Reading Candlestick Patterns in Forex

What do Forex Candlestick Patterns Mean?

Forex candlestick patterns are visual representations of price movements in the foreign exchange market. These patterns provide valuable information to traders, helping them analyse and predict future price movements. Each candlestick represents a specific time period and displays four key price points: open, close, high, and low. The colour and shape of the candlestick reveal whether the price has increased or decreased during the given period. By understanding and interpreting these candlestick patterns, traders can make informed trading decisions and identify potential trading opportunities.

Explaining Forex Candlestick Patterns

Forex candlestick patterns consist of various combinations of candlesticks that form recognisable shapes on price charts. These patterns indicate market sentiment and can provide insights into potential trend reversals, continuation patterns, or market indecision. Traders analyse the length, colour, and positioning of the candlesticks to interpret the patterns accurately. Each pattern has its own significance and implications for traders.

Why do Traders Prefer Candlestick Patterns rather than Traditional ones?

Traders prefer candlestick patterns over traditional charting methods due to several advantages offered by candlestick charts:

a) Visual Representation: Candlestick charts provide a more visual representation of price movements compared to traditional charts like bar charts or line charts. The distinct colours and shapes of the candlesticks make it easier for traders to interpret price patterns and trends at a glance.

b) Comprehensive Information: Candlestick charts offer comprehensive information about each time period, including the open, close, high, and low prices. This additional data helps traders analyse price action more effectively and make well-informed trading decisions.

c) Pattern Recognition: Candlestick patterns are formed by combining multiple candlesticks, which can indicate potential trend reversals or continuation patterns. Traders rely on these patterns to identify entry and exit points, improving their trading accuracy.

How to Trade with Forex Candlestick Patterns?

Trading with forex candlestick patterns involves a systematic approach to analysing candlestick patterns and implementing appropriate trading strategies. Here are some steps to consider:

a) Learn Candlestick Patterns: Familiarise yourself with various candlestick patterns and their interpretations. Understand the meaning behind different patterns and their implications for price movements.

b) Identify Patterns on Charts: Analyse price charts and look for candlestick patterns that align with your trading strategy. Focus on patterns that indicate potential reversals, continuation, or indecision in the market.

c) Confirm with Indicators: Combine candlestick patterns with technical indicators or other analytical tools to confirm trading signals. This additional confirmation helps reduce false signals and increases the probability of successful trades.

d) Set Entry and Exit Points: Based on your analysis of candlestick patterns and supporting indicators, determine the appropriate entry and exit points for your trades. 

e) Practice Risk Management: Implement proper risk management techniques, such as setting appropriate position sizes and using stop-loss orders, to protect your trading capital and minimise losses.

6 Bullish Candlesticks

Here are six reliable bullish candlesticks:

The Hammer: The Hammer is a bullish reversal pattern that indicates a potential trend reversal from a downtrend. It has a short body with a longer lower shadow. The appearance of a Hammer suggests that sellers were initially in control but were overwhelmed by strong buying pressure, resulting in a higher close.

Bullish Engulfing Candlestick: The Bullish Engulfing Candlestick is formed by two candlesticks, where the first candlestick has a smaller body and is completely engulfed by the second candlestick with a larger body. This pattern suggests a shift in sentiment from bearish to bullish as buyers overpower the sellers.

Bullish Engulfing Sandwich: The Bullish Engulfing Sandwich pattern occurs when two bearish candles surround a smaller bullish candle. This pattern suggests a reversal from a downtrend to an uptrend, indicating buying pressure overcoming selling pressure.

Morning Star: The Morning Star is a three-candlestick pattern that appears during a downtrend. It consists of a long bearish candlestick, a small-bodied candlestick, and a long bullish candlestick. The Morning Star pattern suggests a potential trend reversal, with the small-bodied candlestick representing a period of indecision followed by bullish momentum.

Tweezer Bottom: The Tweezer Bottom pattern is formed by two candlesticks with the same or nearly the same low price. It indicates a potential reversal of a downtrend and suggests that buyers are stepping in to support the stock at a particular price level.

Piercing Line: The Piercing Line is a two-candlestick pattern that occurs during a downtrend. It consists of a long bearish candlestick followed by a bullish candlestick that opens below the low of the previous candle and closes above the midpoint of the bearish candlestick. The Piercing Line suggests a potential reversal, as buyers start to push the price higher after a period of selling pressure.

6 Bearish Candlesticks

Here are the six bearish candlestick patterns mentioned in the provided information:

Shooting Star: The Shooting Star is a bearish candlestick pattern that appears at the height of an uptrend. It is characterised by a small body near the low of the candlestick and a long upper wick, resembling a shooting star falling from the heavens. This pattern suggests that bulls are losing control, and a reversal may occur.

Bearish Engulfing Candlestick: The Bearish Engulfing Candlestick consists of two candlesticks, where the first candle is smaller and the second candle is larger, completely engulfing the body of the first candle. This pattern indicates a shift from buying to selling pressure and suggests a potential reversal to the downside.

Bearish Engulfing Sandwich: The Bearish Engulfing Sandwich is a rare pattern that consists of two bullish candlesticks surrounding a bearish engulfing candlestick. This pattern indicates a potential reversal of an uptrend and warns of a possible trend change.

Evening Star: The Evening Star is a three-candlestick pattern that appears at the end of an uptrend. It consists of a large bullish candle, followed by a small-bodied candle with a gap, and finally, a large bearish candle that closes below the midpoint of the first candle. This pattern signals a potential reversal and the start of a downtrend.

Tweezer Top: The Tweezer Top pattern is formed when two consecutive candlesticks have equal or almost equal highs, creating a horizontal resistance level. The first candlestick is bullish, while the second one is bearish. This pattern suggests a potential reversal and weakness in the uptrend.

Dark Cloud Cover: The Dark Cloud Cover pattern occurs after an uptrend and consists of two candlesticks. The first candlestick is bullish, followed by a bearish candlestick that opens above the high of the first candle and closes below the midpoint. This pattern indicates a potential reversal and a shift in sentiment from bullish to bearish.

4 Continuation Candlesticks

The following are four continuation candlestick patterns used in trading:

Upside Tasuki Gap: This pattern occurs during an uptrend. It starts with a bullish candle forming after a gap up from the previous green candle. The next candle opens lower and closes lower than the previous one. If the gap remains unfilled, it indicates that the bulls have maintained control, and it is possible to enter a buy trade or increase an existing long position. However, if the gap is filled, the bullish momentum may have ended.

Rising Three Methods: In an uptrend, after a long bullish candlestick, there's a series of small bearish candles. The ideal number of pullback candles is 3, but 2, 4, or 5 correction candles can also be observed. It's important that these bearish candles do not close below the opening level of the first big bullish candle and their shadows don't go below the bullish candle's open. The final candle of the pattern should open up in the body of the last bearish pullback candle and close above the first big bullish candlestick. This pattern resembles a bullish flag and indicates that buyers are ready to resume pushing the price higher after a correction.

Mat Hold: This pattern appears after a large bullish candlestick. It starts with a gap up followed by a series of small bearish candles. The second or third bearish candle dips into the body of the large bullish candlestick. The final candle of the pattern gaps to the upside and continues its upward movement to close above the trading range of any of the previous periods. This pattern is stronger than the "Rising three methods" as the price stays close to the top of the first bullish candle's range during the days of the correction.

Three Line Strike: This pattern indicates a continuation of an uptrend. It starts with three strong bullish candles that close progressively higher (known as "3 white soldiers"). After these three candles, there is a big "strike" candle which opens higher but then pulls back to close below the open of the first bullish candlestick. The pattern suggests that the strike candle is a temporary correction, and after it, the uptrend will resume in the direction of the first 3 candles.

Bottom Line and Key Takeaways

Forex candlestick patterns provide insights into price movements and market sentiment.

Candlesticks consist of a body and wick, representing opening, closing, high, and low prices.

Bullish and bearish candlesticks indicate buying or selling pressure.

Forex candle patterns are preferred by traders due to their visual representation, ease of interpretation, and historical significance.

To trade effectively with candlestick charts, identify the trend, spot specific patterns, confirm with technical indicators, and manage risk appropriately.