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Bearish Candlestick Chart Patterns
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Reversal
Patterns |
Continuation Patterns
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Abandoned Baby Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: High
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How to Identify it
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First day is usually a long
white day
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Second day is a doji that
gaps in the direction of the previous trend
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The third day is a black
day, gapping in the opposite direction, with no overlapping shadows
What it Means
In an uptrend, the market
builds strength on a long white day and gaps open on the second day. However,
the second day trades within a small range and closes at or near its open.
This scenario definitely shows an erosion of confidence in the current
trend. Confirmation of the trend reversal is the black third day, which
is given extra validation by the downward gap.
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Dark Cloud Cover Bearish
Pattern:
Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: High
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How to Identify it
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First day is a long white
day
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Second day is black with
an open above the high of the previous day
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Second day closes within
but below the midpoint of the first day’s body
What it Means
In an uptrend the market
gaps open, but loses ground to fall below the midpoint of the previous
day. The Dark Cloud Cover pattern suggests an opportunity for the shorts
to capitalize on the next day’s open: a warning sign to bullish investors.
The Dark Cloud Cover pattern is the opposite of the Piercing line pattern.
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Evening Doji Star Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: High
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How to Identify it
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First day is a long white
day
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Second day is a doji that
gaps in the direction of the previous trend
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The third day is a black
day
What it Means
In an uptrend, the market
builds strength on a long white day and gaps open on the second day. However,
the second day trades within a small range and closes at or near its open.
This scenario generally shows an erosion of confidence in the current
trend. Confirmation of the trend reversal is the black third day. The
Evening Doji Star indicator is the fully realized bearish Doji Star pattern.
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Evening Star Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: High
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How to Identify it
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First day is a long white
day
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Second day is a small day
that gaps in the direction of the previous trend
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The third day is a black
day
What it Means
In an uptrend, the market
builds strength on a long white day and gaps open on the second day. However,
the second day trades within a small range and closes at or near its open.
This scenario generally shows an erosion of confidence in the current
trend. Confirmation of the trend reversal is the black third day.
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Identical Three Crows
Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: High
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How to Identify it
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Three black days occur,
each with a close below the previous day
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Each day opens at the close
of the previous day
What it Means
In an uptrend three long
black days occur that open at the previous day’s close. This pattern is
similar to the Three Black Crows pattern but typifies a more severe loss
of buying power. A bearish trend is almost certain.
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Kicking Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: High
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How to Identify it
What it Means
This pattern is a strong
sign that the market is headed downward. With this indicator, the previous
market direction is not as important as with other indicators.
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Three Black Crows Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: High
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How to Identify it
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Three black days occur,
each with a close below the previous day
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Each day opens within the
body of the previous day
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Each day closes near or
at its lows
What it Means
In an uptrend three long
black days occur with consecutively lower closes. This pattern suggests
that the market has been at a high price for too long, and investors are
beginning to compensate for it.
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Three Inside Down Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: High
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How to Identify it
What it Means
This pattern is a more
reliable addition to the standard Harami pattern. The third day is confirmation
of the bearish trend reversal.
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Three Outside Down Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: High
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How to Identify it
What it Means
This pattern is a more
reliable addition to the standard Engulfing pattern. The third day is
confirmation of the bearish trend reversal.
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Upside Gap Two Crows
Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: High
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How to Identify it
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The first day is a long
white day continuing in an uptrend
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The second day is black
and gaps up
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The third day is also black
and engulfs the previous black day, but still closes above the first
day
What it Means
In an uptrend the market
falters, but still closes above the previous day’s close. The next day,
it falters more but remains above the first day’s close. This is a signal
that the market can no longer hold its position and is in for a bearish
ride.
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Dark-Cloud
Cover Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: High
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What it Means
A Bearish Top in the Stock. In an uptrend a long clear candlestick
Followed by filled candlestick that opens above the previous days high.
The Stock then Closes well into the clear candlestick's real body.
This can indicate the start of a major downtrend.
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Advance Block Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Moderate
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How to Identify it
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Three long white days occur,
each with a higher close than the previous day
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Each day opens within the
body of the previous day and closes near the high of the day
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Each days body is significantly
smaller than the previous days body
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The second and third days
should exhibit long upper shadows
What it Means
In a downtrend three long
days occur with consecutively higher closes. This pattern is similar to
the Three White Soldiers pattern, however, in this case, each successive
day is weaker than the one preceding it. This suggests that the previous
rally is losing strength, and preparing for a reversal.
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Breakaway Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Moderate
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How to Identify it
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The first day is a long
white day
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The second day is a white
day that gaps above the first day
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The third and fourth days
continue to in the direction of the second with higher consecutive closes
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The fifth day is a long
black day that closes into the gap between the first and second days
What it Means
An uptrend sees a bullish
surge that eventually weakens. The result is a long black day that does
not close the gap into the body of the first day. This suggests a short-term
reversal.
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Deliberation Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Moderate
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How to Identify it
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Two long white days occur,
the second with a higher close than the first
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A third white day is a spinning
top or doji that gaps above the second day
What it Means
In an uptrend three white
days occur with consecutively higher closes. This pattern is a derivative
of the Three White Soldiers pattern and is very similar to the Advance
Block pattern. Even though an uptrend continues, the small third body
suggests that the previous rally is losing strength and preparing for
a reversal.
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Doji Star Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Moderate
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How to Identify it
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First day is a long white
day
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Second day is a doji that
gaps in the direction of the previous trend
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The shadows of the doji
should not be long
What it Means
In an uptrend, the market
builds strength on a long white day and gaps open on the second day. However,
the second day trades within a small range and closes at or near its open.
This scenario generally shows erosion of confidence in the current trend.
Confirmation of a trend reversal would be a lower open on the next trading
day.
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Engulfing Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Moderate
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How to Identify it
What it Means
Occurring in an uptrend,
the Engulfing depicts an opening at a new high, followed by a high volume
sell-off that closes at or below the previous day’s open. This signifies
that the uptrend has been hurt and the bears may be gaining strength.
The Engulfing indicator is also the first two days of the Three Outside
patterns.
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Meeting Lines Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Moderate
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How to Identify it
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The first day is a long
white day, and has a body that is above the previous trend
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The second day is a long
black day, and has a body that is also above the previous trend.
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Both days have identical
closes
What it Means
In an uptrend two days
open above the previous trend. Even though the second day opens high,
it rallies to close at the close of the previous day. This typically means
a benchmark has be defined by traders, and a reversal is likely. The bearish
Meeting Lines pattern is similar to, but less reliable than the Dark Cloud
Cover pattern.
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Meeting Lines Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Moderate
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How to Identify it
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The first day is a long
white day, and has a body that is above the previous trend
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The second day is a long
black day, and has a body that is also above the previous trend.
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Both days have identical
closes
What it Means
In an uptrend two days
open above the previous trend. Even though the second day opens high,
it rallies to close at the close of the previous day. This typically means
a benchmark has be defined by traders, and a reversal is likely. The bearish
Meeting Lines pattern is similar to, but less reliable than the Dark Cloud
Cover pattern.
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Harami Cross Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Moderate
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How to Identify it
What it Means
After a long white day
at the high end of an uptrend, the market opens lower than the previous
day’s close. Trading is typically light and the day ends with a close
at the same price as the open and within body of the first day; an even
stronger signal than the basic Harami pattern that the current uptrend
is losing strength.
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Tri Star Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Moderate
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How to Identify it
What it Means
In an long uptrend, the
market shows signs of weakness as the real bodies have grown progressively
smaller. The trend culminates with the Tri Star, identifying that there
is little strength left, and signaling a return of the bears.
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Two Crows Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Moderate
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How to Identify it
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The first day is a long
white day
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The second day is a black
day that gaps above the first day
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The third day is a black
day that opens within the body of the second day and closes within the
body of the first day
What it Means
In an uptrend the market
closes lower after an opening gap upwards. This is followed by another
black day which fills the gap. The Two Crows pattern suggests the erosion
of the uptrend, and foreshadows a trend reversal.
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Hanging Man / Dragonfly
Doji Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Low/Moderate
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How to Identify it
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Small real body at the upper
end of the trading range
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Lower shadow at least twice
as long as the real body
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No (or almost no) upper
shadow
What it Means
There is a sharp sell off
after the market opens during an uptrend. However, by the end of the trading
day, the market closes at or near its high for the day. This signifies
the potential for further sell-offs. Since the certainty for a Hanging
Man indicator is low, the trend reversal can be confirmed by a black candlestick
or a large down gap on the next trading day accompanied by a lower close.
If the open and the close are identical, the indicator is considered a
Dragonfly Doji. The Dragonfly Doji has a higher reliability associated
with it than a Hanging Man.
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Shooting Star / Gravestone
Doji Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Low/Moderate
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How to Identify it
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Small real body at the upper
end of the trading range
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Prices gap open
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Upper shadow usually at
least three times as long as the real body
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No (or almost no) lower
shadow
What it Means
The market gaps open above
the previous day’s close in an uptrend. It rallies to a new high then
loses strength and closes near its low: a bearish change of momentum.
Confirmation of the trend reversal would by an opening below the body
of the Shooting Star on the next trading day. If the open and the close
are identical, the indicator is considered a Gravestone Doji. The Gravestone
Doji has a higher reliability associated with it than a Shooting Star.
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Hanging Man / Dragonfly
Doji Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Low/Moderate
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How to Identify it
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Small real body at the upper
end of the trading range
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Lower shadow at least twice
as long as the real body
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No (or almost no) upper
shadow
What it Means
There is a sharp sell off
after the market opens during an uptrend. However, by the end of the trading
day, the market closes at or near its high for the day. This signifies
the potential for further sell-offs. Since the certainty for a Hanging
Man indicator is low, the trend reversal can be confirmed by a black candlestick
or a large down gap on the next trading day accompanied by a lower close.
If the open and the close are identical, the indicator is considered a
Dragonfly Doji. The Dragonfly Doji has a higher reliability associated
with it than a Hanging Man.
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Shooting Star / Gravestone
Doji Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Low/Moderate
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How to Identify it
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Small real body at the upper
end of the trading range
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Prices gap open
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Upper shadow usually at
least three times as long as the real body
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No (or almost no) lower
shadow
What it Means
The market gaps open above
the previous day’s close in an uptrend. It rallies to a new high then
loses strength and closes near its low: a bearish change of momentum.
Confirmation of the trend reversal would by an opening below the body
of the Shooting Star on the next trading day. If the open and the close
are identical, the indicator is considered a Gravestone Doji. The Gravestone
Doji has a higher reliability associated with it than a Shooting Star.
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Belt Hold Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Low
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How to Identify it
What it Means
In an uptrend, a black
body occurs with an open that is also the high for the day. This may cause
many positions to be sold, perpetuating a bearish reversal.
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Harami Bearish
Pattern: Reversal
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Low
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How to Identify it
What it Means
After a long white day
at the high end of an uptrend, a black candlestick opens lower than the
previous day’s close. Trading is typically light and the day ends with
a close lower than the open and within body of the first day; a signal
that the current uptrend is losing strength. The Harami indicator should
be confirmed with the next trading day’s candlestick following the reversal
trend. The Harami pattern is also the first two days of the Three Inside
patterns.
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Continuation Patterns
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Falling Three Methods
Bearish
Pattern: Continuation
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: High
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How to Identify it
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The first day is a long
black day
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The second, third, and fourth
days have small real bodies and follow a brief uptrend pattern, but
stay within the range of the first day
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The fifth day is a long
black day that closes below the close of the first day
What it Means
In a downtrend, a long
black day occurs, following by three days of small real bodies that fall
into a short uptrend. On the fifth day, the bears come in strong to close
at a new low. This small uptrend, in between two long black days, is consistent
with investors taking a break. The downward should continue.
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Downside Gap Three Methods
Bearish
Pattern: Continuation
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Moderate
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How to Identify it
What it Means
A downtrend is followed
by two long black days with a gap downward between them. The third day
is a white day, but one that closes the gap between the first two. This
should be seen as support for the downward trend.
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Downside Tasuki Gap
Bearish
Pattern: Continuation
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Moderate
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How to Identify it
What it Means
In a downtrend a black
day occurs, followed by another black day that gaps down. A white day
ensues, and is likely the result of investors temporarily taking advantage
of the low buying price. The trend should continue to follow the direction
of the downward gap.
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On Neck Bearish
Pattern: Continuation
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Moderate
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How to Identify it
What it Means
The On Neck pattern is
typical in a downtrend. The fact that a small rally is built by the second
day, but ends at the low of the previous black day indicates that the
bears should prevail.
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In Neck Bearish
Pattern: Continuation
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Moderate
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How to Identify it
What it Means
The In Neck pattern is
a less severe relative of the On Neck pattern. A small rally is built
by the second day, but ends near the close of the previous black day.
Although, as in the case of the On Neck pattern, the downtrend should
prevail, it may take longer to evolve.
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Side-by-Side White Lines
Bearish
Pattern: Continuation
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Moderate
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How to Identify it
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The first day is a black
day
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The second day is a white
day that gaps down
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The third day is a white
day of about the same body length and close as the second day
What it Means
In a downtrend a black
day is followed by two white that are gapped below the first day. This
typically means the shorts are covering their positions, and no reversal
is about to occur. The downtrend should remain intact for the near future.
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Separating Lines Bearish
Pattern: Continuation
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Low
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How to Identify it
What it Means
In downtrend a long white
day occurs. The second day, however, picks up where the previous day’s
trading left off and rallies to close lower. This suggests that the downtrend
should remain intact.
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Three-Line Strike Bearish
Pattern: Continuation
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Low
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How to Identify it
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Three long black days occur
with consecutively lower closes
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The fourth day opens lower,
but closes above the open of the first day
What it Means
The white day drives prices
back to where they were at the start of the pattern. If the bearish trend
was strong before the pattern, then it should continue.
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Thrusting Bearish
Pattern: Continuation
Trend: Bearish
Reliability: Low
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How to Identify it
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The first day is a long
black day
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The second is a white
day that opens below the low of the previous day and closes into the
body of the previous day, but below the midpoint
What it Means
The Thrusting pattern is
a weaker relative of the On Neck and In Neck continuation patterns. A
rally is built by the second day, and closes well into the body of the
previous black day. However, since the second day’s close doesn’t even
reach the midpoint of the first day’s body, the bulls will likely be discouraged
and the downtrend will continue.
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