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- 2. Disclaimer It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in this book and seminar will be profitable or that they will not result in losses. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results. Examples in this book and seminar are for educational purposes only. This is not a solicitation of any order to buy or sell. “HYPOTHETICAL OR SIMULATED PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE CERTAIN INHERENT LIMITATIONS. UNLIKE AN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RECORD, SIMULATED RESULTS DO NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL TRADING. ALSO, SINCE THE TRADES IN THIS BOOK and SEMINAR HAVE NOT ACTUALLY BEEN EXECUTED, THE RESULTS WE STATE MAY HAVE UNDER OR OVER COMPENSATED FOR THE IMPACT, IF ANY, OF CERTAIN MARKET FACTORS, SUCH AS LACK OF LIQUIDITY. SIMULATED TRADING PROGRAMS IN GENERAL ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN.” The authors and publisher assume no responsibilities for actions taken by readers. The authors and publisher are not providing investment advice. The authors and publisher do not make any claims, promises, or guarantees that any suggestions, systems, trading strategies, or information will result in a profit, loss, or any other desired result. All readers and seminar attendees assume all risk, including but not limited to the risk of trading losses. Day Trading can result in large losses and may not be an activity suitable for everyone. Copyright © 1994-2007 by Pristine Capital Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher. 2
- 3. Table of Contents Introduction Beyond the Basics Candlestick Hype Candle Benefits Thoughts and Candle Language Candle Basics Individual Candles Two-Bar Patterns Three-Bar Patterns Pristine Candle Terms and Understanding Reading Greed and Fear in Candles Combining the Candle Messages Reversal Candle Potency Support & Resistance Understanding Support and Resistance A Deeper Understanding of Candles Bar-by-Bar Analysis Candles in Action Monitoring in Candle Language Multiple Time Frames, Volume and Indicators General Understanding and Use 3
- 4. Candlestick Analysis 4 There are no advanced candlestick patterns, but there is a deeper understanding of price movements and that is the focus of The Pristine Method®. So, why use candle charts at all? Cutting Through the Candlestick Hype The signals on a bar chart are the same as a candle chart. Those signals will be seen at the same time and are no more reliable than those of a bar chart. The use of indicators will not increase the reliability of candles.
- 5. Candlestick Analysis Why Use Candlesticks? Provides a visual picture of what is occurring. Gives visual insights into others’ thoughts and expectations. Gives visual confirmation signals of support and resistance. Can visually align your thoughts with the market. Can visually point to potential reversal points. Can a bar chart do this? Yes, but you can do it faster with candles!5
- 6. Candlestick Analysis Candle Language Produces Thoughts Proper trading is said to be proper thinking, but how do we know what to think? Pattern recognition is a recurring arrangement of price bars that suggests the future movement of prices, which guides our thoughts. These patterns communicate how traders have acted and what their beliefs (expectations) are in that time frame, at the moment. Candles provide a picture of those expectations on an ongoing basis. Those pictures speak to us in “Candle Language” and are the basis for our continuous thoughts and trading decisions. 6
- 7. Miscellaneous Thoughts on Candlesticks 7 Attempting to define the accuracy of candle names or patterns without considering the trend, support and resistance is useless. There are a least 50 different candle patterns, bullish and bearish. Some memorize them, but you will see this is completely unnecessary. While candles are very good at visually showing reversal signals, the signals that do Not work are often the most powerful! All that is needed is a chart of price bars -- all else is secondary. While other analysis tools may add additional information, they can only follow existing price action. Candlestick Analysis
- 9. Candlestick Analysis 9 Candlesticks show the same O, H, L, C information as Western bars, but the battle between buyers and sellers is “visually” clearer. Open on Left Close on Right Closes above the Open = Green Closes below the Open = Red Range Range The Range of a bar is the difference between the high and the low
- 10. Candlestick Analysis 10 Candle Bars Wick Close Shadow, Wick or Tail Open Close Tail Shadow, Wick or Tail Open The candle body is the difference between the open and the closing prices. The part on either side of the body is called a Shadow, Wick or Tail. Body Body Low High
- 11. Candlestick Analysis 11 Let’s first review most individual candles and their names to give you a background.. Remembering names is unnecessary because that will not help you use candles or understand their meaning! When we are done with this DVD, not only will you understand what candles are saying, you will also: Have a objective method of knowing when to enter Know where to place a stop Know how to monitor a position once in it
- 12. Candlestick Analysis 12 The Individual Candles DOJI – A bar with the open and close at or very near the same price Gravestone DOJI – A Doji with the open and close at the bar’s low Dragon Fly DOJI – A Doji with the open and close at the bar’s high Long Legged DOJI – A Doji with long upper and lower shadows
- 13. Candlestick Analysis 13 The Individual Candles Spinning Top – A bar with a small body and small range, after a multi-bar move. Hammer – A bar with a small body (red or green), long lower tail, and small to no upper tail, after a multi-bar down move. High Wave – A bar with a small body and wider range, after a multi-bar move.
- 14. Candlestick Analysis 14 The Individual Candles Hangman – A bar with a small body (red or green), long lower tail, and small to no upper tail, after a multi-bar up move. Inverted Hammer – A bar with a small body (red or green), long upper tail, and small to no lower tail, after a multi-bar down move. Shooting Star – A bar with a small body (red or green), long upper tail, and small to no lower tail, after a multi-bar up move.
- 15. Candlestick Analysis 15 Let’s begin to simplify all of these prior candles. Single Candle Questions: Were the prior candles moving up or down? Was there a tail on the top, bottom or both sides of the body? Was the body relatively small in relation to the candle range? Interpretation – Momentum slowed down and there may have been an increase in buying or selling.
- 16. Candlestick Analysis 16 High Wave Long Legged DOJI Shooting Star Shooting StarDOJI Spinning Top As you can see, an individual candle may or may not result in a reversal. More information is needed for them to be meaningful. DOJI Inverted Hammer
- 17. Candlestick Analysis 17 Two-Bar Combinations Harami Bullish – A small green bar inside a large red body. Harami Bearish – A small red bar inside a large green body. Harami Cross Bullish – A DOJI inside a large red body. Harami Cross Bearish – A DOJI inside a large green body.
- 18. Candlestick Analysis 18 In Neck Line Bullish – A green candle that opens below the low of a prior red candle (gap) and closes at the close of the prior candle. In Neck Line Bearish – A red candle that opens above the high of a prior green candle (gap) and closes at the close of the prior candle. On Neck Line Bullish – A green candle that opens below the low of a prior red candle (gap) and closes at the low of the prior candle. On Neck Line Bearish – A red candle that opens above the high of a prior green candle (gap) and closes at the high of the prior candle. Two-Bar Combinations Con’t Gaps Gaps
- 19. Candlestick Analysis 19 Piercing Line Bullish – A green bar that opens below the low of a red bar and closes above the midpoint of the prior bar. Dark Cloud Cover Bearish – A red bar that opens above the high of a green bar and closes below the midpoint of the prior bar. Thrust Line Bearish – A red candle that opens above the high of a prior green candle and closes inside the prior green candle’s body, but above the midpoint. Thrust Line Bullish – A green candle that opens below the low of a prior red candle and closes inside the prior red candle’s body, but below the midpoint. Two-Bar Combinations Con’t
- 20. Candlestick Analysis 20 Engulfing Bullish – A larger green body engulfing a smaller red body. Engulfing Bearish – A larger red body engulfing a smaller green body. Separating Lines Bearish – A green candle followed by a red candle that opens (gaps) at or near the prior candle’s open. Separating Lines Bullish – A red candle followed by a green candle that opens (gaps) at or near the prior candle’s open. Two-Bar Combinations Con’t Gap Gap Close Open Close Open
- 21. Candlestick Analysis 21 Let’s begin to simplify all of these prior candles. Two Candle Combination Questions: Were the prior candles moving up or down? If a gap occurred, to what degree did it fail to follow through? How far did the current bar retrace and close into the prior? Was there a complete reversal of the prior candle? Interpretation – Momentum has shifted to varying degrees.
- 22. Candlestick Analysis Two-Bar Combinations Thrusting Line Bullish Engulfing Bullish Engulfing Bearish Engulfing Bearish Engulfing Bearish Harami Bearish Harami Bullish Two-bar combinations are an improvement over individual candles at signaling reversals. Now let’s look at three-bar combinations 22
- 23. Candlestick Analysis 23 Morning Star Bullish – The first bar is a long red bar; the second gaps below the prior body; the third closes well into the first. Three-Bar Combinations Evening Star Bearish – The first bar is a long green bar; the second gaps above the prior body; the third closes well into the first. Morning/Evening DOJI Star – Replace Star with DOJI Gap
- 24. Candlestick Analysis 24 Let’s begin to simplify all of these prior candles. Three-Bar Combination Questions: Were the prior candles moving up or down? To what degree did momentum slow and begin to shift? To what degree did the next candle penetrate and close into the prior candles? Interpretation – Momentum slowed down, reversed and there has been an increase in buying or selling.
- 25. 25 Evening Star Evening DOJI Star Morning DOJI Star Candlestick Analysis The three-bar patterns are considered more potent than the single or two-bar patterns
- 26. 26 Engulfing Piercing Hammers Evening Doji Star Some would say: Candle messages occurring within a consolidation are meaningless. In time, you will see how they offer very valuable information. Engulfing Harami Bearish Not all candles will produce a reversal, but they all have meaning! Candlestick Analysis Engulfing Inverted Hammer
- 27. 27 Candlestick Analysis Separating lines Engulfing Bullish, but GBI Hammer High Wave Engulfing Bullish Engulfing Bearish Harami Bearish DOJI At times, candle patterns have No Follow Through (NFT) to their suggested meaning. Shooting Star Red bars ignored (RBI) and Green bars ignored (GBI) can provide powerful messages! RBI? GBI 27
- 28. 28 Candlestick Analysis The basics offered a good starting point for the interpretation of candlesticks. In the next sections, we are going to look at candlestick analysis from the Pristine point of view. A deeper understanding of candlestick analysis will not only demystify them, but will also simplify their use.
- 29. Beyond theBeyond the Basics ofBasics of CandlesticksCandlesticks 29
- 30. 30 Candlestick analysis is the study of momentum increases and decreases, which may lead to a price reversal. Candlestick Analysis
- 31. Terms are unimportant, each candle’s message is. Do NOT assume the outcome of the current candle and or message. A candle is not complete until that time period ends. The combination of candle messages will speak to you. Common Candle Terms: Engulfing Bar, Piercing Bar, Dark Cloud Cover, Harami, Thrusting Line. Doji, Star, Hammer, Hangman COG – These have different levels of penetration into the prior bar’s range NRB, NB, BT, TT – Different levels of slowing momentum 31 Candlestick Analysis Pristine Candle Terms: WRB – An increase in range or momentum compared to recent bars.
- 32. Candlestick Analysis COG REVERSAL BAR Pristine Tip: While there are different variations, the message is always the same ! A reversal in momentum has occurred! Bullish Reversals Bearish Reversals 32
- 33. Candlestick Analysis Narrow Range Bodies (NB) Pristine Tip: While there are different variations, the message is always the same ! A slowing in momentum has occurred! Bars in which the body of the candle is small relative to the overall length of the candle. They may have Tails on either side of the body. The appearance of tails shows uncertainty in the prevailing trend of bars. Narrow Body Narrow Bodies 33 Uncertainty Certainty
- 34. Candlestick Analysis Narrowing Range Bars (NRB) Pristine Tip: While there are different variations, the message is always the same ! A slowing in momentum is occurring! Narrowing Range Bars A series of bars in which the difference between the highs and lows is narrowing. 34
- 35. Bearish Engulfing Gapped up and fell down to engulf the entire prior bar’s real body. Bearish Piercing Gapped up and closed down over ½ into the prior bar’s range. Bearish Thrust Gapped up and closed down less than half way into the prior bar’s range. Bearish Harami Opened near the prior bar’s close, rose and fell during the day, closing with small real body. Bearish Shooting Star Narrow range body with topping tail, near higher end of prior bar. Sell Setup 3 or more bars up in downtrend. Bearish Doji Star Gapped up, and opened and closed at the same price. Bearish Star Gapped up, closing under open, leaving a small real body. Bearish Hangman Narrow range body with topping tail, near higher end of prior bar. 35 Candlestick Analysis Prices are trending higher, the potency of the reversal signals are increasing.
- 36. Buy Setup 3 or more bars down in uptrend. Bullish Doji Star Gapped down, and opened and closed at the same price. Bullish Star Gapped down, closing over open, leaving a small real body. Bullish Inverted Hammer Narrow range body with topping tail, near lower end of prior bar. Bullish Hammer Narrow range body with bottom tail, near lower end of prior bar. Bullish Harami Opened near the prior bar’s close, fell and rose during the day, closing with small real body. Bullish Thrust Gapped down and closed up less than half way into the prior bar’s range. Bullish Piercing Gapped down and closed over ½ into the prior bar’s range. Bullish Engulfing Gapped down and rose up to engulf the entire prior bar’s real body. 36 Candlestick Analysis Prices are trending lower, the potency of the reversal signals are increasing.
- 37. Bottoming Tail Bars (BT) Normal or wide range bars in which prices had been lower, then demand forced prices higher above the mid-point of the bar’s range. Pristine Tip: While there are different variations, the message is always the same ! Accumulation has occurred, and Supply overhead has been removed! Bottoming Tails 37 Topping Tail Bars (TT) Normal or wide range bars in which prices had been higher, then supply forced prices below the mid- point of the bar’s range. Pristine Tip: While there are different variations, the message is always the same ! Distribution has occurred, and overhead Supply has been increased! Topping Tails Candlestick Analysis Topping and Bottoming Tails bars that are also a “Range Expansion” relative to prior bars have better odds of being an actual reversal point.
- 38. 25.10 25.70 25.50 25.40 25.30 25.20 25.80 25.90 26.10 26.00 Has A Significant Shift In Momentum Occurred? Least Potent Most Potent Potency is Increasing 20MA As the size and number of candles that make the reversal increase, the potency increases. Candlestick Analysis 38
- 39. 39 Candlestick Analysis You now have an understanding of some of Pristine’s terms and interpretation of candles. Now lets look at Wide Range Bars and Potent Reversals, and consider these candles' effects on emotions and begin to think in "Candle Language.”
- 40. Candlestick Analysis Wide Range Bar (WRB) A bar in which the candle’s body is relatively wide compared to the most recent bars. A Wide Range Bar after an extended advance or decline typically happens near the end of a move. A NB or COG signals the turn. A Wide Range Bar after a period of low volatility ignites momentum in that direction. WRB Ends WRB Ignites 40 WRB Ignites WRB Ends
- 41. 41 A Narrow Range bar can indicate that momentum has slowed or that volatility is low. A WRB or RE bar displays commitment and emotion. A Wide Range Bar (WRB) is a Range Expansion (RE) by definition. A Bottom Tail (BT) or Top Tail (TT) may or may not be a Range Expansion (RE) bar. A WRB is an indication that momentum may soon slow or end an existing move. A WRB Breakout or breakdown, after a consolidation, ignites a move in that direction. Narrow Range Wide Range Range Expansion Range Expansion Candlestick Analysis
- 42. 42 Potent Not Potent Fear is increasing Momentum is slowing, but fear is not extreme Momentum is slowing, but greed is not extreme Greed is increasing Expanding range indicates Fear or Greed is increasing and becoming extreme Expanding range (increased volatility) increases the odds of a reversal Potent Not Potent The larger the reversal bar is in relation to the prior bar, the more potent The level or depth of retracement into the prior candle increases potency Candlestick Analysis
- 43. 43 Range Expanded followed by a complete reversal, making it very potent! Climactic and Potent Not climactic, but Potent A retest of a this low has better odds of a larger retracement -WRB -WRB +WRB -WRB -WRB This is not climactic and the reversal is not Potent No fear, just slowing momentum Range Expansion after low volatility ignites a move Candlestick Analysis
- 44. 44 Candlestick Analysis Wide Range Bar Range Expansion TT, BT This Bottom Tail bar at (A) is also a Range Expansion and was a Wide Range Bar (-WRB) prior to completion! What were traders thinking when the bar was forming as a –WRB, and then when it became a BT? What about the +WRB at (B) becoming a TT? B A What are they thinking after the reversal at (C)? C
- 45. 45 Candlestick Analysis Combine the Candle Messages A signal bar, two-bar or three-bar candle pattern can point you to high probability reversal points, but …. A combination of these candles in the same area will give a stronger message of a reversal point. By interpreting the meaning of all recent candles combined, the odds of successfully locating a reversal increase.
- 46. 46 Candlestick Analysis At (A), An expanding range breakdown is followed by an inside narrow range bar (Harami) At (B) A retest of that “area” is followed by a Bottoming Tail (BT) and Potent + COG (Morning Star) Strongly suggests a move higher AT (C), Narrowing Range Bars (NR) are followed by a gap down and move lower At (D), a retest of the area is followed by a minor gap lower and Potent –COG suggests a move lower -WRB Breakdown NB BT Retest +WRB Retest BA C D
- 47. 47 Candlestick Analysis Potent? Potent? This was a –WRB prior to completion? Notice how momentum increases and decreases in a controlled manner. The candles do not “run” higher building into a climatic + WRB. 47
- 48. Candlestick Analysis Expanding range break down is followed by a very potent + COG Traders buy breakouts (BO). A return back to a BO point is negative. This is Not how you want a BO to close Momentum Slows -COG Momentum Slows Momentum Slows NBs NB NB -COG TT NB -WRB RE Traders sell break downs (BD). A return back to the BD point is negative. Potent three-bar combination! 48
- 49. Candlestick Analysis As fear and greed increase, ranges expand As fear and greed decrease, ranges and/or bodies contract When and where this occurs is key Potent? Range expands after multiple bars in one direction Range expands after contraction Range and bodies contract Range and bodies contract 49
- 50. 50 Candlestick Analysis As you can see, it is possible to understand what candles are saying without knowing their various names and patterns. Remembering candle pattern names does not equate to using them successfully, but there is so much focus on them. If you remember the patterns, fine; but you now see there is a much easier, and better way. The use of candles can not guarantee a successful trade, but this deeper understanding gives much greater odds of success.
- 51. At this point, you have a great start to using candles. Now, it’s up to you to work with the material and make it yours. You should be able to analyze candle patterns objectively and make intelligent trading decisions. Defining an opportunity, where the odds are in your favor, then having the discipline to follow your trading and money management rules is all that you can do. In closing, we at Pristine wish you great success! 51 Concluding Thoughts