How to Read Candlestick Charts
What Is a Candlestick?
A candlestick has four key prices: open, close, high, and low. The body shows the difference between open and close. If close is higher than open, the body is bullish (often green). If close is lower, the body is bearish (often red). The wicks (shadows) show the high and low during that period.
Single Candlestick Patterns
Doji: Open and close are almost equal — indecision. For Samoa traders, a doji after a strong trend signals a possible reversal. Hammer: Small body at the top with a long lower wick — bullish reversal after a downtrend. Shooting Star: Small body at the bottom with a long upper wick — bearish reversal after an uptrend.
Multi-Candlestick Patterns
Bullish Engulfing: A small bearish candle followed by a larger bullish candle that engulfs it — strong buy signal. Bearish Engulfing: Opposite — strong sell signal. Morning Star: Three candles: bearish, doji, bullish — reversal pattern. Evening Star: Three candles: bullish, doji, bearish — top reversal.
How to Apply in Samoa Context
Samoa traders often trade the NZD/USD and AUD/USD pairs due to time zone proximity. Use candlestick patterns on the 1-hour or 4-hour chart during the Asian session (9 AM to 5 PM Samoa time). Combine with trendlines and moving averages for higher accuracy. Always set stop-losses based on candlestick wicks, not just arbitrary levels.