The Candlestick Patterns

Doji

The doji candlestick pattern happens when the opening and closing of the stock is virtually the same. A doji is a reflection of intense tag-off war between buyers and sellers. The buyers don't let the price fall and the sellers don't let the price rise. In this scenario, the price moves up and down but closes near the point of the opening which forms a doji pattern. A broader interpretation of a doji is a trend reversal. Whenever a doji appears in an uptrend it can be interpreted that the current trend is about to reverse and vice versa. There is also a dragonfly doji which looks like 'T'. It carries the same significance as the regular doji.

Marubozu

Marubozu is a Japanese word. It means a bald or a shaved head. The reason the candlestick pattern is called Marubozu is that the Marubozu candle has no shadow on either side. It has a long body which shows aggressive price movement in one direction. The interpretation driven from a Marubozu candle is that the ongoing trend will continue. Essentially, a Marubozu candlestick is a trend-continuation candle. This means, if it appears in a downtrend the downtrend will continue and vice versa.

Engulfing Pattern

In an engulfing pattern, the first day's candle has a small body, it is followed by a candle whose body completely engulfs (means - covers) the previous day's body and closes in the opposite direction of the trend. A reversal pattern that can be both bearish or bullish. If it appears at the end of an uptrend it is considered the bearish engulfing pattern. In the same line, when it appears at the end of a downtrend it is called bullish engulfing pattern.

Morning Star

Is a bullish reversal pattern. A morning star pattern happens over a course of three days if you are using a day candle. The pattern consists of three candlesticks - a long-bodied red candle that signifies the current downtrend, it is followed by a short middle candle that opens gapped down (this one looks like a Doji) and the third candle is a long-bodied green candle that opens gap up and closes above the midpoint of the body of the first candle. This is one of the most reliable reversal patterns in the technical analysis. The point to remember here is that for this pattern to be relevant, it is important that it happens at the end of a downturn.

Evening Star

Exact opposite of morning star is the evening star. In this pattern there is a long-bodied green candle that signifies the current uptrend, a short middle candle that opens gapped up and the third candle is a long-bodied red candle which opens gap down and closes below the midpoint of the body of the first candle. Like in the morning star, this pattern can only be trusted if it happens at the end of an upturn.

Harami Pattern

Harami is a Japanese word. It means a pregnant woman. The Harami pattern builds over a period of 2 days. It has long candle followed by a small candle of the opposite colour which appears in the middle of the body of the previous candle. A Harami pattern is both bullish and bearish. The harami pattern suggests that the uncertainty has crept into the market and the reversal might be around the corner.

There are many more candlestick patterns like Hangman, Hammer, inverted hammer, etc. You will understand these pattern gradually as you go along learning technical analysis. The above mentioned are some of the most important patterns which are regularly used by the professional traders.

The Chart Patterns

A candlestick pattern is the one in which only one or at the most three candlesticks are involved. Similarly, there are chart patterns where a number of candles form a certain design or pattern which gives away the quintessential behaviour of the traders. The basic assumption is that traders tend to behave in the same manner in the same situations, their behaviour perfectly reflects in the chart patterns. The chart patterns are of two types - reversal and continuation. These chart patterns are usually seen on the daily or weekly candle. Chart patterns can't be as conclusive as the candlestick patterns are as one needs to have a higher level of expertise to identify the chart patterns in the formative stages as to derive optimum benefit out of them.

Let's look at some of the most prominent chart patterns.

Double Top Reversal Pattern

The double top pattern forms when the stock/index makes two consecutive peaks virtually on the same level and there is a formation of a 'V' shape between the two peaks. A double top pattern is a reversal pattern. In most cases, it is assumed that once the second peak is formed the price will take a steep fall from that point. When the price goes down from the second peak it takes support at the lower level. Though the pattern is not complete till the support level is broken at the lower level on the back of increased volumes.

Head And Shoulders Pattern

A Head and Shoulders pattern happens in an uptrend, the pattern's completion is marked as trend reversal. This pattern consists of three consecutive peaks. Amongst these three, the middle peak, known as the head, stands tallest while the two peaks (shoulders) on either side, are low and mostly on the equal level. The confirmation of pattern can be considered when the reaction lows of all the peaks can be connected on the same level. This level is called a neckline.

Flag Pattern

Flag pattern is a short-term continuation pattern. The formation of the pattern starts with a small consolidation before the price starts moving in the direction it was moving in before consolidation. Generally, this pattern is preceded by a marked hike or decline in high volume, and mark a midpoint of the move. When you draw tradelines around all the closing and opening points you get a see a shape of a flag or a pennant.

Cup With Handle Pattern

The Cup with Handle is a bullish continuation pattern. This pattern marks a consolidation of a price action which is followed by a breakout. As the name suggests, the pattern forms a shape of the cup and the handle. The shape of the cup formed after an advance and takes a rounded bottom shaped bowl. Once the cup is completed, the handle gets formed as the trading range develops on the right-hand side. At the end of the pattern, a breakout from the handle's trading range signals a continuation of the prior trend.

There are various other chart patterns like a Falling Wedge, Rising Wedge, Symmetrical Triangle, Rectangle, which are used by traders.

Importance of Volume - All the chart and candlestick patterns are only confirmed when the share price movement happens on the back of considerable hike in the volumes. This is the condition for confirming all the patterns.

Key Tools Used By The Professional Traders

Conclusion

Technical analysis, as I said above, is a never-ending subject. To get better at technical analysis one has to be vigilant while watching the charts. There are various indicators and oscillators available which come in handy but they are not entirely reliable. The success of a technical analyst lies in building a skill set which sees the trend forming little ahead of others and taking action accordingly. It is easier said than done but with practice one can have complete command on charts. That is the reason it is important to engage in regular practice of reading charts and building your trade ideas in the live market and backtesting them before executing.