Candlestick patterns.
Candlestick patterns are graphical representations of price movements in financial markets, commonly used in technical analysis. Each candlestick provides information about the opening, closing, high, and low prices for a specific period. Patterns formed by multiple candlesticks are analyzed to gain insights into potential market trends and reversals. Here are some common candlestick patterns:
1. Single Candlestick Patterns:
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Doji:
- Signifies indecision in the market.
- The opening and closing prices are very close or identical.
- Indicates that buyers and sellers are evenly matched.
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Hammer:
- Appears after a downtrend.
- Characterized by a small body and a long lower wick.
- Suggests a potential reversal to the upside.
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Shooting Star:
- Appears after an uptrend.
- Has a small body with a long upper wick.
- Indicates potential bearish reversal.
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Spinning Top:
- Signifies indecision in the market.
- Has a small body and both upper and lower wicks of similar length.
- Indicates a tug-of-war between buyers and sellers.
2. Two-Candlestick Patterns:
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Bullish Engulfing:
- Appears after a downtrend.
- The second candle completely engulfs the body of the first (bearish) candle.
- Suggests a potential reversal to the upside.
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Bearish Engulfing:
- Appears after an uptrend.
- The second candle completely engulfs the body of the first (bullish) candle.
- Suggests a potential reversal to the downside.
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Tweezer Tops and Bottoms:
- Tweezer Tops: Two consecutive candles with almost identical highs, indicating potential reversal to the downside.
- Tweezer Bottoms: Two consecutive candles with almost identical lows, indicating potential reversal to the upside.
3. Three-Candlestick Patterns:
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Morning Star:
- Appears during a downtrend.
- Consists of a bearish candle, a small candle (could be a doji), and a bullish candle.
- Suggests a potential bullish reversal.
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Evening Star:
- Appears during an uptrend.
- Consists of a bullish candle, a small candle (could be a doji), and a bearish candle.
- Suggests a potential bearish reversal.
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Three White Soldiers:
- A bullish reversal pattern.
- Three consecutive long bullish candles.
- Indicates strong buying pressure.
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Three Black Crows:
- A bearish reversal pattern.
- Three consecutive long bearish candles.
- Indicates strong selling pressure.
4. Continuation Patterns:
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Bullish and Bearish Flags:
- Appear as rectangular-shaped patterns.
- Bullish flags slope against the prevailing downtrend, and bearish flags slope against the prevailing uptrend.
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Pennant:
- Similar to flags but form symmetrical triangles.
- Indicates a brief consolidation before the previous trend resumes.
Candlestick patterns are most effective when used in conjunction with other technical analysis tools and indicators. Traders often consider the overall market context and other factors before making trading decisions based on candlestick patterns.