Candlestick Patterns - Marubozu and Spinning Top

Well, I am back with few more single Candlestick Patterns. As promised, these are not twins having different names. Let's look at them before we get to multi-candlestick patterns from next post.

Marubozu is pattern characterized by absence of horns or shadow on either side. It is basically a body only candlestick. White (or Green) Marubozu indicates that after the opening price bulls took control and remained winner throughout the trading session. It is obviously considered very bullish. On the other hand a Black (or Red) Marubozu is formed when sellers remain in control after the opening bell and close the price at it's lowest level of the day... it is very bearish. See below.

Spinning Top is what we call as classic text book candlestick. It consists of a body in the middle with almost similar size shadows on both sides. It usually indicates that market is unable to decide the trend. During the day, at some point, both bulls and bears had control but by the end of the day price was closing at or near the opening level again. It kind of indicates an indecision about the further trend of the underlying and if Spinning Top appears at the end of a long uptrend/ downtrend it usually indicates an exhaustion. It indicates that a reversal in the trend may be due now.

This is most that you can get about single candlestick patterns out there. These are pretty strong patterns in their own right but still multiple (2/3) candlestick patterns are stronger indicators and we will get to them next post onward. Keep hanging man...

Candlestick Patterns - Inverted Hammer and Shooting Star

As promised... I am back with the next twin pattern - Inverted Hammer and Shooting Star.

As you can see, this pattern is basically Hammer and Hanging Man turned upside down. It has a small body which indicates close near to open and very small or non-existent lower horn. It's upper leg has to be at least twice the size of the body to meet the definition of Inverted Hammer or Shooting Star.

It indicates that though the price opened lower, it increased a lot as the day progressed but turning back again and close price is very close to open price (slightly lower or higher).

Inverted Hammer appears in a downtrend and it usually signifies the end of the current trend. In both these patterns; longer the upper shadow, better it is.

Shooting Star; similar to Hanging Man appears during the uptrend and it usually signals an impending end to the trend. Shooting Star is also quite similar in look to the notorious Gravestone Doji. However in case of Gravestone Doji, the opening and closing price are almost the same... meaning the body of the candlestick is not there and it is usually a stronger bearish reversal pattern than the Shooting Star. Gravestone Doji appearing in an uptrend signals bearish reversal and if appearing in an downtrend, it signals bullish reversal. It is all about Context as I said in the previous post. Meanwhile, see the example for Shooting Star below.

Next post will be a lot less confusing and it will be a pattern which is simple, does not have any twin sibling and extremely easy to identify. Wanted to write it today itself but have been called to office... someone onsite sneezed and I have to catch the cold. Will try to write it tonight and tomorrow tops.

Candlestick Patterns - Hammer and Hanging Man

Let us proceed to the next patterns. Let us have a look at the Hammer and Hanging Man...

You got 60 seconds to find 5 difference in above pictures apart from their names.

Can't seem to find... you are not to blame. Off course they are same and this is not the isolated case. There are a couple few more patterns which looks all the same. In Japanese Candlesticks, these similar looking patterns are differentiated with the help of context. It is the context in which these patterns appear which matter and it decides their name. Quite similar to words in English... ring any bell.

Hammer or Hanging Man patterns are characterized by a body at the top with non existent or very small upper horn. The lower horn has to be at least twice the size of the body of the candle for it to be classified as Hammer or Hanging Man. It shows that the price opened at the high point of the day and then during the day the price fell much lower and then it bounced back to close near the opening price (slightly above or below) again.

Hammer, occurs during a downtrend and it indicates that the reversal is due now. On the next trading day if stock opens higher, it is a very reliable sign that Hammer is confirmed and stock is coming out of downtrend. See below for example. Sorry for the low quality of image... just pulled out of some random chart I had.

Hanging Man on the other hand appears in the uptrend. It usually signals that bulls are running out of steam and during the day bears had almost taken control only to give it back to the bulls by the end of the day. Hanging Man is very reliable if next day we see a lower price. See below.

Next we will have a look at the Inverted Hammer or Shooting Star. It will be another 'Find the Difference' pattern for you and it will be posted on or before tomorrow... I promise. Visit Options Blog for a fresh post in a short while.