Bullish Engulfing Patterns: Powerful Buy Signals

Candlestick analysis incorporates approximately 50 to 60 candlestick signals. Of these, you need learn only 12, which are considered the major ones. These signals produce most of the trend reversals. Recognizing the psychology that form these major signals will give you new insight into price movements. Understanding the investor psychology that form the major signals reveals optimal times to buy and sell. When candlestick analysis was being formed, Japanese rice traders realized that prices do not move based on fundamentals. Instead, they move based on the investor perception of those fundamentals. Candlestick signals are the visual depiction of investor sentiment.

One of the most compelling candlestick signals is the bullish engulfing pattern. This signal is most effective when found in the oversold area at the end of a substantial downtrend. The pattern consists of two bodies; the first is the same color as the current trend, while the second is the opposite color. The signal day opens lower than the previous day's close, and then it trades higher. By the end of the day, the trading closes above the previous day's open. This new white candle now engulfs the previous day's candle known as the daki, or embracing line.

A white bullish candle engulfing the previous black candle stands out like a neon sign after a series of black candles; it is clear that a change has occurred in investor sentiment. A couple of simple factors make the bullish engulfing pattern more convincing: The bigger the previous day's candle being engulfed, the more effective the new trend signal will be. Or the lower the open of the white candle, then coming back up to engulf the previous day, the more powerful the next advance should be.

FIGURE 1: BULLISH ENGULFING PATTERNS

(O-1>C-1) and
(O0<C-1) and
(C0>O-1)

Yesterday's open is greater than yesterday's close;
Today's open is less than yesterday's close;
Today's close is greater than yesterday's open.

The bullish engulfing pattern represents a change in investor sentiment. It reveals when the buyers have stepped in.

In Figure 2, on the chart of Neoware, Inc. (NWRE), the market sentiment reversed at the bullish engulfing formations. The change of investor sentiment is stronger when it confirms with other technical indications. In this case, the bullish engulfing signal formed in an area that acted as a strong support level about a month ago.

FIGURE 2: REVERSALS AND BULLISH ENGULFING PATTERNS

Witnessing a bullish candlestick signal in an oversold condition, and at a major technical level, enhances the probability that a reversal has occurred. A major advantage produced by candlestick signals is that it reveals what investor sentiment is doing right now. Seeing a bullish signal at any major technical level allows the candlestick investor to react immediately. Whereas most technical indicators require confirmation that a trend has reversed, the candlestick signal immediately reveals investor sentiment at that level.

Figure 3 illustrates in the Jos. A. Banks chart (JOSB) how the bullish engulfing signal is formed by gapping down exactly to the 200-day moving average. The buyers created a bullish engulfing signal that day. This became further evidence that a support level had been found and a reversal in investor sentiment had occurred.

FIGURE 3: COMBINING CANDLESTICKS WITH TECHNICAL INDICATORS. Note how, after a gap down, prices continued to drift lower till they hit the 200-day moving average. At this point, a bullish engulfing pattern formed and prices moved higher.

FIGURE 4: STRONG SIGNAL. Note that the downtrend ended on a very strong signal. This indicated that the last of the sellers had sold their stock.

A gap down in price shows that the sellers have capitulated. The buying illustrates this was the level the smart money was willing to start accumulating. Figure 4 shows the chart of First Industrial Realty Trust how the downtrend ended when the last of the sellers finally let their stock go. The large bullish engulfing signal clearly demonstrated that a change of investor sentiment had occurred.

The appearance of candlestick signals in the proper position of a trend will produce high-probability results. These results will be even better when candlesticks are combined with other technical indicators. Candlestick signals are merely the graphic depiction of investor sentiment during trend movements. Use them to your advantage.

SUGGESTED READING
Bigalow, Stephen W. [2002]. Profitable Candlestick Investing: Pinpointing Market Turns To Maximize Profits, John Wiley & Sons.
Bigalow, Stephen W. [2005]. High Profit Candlestick Patterns, Profit Publishing.

Current and past articles from Working Money, The Investors' Magazine, can be found at Working-Money.com.