Hammer Patterns: Trading Strategies for Forex Traders

Hammer patterns are one of the most reliable reversal signals you can use in your trading strategy. It is formed when a security trades significantly lower than its opening price but rallies to close above its price.

They are easy to spot and provide a high probability of success. This blog post will discuss hammer patterns, how to trade them, and some tips for success.

    What is a Hammer Candlestick Pattern?

    Hammer Candlestick Image

    Hammer patterns form when the price of a security trades lower than its opening price but rallies to close above its opening price. The candle should have a small body with a long lower shadow. The longer the lower shadow, the better.

    The hammer pattern indicates that the market is oversold, and buyers are starting to step in. This is a bullish reversal signal and should be traded as such.

    The signal is strongest after a sustained downtrend, and the security rallies significantly off its lows. The longer the security trades below its opening price, the more significant the reversal signal.

    However, a few conditions can affect the strength of the hammer’s signal. If the security gaps down on the formation of the hammer, it is less likely to generate a strong reversal. The first is the presence of a support level that will halt the selling and create a floor for the stock to reverse off.

    Additionally, if the security has been in a downtrend for a while and forms multiple hammers, it is less likely to result in a significant rally. In this case, it is best to wait for confirmation before taking a position.

    Another condition is how much volume accompanies the rally. The higher the volume, the more likely the rally will continue. A high volume also confirms the strength of the buying pressure and adds credence to the hammer pattern.

    Hammer Recognition Criteria

    • The long shadow is about two or three times the size of the real body.
    • Little or no upper shadow.
    • The real body is at the upper end of the trading range.
    • The color of the real body is not important.

    How to Trade Hammer Patterns

    The best way to trade hammer patterns is to wait for a confirmed close above the open. This means that the next candlestick after the formation of the hammer should close higher than the hammer’s open.

    When this happens, you can enter a long position with a stop loss below the low of the hammer candlestick. Your target should be at least twice your risk or more. This setup provides a great risk-reward ratio and has a high probability of success.

    If you want to trade hammer patterns, you should keep a few things in mind. First, make sure that there is a confirmed trend reversal before trading. You can use other indicators such as moving averages or trend lines.

    Second, wait for a confirmation candle before entering into a trade. This could be another hammer pattern or another bullish candlestick pattern. Finally, set your stop loss below the latest low and target prices near recent highs. “

    The best results from hammers are achieved when three or more gradually declining candles precede them. We say the price declines whenever a candle closes at a lower point than the prior candle.

    A confirmed hammer candlestick does not guarantee a price turn to the upside. The hammer has been confirmed if the next candle closes at a higher price than the hammer’s closing price. This confirmation candle should reflect robust buying activity.

    In general, candlestick traders will wait for the confirmation candle to close before entering long or closing short positions. For those entering new long positions, a stop loss can be set below the low of the hammer’s shadow. Alternatively, a stop loss can be placed above the high of the confirmation candle for those closing short positions.

    The profit target is typically set at a price level that would represent a prior significant low or high. In other words, the price target should be an area where the market is unwilling to move below (for long trades) or above (for short trades).

    Tips for Trading Hammer Patterns Successfully

    Here are some tips to help you trade hammer patterns successfully:

    • The best hammer patterns form at the bottom of a downtrend.
    • The candle should have a volume that is greater than the previous candles.
    • Your stop loss should be placed below the low of the candle.
    • Take-profit levels can be found using Fibonacci retracement levels or by measuring the height of the candle and adding that to the breakout point.

    Following these tips can increase your chances of success when trading hammer patterns. Remember, like all trading strategies, they are not 100% accurate, and there will be losing trades. The key is to manage your risk and keep your losses small.

    Types of Hammer Candlestick

    Hammer candlesticks can be either bullish or bearish, depending on the market conditions leading up to them. Here are some of the most common hammer patterns that you’ll see in the forex market:

    The Regular Hammer

    Regular Hammer

    The regular hammer forms after a downtrend, and its candle looks like a regular hammer candlestick with a small body and a long upper shadow. The color of the real body is not important.

    The regular hammer is a bullish reversal pattern that signals the end of the downtrend and the start of an uptrend. It is confirmed when the price closes above the high of the hammer candlestick.

    Inverted Hammer

    Inverted  Hammer

    An Inverted Hammer is a bullish reversal pattern that occurs after a downtrend. It is a single Japanese candlestick that is in an upside-down hammer position. This candlestick pattern consists of a black or white candlestick.

    The bearish version of the Inverted Hammer is the Shooting Star, which occurs after an uptrend. For the Inverted Hammer to be a genuine chart pattern, the price must open lower, move higher during trading, and then close near the opening level.

    After the Inverted Hammer forms, it is important to wait for confirmation before taking any action. Some signs of confirmation would be if the next candlestick closed higher than the Inverted Hammer candlestick or if there was heavy volume during the Inverted Hammer formation.

    If either of these conditions is met, it will signal that buyers are likely in control, and the trend may reverse. If neither condition is met, then it is best to avoid taking any action on the Inverted Hammer candlestick pattern.

    Shooting Star

    Shooting Star

    A shooting star is a bearish candlestick with a long upper shadow, little or no lower shadow, and a small real body near the low of the day. It appears after an uptrend. Shooting star hammers can be found at the top of bullish trends and indicate that the trend may be about to reverse.

    The candlestick is created when the open, high, and close are all near each other, but the close is significantly lower than the open. This indicates that sellers were able to push prices lower during the day, but buyers pushed prices back up towards the close. Shooting star hammers have small real bodies and long upper shadows.

    The longer the shadow, the more bearish the candlestick. Shooting star hammers are most effective when they form after an uptrend and confirm a bearish reversal pattern, such as a head and shoulders pattern. They can also form after a long period of consolidation, indicating that bearish sentiment is gaining strength.

    Dragonfly Doji

    Dragonfly Doji

    Based on prior price behavior, the Dragonfly Doji candlestick pattern may indicate a price reversal. It occurs when the asset’s high, open, and close prices are all the same.

    The long lower shadow suggests that there was aggressive selling during the period of the candle, but since the price closed near the open, it shows that buyers were able to absorb the selling and push the price back up.

    Dragonfly Doji hammers can be found at the bottom of downtrends and can signal a potential move to the upside. They can also be found at the top of uptrends and can signal a potential move to the downside.

    So, depending on where they form and what the prior price action looks like, Dragonfly Dojis can be either bullish or bearish signals. When trading with Dragonfly Dojis, it’s important to look at other indicators to confirm the potential move before making a trade.

    Hammer Candlestick Formula

    The Hammer Candlestick Formula is one of the most popular and effective ways to trade in the financial markets. The Hammer Candlestick Formula is based on three simple concepts: trend, area of value, and entry trigger.

    By following these three concepts, traders can increase their chances of success and profit potential. Let’s take a closer look at each concept.

    The first concept is the trend. When you trade in the direction of the trend, you are more likely to be successful. The reason for this is that trends tend to continue in the same direction for an extended period of time. This gives you a better chance to make a profit on your trade.

    The second concept is the area of value. When you trade from an area of value, you are more likely to be successful. An area of value is an area on your chart where buying/selling pressure is lurking around. This could be a support and resistance level, trendline, or channel. By waiting for an opportunity to trade in an area of value, you increase your chances of success.

    The third concept is the entry trigger. An entry trigger is a repeatable pattern that gets you into a trade. This could be a candlestick pattern, a moving average crossover, or even just a breakout from a previous trading range. By having an entry trigger, you can enter trades with greater confidence and improve your chances of success.

    Following the Hammer Candlestick Formula, you can improve your chances of success in the financial markets. You can become a more profitable trader by understanding and implementing these three simple concepts.

    The Bullish Hammer Pattern

    Bullish Hammer Image

    The bullish hammer is a candlestick pattern that indicates a bullish reversal. It is found within a price chart and is characterized by a single candle. The bullish hammer differs from other candlestick patterns because it hints at a turn during an established downtrend.

    The bullish reversal is signaled when the candlestick’s open is in the lower half of the candlestick’s body, and the close is in the upper half. The color of the candlestick’s body is not important.

    The shadow of the candlestick should be at least twice as long as the body. The longer the shadow, the more reversal potential there is. The location of the bullish hammer within the price chart will help to determine the significance of the pattern.

    A bullish hammer at support or resistance levels is more significant than one that forms in the middle of a price move. The pattern is confirmed when the price closes above the high of the hammer candle on the following day.

    The bullish hammer pattern  is a single candle hinting at a turn during an established downtrend. The bullish reversal is signaled when  the candlestick’s open is in  the lower half of  the candlestick’s body, and  the close is in  the upper half.

    The shadow of  the candlestick should be at least twice as long as  the body. The longer the shadow,  the more reversal potential there is. The location of  the bullish hammer within  the price chart will help to determine  the significance of  the pattern.

    A bullish hammer at support or resistance levels is more significant than one that forms in   the middle of a price move. The pattern is confirmed when  the price closes above   the high of   the hammer candle on the following day.

    Conclusion

    Hammer candlestick patterns are a powerful tool for forex traders. By understanding what they indicate and how to trade them, you can put yourself in a better position to make profitable trades. Remember that each type of hammer has its own specific formula, so be sure to know the pattern before you enter into a trade. With a little practice, you’ll be able to spot these patterns easily and make informed trading decisions based on their formation.