← All articles

· By Ondrej Kavalek

Candle formation Bullish engulfing and Hammer

Bullish engulfing: strong trend reversal signal

Bullish engulfing is a candle formation that consists of two candles and is considered one of the strongest signals of a market reversal from a bearish (downtrend) to a bullish (uptrend). This formation shows how buying pressure has outweighed the initial selling pressure and optimism is beginning to prevail in the market.

Characteristics of Bullish engulfing formation

The typical sign of a bullish engulfing formation is that the second candle completely engulfs the body of the first candle. The first candle is usually bearish (red) or doji (where the opening and closing price are very close together), while the second candle is bullish (green). The key element is that the body of the second candle is larger than the body of the first candle, and the shadows (shadows) are not important and do not need to be absorbed.

For a Bullish Engulfing formation to be valid, it must meet the following criteria:

The body of the second bull candle completely absorbs the body of the previous bear candle.

The previous development was in a bearish trend.

There are factors that can strengthen the significance of this formation and increase the likelihood of a trend reversal:

Large volumes of business: When a bullish candle is accompanied by high trading volume, the probability of a reversal is higher.

Big opening gap: The larger the opening gap (the difference between the opening price of the second candle and the closing price of the first candle), the greater the probability of a strong reversal.

Recognition of Bullish engulfing

To successfully recognize a bullish engulfing formation, it is important to observe the following points:

A clearly defined trend: The market must be in a clearly definable trend, albeit short-term.

Formation: Engulfing pattern consists of two candles, where the body of the second candle must completely engulf the body of the first candle (shadows are not important).

The colour of the candles: The colour of the second candle should be the opposite of the first candle, except when the body of the first candle is very small and it is almost a doji.

The success and strength of the bullish engulfing formation can be supported by the following factors:

The small body of the first candle: If the body of the first candle is very small and the body of the second candle is very large, it indicates a large imbalance of forces in the market.

Rapid and significant price movement: If the engulfing pattern appears after a very fast and significant price movement, the probability of success is higher.

Big volume on the second candle: The high trading volume on the second candle supports the importance of this formation.

Ingestion of more than one candle: If the body of the second candle absorbs more than just the body of the previous candle, the signal strength is even greater.

The bullish engulfing formation is a strong indicator of a potential market turnaround and provides investors with an important signal for a possible buy. It is important to monitor trading volumes and opening gaps, which can reinforce the significance of this formation. When properly identified and analyzed, a bullish engulfing formation can greatly assist in financial market decision making.

Hammer formation: strong trend reversal signal

The Hammer formation, also known as the “Hammer,” is one of the most important candlestick patterns that traders use to identify possible trend reversals in the market. This formation appears after a downtrend and is a strong signal that the bearish pressure in the market is waning and the bulls are starting to gain control.

Characteristics of Hammer formation

The Hammer candle has several key characteristics that set it apart:

Short body: The real body of the candle is on the top of the candle, and its color is not important.

Long lower shadow: The bottom shadow is at least twice as long as the body of the candle.

Short or no upper shadow: The candle has no upper shadow or the shadow is very short.

Hammer formation belongs to reversal (reverse) candlestick formations and can be both bullish and bearish. Its reliability ranges from low to medium, so it is important to use it in conjunction with other technical indicators and analyses.

Examples of using the Hammer formation

There are two main ways you can use the Hammer formation:

Reverse signal: Hammer candle indicates rejection of lower prices in the market. If it appears in a downtrend, it can signal the end of selling pressure and the start of sideways trading or a reversal to the upside.

Signal to close the deal: Traders who are speculating on a decline (short position) can use the Hammer candle as a signal that selling pressure is receding, which represents an ideal time to close a short position.

How to recognize Hammer pattern?

In order to correctly identify Hammer pattern, it is important to observe the following criteria:

A real body: The body of the candle is at the bottom of the candle.

Length of the lower shadow: The lower shadow is at least twice as long as the body of the candle.

Upper shadow: The candle should have no or very little top shadow.

The longer the lower shadow, the shorter the upper shadow and the smaller the body of the candle, the more important the Hammer formation becomes. Although the color of the candle is not important, in general, a green candle is slightly more bullish, while a red candle is slightly more bearish.

Advantages and limitations of the Hammer formation

Hammer candles have their advantages and limitations. The main advantages include:

A strong turnaround signal: Hammer often indicates the end of a downtrend and the beginning of an uptrend.

Ease of identification: The formation is easily recognizable on the chart.

Restrictions include:

Low/medium reliability: Hammer formation should be confirmed by other indicators or analyses.

Confirmation needed: After the Hammer candle is formed, it is important to wait for confirmation of the following candle, which should be bullish.

Hammer and Pin Bar

Hammer is often also known as Pin Bar. Although it is often a reversal candle, it can also be used to trade in line with the trend, especially when it appears near important support or resistance levels.

The Hammer formation is an important tool in the arsenal of technical traders. It helps to identify potential trend reversals and provides strong signals to close or open trading positions. Although its reliability is not the highest, in combination with other analytical methods it can significantly increase the probability of success in the financial markets.

Try to trade Bullish Engulfing or Hammer in practice

We are prop firm operating on the market since 2021 and we offer you the opportunity to start trading on accounts starting from $10,000 after successfully passing our Evaluation. We provide support in English from 10am to 10pm and an intuitive trading platform, EverStation Pro, integrated with TradingView. This platform will offer you cutting-edge analytical tools and educational materials for your further development.

Join our global network of over 3,000+ satisfied traders. With us you will get fast payouts, within 7 hours at most. Choose the program of your choice, go through the Evaluation and start trading for EverTrader. Trading is a skill that can be learned with practice and persistence. Get started today and take your trading skills to the next level!

Ready to trade with our capital?

Read every rule with its numeric example, then try the platform free, no card.