Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Technical Analysis - II



I. Bullish Patterns

1. Plain White Candle (with or without sticks)
This is a bullish line. It occurs when open price near the low and close is significantly higher than periods high.

2. Hammer
This is a bullish line if it occurs after a significant downtrend. If the line occurs after a significant up-trend, it is called a Hanging Man. A Hammer is identified by a small real body (i.e., a small range between the open and closing prices) and a long lower shadow (i.e., the low is significantly lower than the open, high, and close). The body can be empty or filled-in.

3. Bullish Piercing
This is a bullish pattern and the opposite of a dark cloud cover. The first line is a long black line and the second line is a long white line. The second line opens lower than the first line's low, but it closes more than halfway above the first line's real body. Here the open can be -0.5 % higher than the previous close.


4.
Bullish Engulfing
This pattern is strongly bullish if it occurs after a significant downtrend (i.e., it acts as a reversal pattern). It occurs when a small bearish (filled-in) line is engulfed by a large bullish (empty) line


5. Morning Star
This is a bullish pattern signifying a potential bottom. The "star" indicates a possible reversal and the bullish (empty) line confirms this. The star can be empty or filled-in



Will be continued...

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Technical Analysis - 1


Well continuous insistence by Priyabrata, forced me to post on Candle Stick Pattern of Technical Analysis. But before proceeding further I would like to make a point about Technical Analysis or Candle Stick! As I always say, “knowing technical analysis is not important but implementing is what is important here."

Okay, let’s begin the play ball....

Candle Stick Charts


Candle sticks (300 years old Japanese techniques) give the same information as a bar chart but are visually easier to read.


Red candle means stocks closed lower to relative to the previous close. green candle stick means stock higher relative to the previous close. The color combination can be different also as such Black-White, Red-White and Green-Red etc.



History


In the1600s, the Japanese developed a method of technical analysis to analyze the price of rice contracts. This technique is called candlestick charting. Steven Nison is credited with popularizing candlestick charting and has become recognized as the leading expert on their interpretation.


Candlestick charts display the open, high, low, and closing prices in a format similar to a modern-day bar-chart, but in a manner that extenuates the relationship between the opening and closing prices. Candlestick charts are simply a new way of looking at prices, they don't involve any calculations. Each candlestick means one period data. One period data can be on daily basis, weekly basis, monthly basis, quarterly basis or yearly basis.

Formation


In order to create a candlestick chart, you must have a data set that contains open, high, low and close values for each time period you want to display. The hollow or filled portion of the candlestick is called "the body" (also referred to as "the real body"). The long thin lines above and below the body represent the high/low range and are called "shadows" (also referred to as "wicks" and "tails"). The high is marked by the top of the upper shadow and the low by the bottom of the lower shadow. If the stock closes higher than its opening price, a hollow candlestick is drawn with the bottom of the body represents the opening price and the top of the body representing the closing price. If the stock closes lower than its opening price, a filled candlestick is drawn with the top of the body representing the opening price and the bottom of the body representing the closing price.


Compared to traditional bar charts, many traders consider candlestick charts more visually appealing and easier to interpret. Each candlestick provides an easy-to-decipher picture of price action. Immediately a trader can see compare the relationship between the open and close as well as the high and low. The relationship between the open and close is considered vital information and forms the essence of candlesticks. Hollow candlesticks, where the close is greater than the open, indicate buying pressure. Filled candlesticks, where the close is less than the open, indicate selling pressure.

Interpretations

Interpretation of candlestick chart is based primarily on the patterns. Because candlesticks display the relationship between the open, high, low, and closing prices, they cannot be displayed on securities that only have closing prices, nor were they intended to be displayed on securities that lack opening prices. If security that does not have opening prices, then use the previous day's closing prices in place of opening prices. This technique can create candlestick lines and patterns that are unusual, but valid.

The patterns can be categorized as follows

Ø Bullish Patterns

Ø Bearish Patterns

Ø Reversal Patterns

Neutral Patterns


---> Will be continued...