Many traders will certainly already have read about the possibilities of reading candlesticks. In this article, we want to provide you with important background knowledge that is often forgotten in educational articles on candlesticks.
I would like to explain the whole thing using a classic example in the DAX, but it can also be applied to crypto, commodities and forex. A little later in the article, we will explain the most common candles and what you can do with them. The classic DAX has a daily trading time of 9 am to 5:30 pm, which means that the daily candle starts at 9 am and ends at 5:30 pm. As you will see in the article, it is possible to interpret possible price movements based on the different appearances of the closed candle. Beginners in particular are often unaware that there is both pre-market and post-market trading. Advanced traders, on the other hand, often do not know that the candle image can also depend on the broker's server time (time zone) if they themselves trade from a different time zone. Trading interruptions, as in the Nikkei225, can also distort the chart.
Example: Different daily candles in the Xetra-DAX and derivatives on the DAX
Xetra DAX
Trading hours: The Xetra DAX is traded on the German Stock Exchange, which is usually open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CET. This means that the daily candle of the Xetra DAX captures all price movements within this time window.
Candlestick image: The daily candlestick on the Xetra DAX will show a complete picture of price movements during the official trading hours, with an opening price at 9:00 am and a closing price at 5:30 pm CET.
Derivatives on the DAX
Trading hours: Derivatives, such as futures or options on the DAX, can be traded on other platforms such as Eurex, where trading hours differ from those of Xetra. For example, Eurex is open from 8:00 to 22:00 CET.
Candlestick image: The daily candlestick for a DAX derivative will therefore not only cover the trading hours of Xetra, but also the pre- and post-trading activities. This means that the candlestick may show greater volatility and different highs and lows compared to the Xetra DAX candlestick.
Let's take a closer look at the basics of candles:
Doji candles are known for their particular shape, where the opening and closing prices are almost identical, indicating indecision in the market. However, there are different types of doji candles, each of which has its own meaning and signals different market conditions.
1.Standard Doji
2. Long-Legged Doji
3. Dragonfly Doji
4. Gravestone Doji
The opposite of the Dragonfly Doji, the Gravestone Doji has a long upper wick and no lower wick. The opening and closing prices are at the lower end of the trading range.
The opposite of the Dragonfly Doji, the Gravestone Doji has a long upper wick and no lower wick. The opening and closing prices are at the lower end of the trading range.
5. Four-Price Doji
6. Abandoned Baby Bullish
7. Abandoned Baby Bearish
8. Tri Star
The Tri-Star formation can appear in two variants: as a bullish or bearish pattern, depending on whether it appears at the end of a downtrend or an uptrend.
Bullish Tri-Star: Typically occurs at the end of a downtrend.
Bearish Tri-Star: Usually appears at the end of an uptrend.
Look for a trend reversal: Doji patterns are particularly meaningful after a prolonged price move, as they can indicate a potential exhaustion of the trend.
Additional confirmation: It is important to look for additional signals before trading based on a doji. This can include technical indicators, further candlestick patterns or volume analysis.
Risk management: Doji alone do not provide a strong basis for trading. It is advisable to incorporate other methods of analysis and always set stop-loss orders to manage risk.
9. Hammer
10. Hanging Man
11. Bullish Engulfing
12. Bearish Engulfing
13. Shooting Star
14. Piercing Line
The Piercing Line is a two-part bullish reversal pattern that occurs at the end of a downtrend. The first candle is a long black candle followed by a long white candle that opens below the lowest point of the first candle and closes above the middle of the body of the first candle.
Market Interpretation: This pattern indicates a reversal in the downtrend, with the second day showing that buyers have come back and pushed the market higher strongly.
15. Morning Star
16. Evening Star
17. Three White Soldiers
18. Three Black Crows
19. Bullish Harami
20. Bearish Harami
21. Marubozu
Bullish Marubozu: A completely white or green Marubozu candle indicates strong upward pressure. The opening price was the lowest of the period and the closing price was the highest, showing that buyers controlled the market from the beginning to the end of the session.
Bearish Marubozu: A completely black or red Marubozu candle indicates strong downward pressure. Here, the opening price was the highest and the closing price was the lowest of the period, indicating that sellers were in control for the entire duration.
In an uptrend, a Bullish Marubozu can confirm the continuation of the trend and indicate that the upward momentum is still strong.
In a downtrend, a Bearish Marubozu signals that the downtrend is likely to continue and that selling momentum remains strong.
22. Spinning Top
In an uptrend, the appearance of a spinning top suggests that despite continued buying, sellers are beginning to offer significant resistance, which could lead to a possible weakening of the uptrend.
In a downtrend, a spinning top could indicate that the selling force is weakening and buyers are beginning to hold their ground, indicating a possible stabilization or reversal of the trend.
23. Tweezer Top
24. Tweezer Bottom
Market interpretation: This pattern indicates a possible bullish reversal, especially after a downtrend.
Thank you for this educational gem. It's a lot of work!
And small request regarding structuring blocks: we've updated the typography in the editor. It will be better to use headers instead of quotes, as in the future, a table of contents will be generated in the articles using headers.
And small request regarding structuring blocks: we've updated the typography in the editor. It will be better to use headers instead of quotes, as in the future, a table of contents will be generated in the articles using headers.