Table of Contents

Pattern Hammer

Hammer is a bullish candlestick pattern that forms during a downtrend. The candle has a small body at the upper part and a long lower shadow, with the upper shadow being absent or very short. The name comes from the candle's resemblance to a hammer.

Key Features:
  • Opening price is lower than closing price (O < C), although it can be the opposite.
  • Small candle body at the upper part of the price range.
  • Long lower shadow, typically 2-3 times longer than the body.
  • No upper shadow or a very short one.
  • Forms in a downtrend.

Hammer Pattern

Interpretation

Hammer is considered a strong signal of a potential reversal of a downtrend:

  • The long lower shadow shows that the price fell significantly during the period, but then buyers intervened and pushed the price back up.
  • This indicates the market's rejection of lower prices and a potential shift in sentiment from bearish to bullish.
  • The longer the lower shadow, the stronger the potential reversal signal.
  • The color of the candle body is less important, although a white/green hammer is considered more bullish than a black/red one.

Trading Strategies

Hammer provides opportunities for entering a long position:

  • Wait for confirmation from the next candle - a bullish candle after a Hammer strengthens the reversal signal.
  • Place a stop-loss level below the low of the Hammer.
  • Set a target profit based on previous resistance levels or risk/reward ratio.
  • Combine with other technical indicators, such as RSI or MACD, to confirm trend reversal.
  • Higher trading volume during the formation of a Hammer increases the reliability of the signal.

See also

Pattern Inverted Hammer

Pattern Hanging Man