BULLISH HAMMER
Definition
This pattern occurs at the bottom of a trend or during a downtrend and it is called a Hammer since it is hammering out of a bottom. It is a single candlestick pattern that has a long lower shadow and a small body at or very near the top of its daily trading range.
Recognition Criteria
1. The market is characterized by a prevailing downtrend.
2. A small body at the upper end of the trading range is observed. The color of the body is not important.
3. The lower shadow of this candlestick is at least twice as long as the body.
4. There is (almost) no upper shadow.
Pattern Requirements and Flexibility
The body of the Hammer should be small. The lower shadow should be at least twice as long as the body, but not shorter than an average candlestick. It is desired that there is no or a very tiny upper shadow. The bottom of the Hammer’s body should be lower than both of the two preceding black candlesticks.
Trader’s Behavior
The Bullish Hammer appears in a downtrend and it sells off sharply following the market open. After the decline ceases, the market almost returns to the high of the day. Apparently the market fails to continue on the selling side. This observation reduces the previous bearish sentiment causing short traders to feel increasingly uneasy with their bearish positions. If the body of the Hammer is white, then the situation looks even better for the bulls.
Buy/Stop Loss Levels
The confirmation level is defined as the top of the Hammer’s body. Prices should cross above this level for confirmation.
The stop loss level is defined as the last low. 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.