Engulfing Candlestick Patterns: A Trader’s Guide | TrendSpider Learning Center (2024)

3 mins read

Engulfing Candlestick Patterns are a quintessential asset in a trader’s toolkit, offering insights into market sentiment and potential reversals. They stand out due to their visual depiction of the power shift between buyers and sellers over a specific period.

What is the Engulfing Candlestick Pattern?

The Engulfing Candlestick Pattern comes in two types: the Bullish Engulfing Pattern and the Bearish Engulfing Pattern. Both indicate potential market reversals. Here’s how to recognize them:

• Bullish Engulfing Pattern: This occurs when a candlestick, irrespective of its size, is followed by a larger candlestick that fully ‘engulfs’ the prior one. This green (or white) engulfing candlestick signals a price increase and typically appears after a downtrend.
• Bearish Engulfing Pattern: This pattern is the opposite of the Bullish Engulfing Pattern. A candlestick, regardless of its size, is followed by a larger red (or black) candlestick that entirely ‘engulfs’ the preceding one. This pattern usually emerges at the end of an uptrend.

Notably, ‘engulfing’ can be defined in two ways, leading to some debate among traders. Some traders define an engulfing pattern when the High and Low of the second candle exceed those of the first. Others consider it engulfing when the Open and Close of the second candle surpass the Open and Close of the first.

How to Trade the Engulfing Candlestick Pattern

Trading the Engulfing Pattern effectively requires a keen eye and discipline. Here’s a possible approach:

1. Identify the Trend: Ascertain the current trend. Bullish Engulfing Patterns are most potent after a significant downtrend, while Bearish Engulfing Patterns are most effective after an uptrend.
2. Spot the Engulfing Pattern: Once you’ve identified the trend, look for the corresponding Engulfing Pattern.
3. Wait for Confirmation: After spotting an Engulfing Pattern, wait for a confirmation candlestick. For Bullish, this would be a candle closing above the Engulfing Pattern, and for Bearish, a candle closing below the Engulfing Pattern.
4. Manage your Risk: Always use stop losses. For Bullish Engulfing Patterns, place your stop loss just below the Engulfing Candle, and for Bearish Engulfing Patterns, place it just above the Engulfing Candle.

Example scanner based on Engulfing Candlestick Patterns

Engulfing Candlestick Pattern can be used in Scanning the market. To see how exactly it can be used in this way, we provide the following sample. This is a scanner that searches the market for stocks using this pattern.

Trading Tips for Engulfing Candlestick Patterns

Engulfing Candlestick Patterns can provide traders with strong signals for potential market reversals. However, their effectiveness can be enhanced when applied in conjunction with other considerations. Here are some key tips for trading with these patterns:

1. Combine with Other Indicators: Engulfing patterns alone should not form the basis of your trading decisions. For a more comprehensive analysis, combine them with other technical indicators like trend lines, moving averages, and oscillators.
2. Consider the Market Trend: Engulfing patterns tend to be more reliable when they align with the overall market trend. A Bearish Engulfing Pattern in an overall downtrend or a Bullish Engulfing Pattern in an uptrend often strengthens the reversal signal.
3. Check Volume: Volume can provide extra confirmation of an engulfing pattern. An increase in trading volume on the engulfing candle often reinforces the reversal signal.
4. Wait for Confirmation: Patience is key when trading engulfing patterns. Wait for the next candlestick after the pattern to confirm the signal. This is typically a candlestick closing below a bearish engulfing pattern or above a bullish engulfing pattern.

Practical Example

Imagine you observe a Bearish Engulfing Pattern at the end of an uptrend. This candlestick, regardless of its size, is followed by a larger red candle that entirely eclipses the preceding candle. After spotting this pattern, you wait for the next candle. If it closes below the low of the Engulfing Candle, that’s your confirmation, and you may initiate a short position, setting your stop loss just above the high of the Engulfing Candle.