much. Last the third and final candlestick in the pattern will gap up and rally to close well within the body of the first candlestick.
* The piercing line: This pattern is just two candlesticks. It is a bullish reversal pattern. What happens here is the first candlestick will continue the bearish trend down and the next will appear to be following suite on the open but will surprise you as it closes much higher and exceed the 50% level of the first candlestick.
* The shooting star: This single candlestick marks a reversal off of an uptrend. Characterized by a long upper wick and a short real body this bearish reversal candlestick simply says that the bullish trend has just been exhausted. Pay close attention to the shooting star. - 16586
* Dark Cloud Cover: This is a two-day formation which arises when the candlestick formed on the first day has a long white body followed by an opposite colored candlestick, which opened at a new high only to close below is the midpoint of the previous day's trading. This pattern is considered a bearish reversal signal.
* Doji: When the opening and closing price are essentially the same, the candlestick formed resembles a plus sign, cross, or inverted cross and is referred to as Doji. It represents indecision on the part of the market, and is interpreted by traders that a turning point is imminent.
* The engulfing pattern: The classic engulfing pattern consists of two candlesticks. The first candlestick open then closes, then the second has an open and close outside the open and close of the previous candlestick, thereby engulfing the previous session.
* Evening star pattern: The evening star is a 3 bar candlestick pattern. Initially the first candlestick is long and bullish resuming the bull trend. Second is a small candlestick that gaps up and fails after that to make much headway. The next day or session is a gap down and a bearish candlestick who's close reaches well into that of the first candlestick in the pattern.
* Hammer: The hammer is a 1 candlestick formation. It looks like a hammer. It has a hammer head and a handle. The handle tells us that price tried hard to push down, but failed to stay there and ended up closing near the open. This is bullish anywhere you see it.
* Hanging man: The hanging man is still a hammer, but when its on an uptrend its called a hanging man. Look to the long tail for the intuitiveness in the candlestick. Price pushed down but failed to stay there, this is bullish and so the hanging man tells us the trend will continue. A continuation candlestick.
* Harami candlestick: This is a 2 candlestick formation. It resembles the exact opposite as the engulfing pattern. This pattern will show price opening and closing within the open and close of the previous candlestick and demonstrates a potential reversal in the short term trend. This can be bullish or bearish depending on the color of each candlestick and where it appears in the trend. Each candlestick will be a different color.
* Morning star: This is a 3 bar candlestick pattern. Its a bullish reversal pattern and a very high probability one at that. The first candlestick will continue the bearish trend by closing well below the open. Next the second candlestick will gap down and close a bit higher than the open, but not much. Last the third and final candlestick in the pattern will gap up and rally to close well within the body of the first candlestick.
* The piercing line: This pattern is just two candlesticks. It is a bullish reversal pattern. What happens here is the first candlestick will continue the bearish trend down and the next will appear to be following suite on the open but will surprise you as it closes much higher and exceed the 50% level of the first candlestick.
* The shooting star: This single candlestick marks a reversal off of an uptrend. Characterized by a long upper wick and a short real body this bearish reversal candlestick simply says that the bullish trend has just been exhausted. Pay close attention to the shooting star. - 16586
About the Author:
Learning how to read a candlestick chart is an absolute must if you plan to become a successful trader. It doesn't matter if you're just learning to trade or a seasoned pro who's looking for a new edge, candlestick patterns are the end all for accurately assessing price action. Download our candlestick chart mastery manual at http://www.candlestickgenius.com


