What are Candlestick Charts?
Candlestick charts are a type of financial chart that originated in Japan in the 18th century. Each candlestick represents price action for a specific time period and shows four key data points: the opening price, closing price, highest price, and lowest price during that period.
The visual nature of candlesticks makes it easy to identify patterns and market sentiment at a glance, making them the preferred charting method for most traders and analysts worldwide.
Anatomy of a Candlestick
Bullish Candlestick
When the closing price is higher than the opening price, indicating buying pressure.
- • Body: Filled/colored area from open to close
- • Upper Wick: Line from close to high
- • Lower Wick: Line from open to low
- • Color: Usually green or white
Key Components
- • Real Body: The thick part showing open-to-close range
- • Upper Shadow/Wick: Shows highest price reached
- • Lower Shadow/Wick: Shows lowest price reached
- • Time Frame: Each candle represents one period
Bearish Candlestick
When the closing price is lower than the opening price, indicating selling pressure.
- • Body: Filled area from open to close
- • Upper Wick: Line from open to high
- • Lower Wick: Line from close to low
- • Color: Usually red or black
What Candlesticks Tell Us
- • Market Sentiment: Bullish vs. bearish pressure
- • Volatility: Length of wicks shows price swings
- • Conviction: Body size shows strength of move
- • Support/Resistance: Where buyers/sellers stepped in
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Essential Candlestick Patterns
Single Candlestick Patterns
Hammer
Bullish reversal pattern with small body and long lower wick.
- • Appears after downtrend
- • Shows rejection of lower prices
- • Buyers stepped in near lows
Doji
Indecision pattern where open and close are nearly equal.
- • Shows market uncertainty
- • Potential trend reversal signal
- • Requires confirmation
Shooting Star
Bearish reversal pattern with small body and long upper wick.
- • Appears after uptrend
- • Shows rejection of higher prices
- • Sellers stepped in near highs
Spinning Top
Small body with long wicks showing indecision.
- • Neither bulls nor bears in control
- • Often precedes trend changes
- • Watch for follow-through
Multiple Candlestick Patterns
Bullish Engulfing
Two-candle bullish reversal pattern where a large green candle completely engulfs the previous red candle.
Setup:
- • First candle: Small bearish body
- • Second candle: Large bullish body
- • Second candle engulfs first completely
Significance:
- • Strong bullish reversal signal
- • Shows shift in momentum
- • More reliable with volume confirmation
Bearish Engulfing
Two-candle bearish reversal pattern where a large red candle completely engulfs the previous green candle.
Setup:
- • First candle: Small bullish body
- • Second candle: Large bearish body
- • Second candle engulfs first completely
Significance:
- • Strong bearish reversal signal
- • Shows shift to selling pressure
- • Often occurs at resistance levels
Morning Star / Evening Star
Three-candle reversal patterns indicating potential trend changes.
Morning Star (Bullish):
- • Large bearish candle
- • Small indecision candle (gap down)
- • Large bullish candle (gap up)
Evening Star (Bearish):
- • Large bullish candle
- • Small indecision candle (gap up)
- • Large bearish candle (gap down)
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Reading Price Action with Candlesticks
Body Size Analysis
Large Bodies
- • Strong conviction
- • Significant buying/selling
- • Clear directional bias
- • Trend continuation likely
Medium Bodies
- • Moderate conviction
- • Normal trading activity
- • Trend may continue
- • Watch for confirmation
Small Bodies
- • Indecision/uncertainty
- • Low conviction
- • Potential reversal signal
- • Wait for follow-through
Wick/Shadow Analysis
Long Upper Wicks
- • Rejection of higher prices
- • Sellers stepped in
- • Potential resistance level
- • Bearish if at top of move
Long Lower Wicks
- • Rejection of lower prices
- • Buyers stepped in
- • Potential support level
- • Bullish if at bottom of move
No/Short Wicks
- • Strong directional move
- • Little price rejection
- • High conviction trading
- • Trend likely to continue
Long Both Wicks
- • High volatility period
- • Uncertainty in market
- • Price discovery process
- • Watch for next move
Trading Strategies with Candlesticks
Pattern Confirmation Strategy
Use candlestick patterns as entry signals with proper confirmation.
- • Wait for pattern completion
- • Confirm with volume increase
- • Check for support/resistance confluence
- • Set stops beyond pattern extremes
- • Target previous swing highs/lows
Price Action Trading
Focus on what candlesticks tell you about market sentiment.
- • Look for rejection at key levels
- • Trade in direction of larger trend
- • Use multiple time frame analysis
- • Watch for momentum shifts
- • Combine with moving averages
Risk Management Rules
- • Never trade patterns in isolation
- • Always use stop losses
- • Position size based on risk/reward
- • Don't force trades - wait for quality setups
- • Keep win rate and risk/reward balanced
Common Candlestick Analysis Mistakes
Ignoring Market Context
Trading patterns without considering overall market trend and key support/resistance levels.
Poor Risk Management
Not setting proper stop losses or position sizing based on pattern reliability.
No Volume Confirmation
Patterns are more reliable when accompanied by significant volume increases.
Single Time Frame Analysis
Only looking at one time frame instead of confirming patterns across multiple periods.
Forcing Pattern Recognition
Seeing patterns where none exist or trying to make incomplete patterns fit.
Ignoring Economic & News Events
Candlestick patterns can be invalidated by major news, earnings reports, or economic data releases.
Time Frame Analysis
Short Time Frames
1m, 5m, 15m charts
- • More noise and false signals
- • Good for day trading entries
- • Quick pattern completion
- • Requires faster decision making
Medium Time Frames
1h, 4h, Daily charts
- • More reliable patterns
- • Better for swing trading
- • Clearer trend identification
- • Good risk/reward balance
Long Time Frames
Weekly, Monthly charts
- • Highest reliability patterns
- • Best for position trading
- • Major trend changes
- • Larger profit targets
Key Takeaways
- •Candlesticks show four key prices: open, high, low, close for each time period
- •Body size and wick length reveal market sentiment and conviction levels
- •Patterns are more reliable with volume confirmation and proper context
- •Multiple time frame analysis improves pattern reliability significantly
- •Always combine candlestick analysis with proper risk management