Friday, January 3, 2014

Technical Analysis, Major Candlestick Reversal Patterns 2

5- Engulfing Reversal Pattern
In the image below, engulfing patterns are represented by the last two candlesticks of the illustration.
Engulfing Pattern 
Formation

Engulfing patterns consist of two candlesticks. The first one is usually a small candle, and must be in direction of the prevailing trend (in an uptrend the short candlestick must be white and in a downtrend the candlestick must be black) while the second candlestick must be against the prevailing trend and is usually a long candlestick. Candles should have little or no shadows at all. The body of the second candlestick must cover or embrace the body of the first candle (shadows are not taken into consideration).

Psychology behind the Shooting Star and Examples
In a downtrend or downside movement where bulls have control over the markets, a bullish engulfing pattern indicates that bulls finally took total control over prices, they were attracted by the lower prices (and intend to sell back at higher prices) and pushed the market up above the open price. This could signal a trend reversal, a correction or a consolidation period.
In an uptrend or upside movement where bulls have control over prices, a bearish engulfing pattern indicates that bears finally took total control over the market; they were attracted by the higher prices and pushed the market down below the open price. This might signal a short-term reversal pattern as clearly bears or sellers have taken control of the market. .
Bullish Engulfing Patterns are signals to go long!
Bearish Engulfing Patterns are signals to go short!

Bullish Engulfing in Action
Bullish Engulfing in Action


In the 5 min EURJPY chart a bullish engulfing pattern appears at the bottom of the range signaling a possible change in direction. The market goes up because of the bullish sentiment at lower prices. Bears notice bulls are really confident at those levels.
Bearish Engulfing in Action
Bearish Engulfing Pattern in Action


In the AUDUSD 5 min chart, an engulfing pattern appears at the top of the range signaling a “change in direction”. Remember that reversal pattern not always forecast trend reversals, correction or consolidation periods are always a possibility.

6- Piercing Reversal Patterns
In the image below, piercing patterns are represented by the last two candlesticks of the illustration.
Piercing Pattern


* The bearish piercing pattern is also called “Dark Cloud Cover”. For the sake of simplicity, in this course we will always refer to this pattern as bearish piercing pattern.
Formation
Piercing patterns, as engulfing patterns, are also made from two candlesticks. Both candlesticks should have long bodies and small or no shadows. The first candlestick must be in direction of the prevailing trend and the second against it. The further the second candle goes against the trend the more significant the pattern is. Candlesticks could have small or no shadows at all.

Psychology behind Piercing Patterns and Examples
In a downtrend or downside movement where buyers have control over the markets, a bullish piercing pattern indicates that buyers finally took total control over prices, they were attracted by the lower prices and pushed the market up near the highs of the day. This could signal a trend reversal, a correction or a consolidation period.
A bearish piercing pattern, or most commonly called dark cloud cover indicates that bears liked to sell on those higher prices, gaining temporary control. If the move is strong enough, bulls will close their longs making the price sell off. The close price of the second candle must be below the midpoint of the first candle body.
Bullish Piercing Patterns are signals to go long!
Bearish Piercing Patterns are signals to go short!
Bullish Piercing in Action
Bullish Engulfing Pattern


Hey, forget about the red box! We will get to that a few lines below. The bullish piercing pattern at the yellow box illustrates what the balance of supply and demand in this scenario: bears make a final push down, but bulls take command of the market pushing them up again.

What’s the red box?
It was the result of the Interest rate announcement from Canada. Consensus was no change but the Bank of Canada decided to cut .25%, it’s a 100 pip 5 min candlestick.
Bearish Piercing in Action
Bearish Piercing in Action


This is a valid bearish piercing pattern at the GBPUSD 30 min chart. Small shadows, first candle in direction of the movement and second candles against it. This pattern marks the end of the retracement. 

7- Morning Star & Evening Star
In the image below, morning and evening stars are represented by the last three candlesticks of each illustration.
Evening and Morning Star



Formation
Morning and evening stars are made from three candlesticks. The first candlestick is always in the direction of the trend or current direction, the second candlestick could be a black or white one while the third must be against the prevailing trend or direction. Usually candlesticks in these formations have small or no shadows at all.

Psychology behind Evening and Morning Stars and Examples
The morning star pattern begins with a long bearish candlestick or big sell off (in direction of the prevailing trend). At the second candle, the bears are not sure anymore about the downtrend continuing its path. At this point, the buyers feel a little stronger than before. Buyers take total control of prices on the next candle making the market rally. The closer the candlestick closes from the first candlestick open price, the stronger the pattern.
Evening stars begin with a long white candlestick in direction of the prevailing trend. At this point, the bulls are still confident about the uptrend. At the next candle though, the bears start selling attracted by the higher prices. This candle represents a short period of indecision or a fierce battle between bulls and bears. On the third candlestick, bears take total control of the situation making the price sell off. The larger the third candle is, the stronger the reversal.
Morning Stars are long signals.
Evening Stars are short signals.
Morning Star in Action
Morning Star


In this USDCHF 1 min chart we see two morning stars patters that finally capped the downside movements. The trend wasn’t reversed, at least there some support is found around those levels.
Evening Star in Action
Evening Star in Action


GBPJPY 1 min chart, the evening star at the beginning of the chart makes the market head down to reach lower levels. Bearish pressure is self evident: bears start selling and bulls take profits (sell back), this makes the market drop like a rock.

8- Harami Reversal Patterns
In the image below, Harami patters are represented by the last two candlesticks of each illustration.
Harami Pattern



Formation
Both, bearish and bullish harami are made from two candlesticks. The first one is always a large candlestick in direction of the trend or current move and the second one against the direction of the trend or current move. Candlesticks could have small or no shadow at all. The body of the second candlestick must be inside the body of the first one.
Although the size of the body of the second candlestick is smaller than the size of the first one, it should be “larger” than usual.

Psychology behind Bearish and Bullish Harami and Examples
In the bullish harami, bulls stop bear dominance and take temporary control over the market. The first candlestick of the bullish harami is the final push of bears while the second one means bears are feeling more confident about further upside movements.
In the bearish harami, bears step in after a high volume bull push. Prices are high enough to start opening their short positions. The closer the second candlestick closes to the open of the first one, the stronger the short sentiment.
Bullish Harami are long signals
Bearish Harami are short signals
Bullish Harami in Action
Bearish Harami in Action


As we have mentioned before, reversal patterns not only signal trend reversals, they also signal possible retracements and consolidation periods. In this case, the harami pattern signals a correction period. Now, take in consideration this is a weekly chart, from the top of the pattern to the bottom of the retracement there are around 500 pips.

Bearish Harami in Action
Bearish Harami in Action


In the USDCHF 4H chart above, a bearish harami pattern appears after the retracement. It could signal the end of the retracement; traders could resume their short positions.

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