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A Candlestick Pattern for FX Reversals

A Candlestick Pattern for FX Reversals

Walker England, Forex Trading Instructor

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Talking Points:

  • Candle Analysis can be Worked into any Strategy
  • Evening Stars can Validate Points of Resistance
  • Day Traders can Plan Entries Around Candles

Interpreting candle patterns is an important technical trading skill to master for any day trader. While these patterns may seem foreign at first, their recognition can confirm values of support and resistance, and even give traders confirmation of the markets direction. What is even better is, that since candles are already being displayed on your charts, with a little work you add candle analysis into any active trading strategy. With this idea in mind, today we will review the bearish evening star for trading market reversals.

What is a bearish evening star?

So what is a bearish evening star? A bearish evening star is a three candle reversal pattern normally found at the end of a period of bullish buying pressure. Pictured above you will see an example of the pattern, and while the primary focus is on the center candle known as the “star” in the center the other two candles play an important role as well. The first candle will depict a surge in priceon the underlying currency pair or CFD. The size of this first candle can vary, but it is important for this candle to close creating a new swing high.

Next traders will look at the second candle of the pattern to identify a bearish evening star. Price should attempt to again breakout out to the upside here and create a slightly higher high relative to our first candle. However, any rallies seen in this position should be capped with a long candle wick with price trading back down toward the open price. Normally a doji or inverted hammer candle will act as the “Star”, but it is important to remember that the candle color in this position is not ultimately important. This doji or long wick from an inverted hammer suggests that bullish price momentum is concluding .The last candle should show the beginning of fresh bearish momentum. Since this is the critical reversal candle, this candle must close lower.

Learn Forex – USDCAD with Bearish Evening Star

(Created using FXCM’s Marketscope 2.0 charts)

Uses in Trading

Above we can see the bearish evening star at work on the USDCAD currency pair prior to today’s NFP news announcement. First notice how price tested resistance at the R3 pivot, but the failed to break higher. Our candle pattern, helped confirm resistance, while our third candle suggests that momentum had indeed shifted downward. Knowing this, traders could have potentially taken this as a signal to sell the USDCAD prior to today’s NFP announcement.

Secondarily, the bearish evening star could be used to create a directional trading bias for future positions. Traders not wishing to trade immediately, who didn’t enter the market before the news, could use the evening start to begin identifying future selling opportunities. This way after the event itself, traders can enter the market on the side of price momentum using a variety of strategies. Above, you will find a potential breakout highlighted after the creation of the bearish evening star.

Practice with Candles

Interpreting candle patterns is like any other trading skill and will take time and practice. To help you analyze the market using live charts, register for a FREE Demo account with FXCM. This way you can practice your candle trading skills while following the market in real time!

---Written by Walker England, Trading Instructor

To contact Walker, email instructor@dailyfx.com. Follow me on Twitter at @WEnglandFX.

To be added to Walker’s e-mail distribution list, CLICK HERE and enter in your email information.

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DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

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