BULLISH INVERTED HAMMER
Definition
This pattern consists of a black body followed by an Inverted Hammer that is characterized by a long upper shadow and a small body. It is similar in shape to the Bearish Shooting Star but unlike the Shooting Star, the Inverted Hammer appears in a downtrend and signals a bullish reversal.
Recognition Criteria
1. The market is characterized by a prevailing downtrend.
2. The first day of the pattern is a black candlestick.
3. On the second day, a small body at the lower end of the trading range is observed. Color of this body is not important.
4. The upper shadow of this second candlestick should be at least twice as long as the body.
5. There is (almost) no lower shadow.
Pattern Requirements and Flexibility
The body of the Inverted Hammer should be small. The upper shadow should be at least twice as long as the body but not shorter than an average candlestick length. It is desired that there is no or a very tiny lower shadow. The bottom of the inverted hammer should be lower than the preceding candlestick’s body.
Trader’s Behavior
The pattern occurs in a bearish background and the black candlestick that appears on the first day further supports the bearishness. On the second day, in which an Inverted Hammer is seen, market opens at or near its low. Then prices change direction and we see a rally. However, the bulls do not succeed in sustaining the rally during the rest of the day and prices finally close either at or near the low of the day. It may not be clear why this type of price action is interpreted as a potential reversal signal. The answer has to do with what happens over the next day. If the next day opens above the body of the Inverted Hammer, it means that those who shorted at the opening or closing of the Inverted Hammer day are losing money. The longer the market holds above the Inverted Hammer’s body, the more likely these shorts will attempt to cover their positions. This may ignite a rally as a result of covered short positions, which may then inspire the bottom pickers to take long positions.
Buy/Stop Loss Levels
The confirmation level is defined as the midpoint of the upper shadow of the inverted hammer. Prices should cross above this level for confirmation.
The stop loss level is defined as the lower of the last two lows. Following the BUY, if prices go down instead of going up, and close or make two consecutive daily lows below the stop loss level, while no bearish pattern is detected, then the stop loss is triggered.