Bullish Engulfing Pattern

In this discussion we cover another Japanese candlestick pattern - the widely-used two-candlestick bullish engulfing pattern. The first candlestick represents a falling share price - in the image below in red. The second candlestick represents the share price starting low and ending up at or near its highs - typified by the green candle.

The size of the red candlestick is not considered to hold significance. The second should be a full green candlestick. As the name dictates, the green candle must totally engulf the body of the previous red candle, and ideally (not compulsory), it would engulf the shadows (tails) as well. Shadows are permitted but should be small in both candles.

The bullish engulfing pattern is used when a stock has been declining. The theory is that after a period of selling pressure the green candle forms because the stock has opened below the previous close and buyers have moved in and pushed the price higher. The larger the green "engulfing" candle, the more bullish the reversal. The bullish engulfing pattern basically represents a change in investor sentiment.

As always, confirmation is required. Further strength in the share price in the following time period is required to provide confirmation of the reversal pattern.

The exception to this rule is if the first real body of the engulfing pattern is a doji. Thus, after an extended fall, a doji engulfed by a very large white real body could be a bottom reversal.