Thereafter, price trends lower in a comparatively smooth move downward. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74%-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Alternatively, traders may exit the following day if the price continues to decline (pattern confirmed). If entering short on the close of the bearish candle, or the next period, a stop loss can be placed above the high of the bearish candle. The Dark Cloud Cover pattern involves a large black candle forming a “dark cloud” over the preceding up candle. As with a bearish engulfing pattern, buyers push the price higher at the open, but sellers take over later in the session and push the price sharply lower. This shift from buying to selling indicates that a price reversal to the downside could be forthcoming. The main difference between the bearish dark cloud cover and the piercing line is the direction of the trend preceding the formation.

Is dark cloud cover a bullish reversal?

As prices rise, the pattern becomes more important for marking a potential move to the downside. If the price action is choppy the pattern is less significant since the price is likely to remain choppy after the pattern. The dark cloud cover is basically when the second candle has closed below the 50% mark of the first candle.

• I like the name, dark cloud cover, but have trouble remembering it when I am searching for candles.
• Meaning that the bearish engulfing pattern’s second candle will close below the first candle totally.
• If the price action is choppy the pattern is less significant since the price is likely to remain choppy after the pattern.
• Furthermore, they should be aware of false signals and adjust their strategies accordingly.

It is important to note that traders never use this formation in isolation and confirm it with other technical indicators and analysis techniques to increase the probability of a correct signal. At the end of an uptrend (a “sunny day”), a black candle appears (a “dark cloud“), signaling a trend reversal. If you want a few bones from my Encyclopedia of candlestick charts book, here are three to chew on. All ranks are out of 103 candlestick patterns with the top performer ranking 1. “Best” means the highest rated of the four combinations of bull/bear market, up/down breakouts. Investopedia does not provide tax, investment, or financial services and advice.

Dark Cloud Cover Potential Sell Signal

The former appears at the end of an uptrend, while the latter appears at the end of a downtrend. Additionally, the piercing line is considered a stronger reversal signal than its counterpart. If these conditions are met, traders can identify a setup on the trading chart.

• Following the general approach, they place a stop loss above the swing high with the take profit at the next area of support.
• Once you have developed confidence in your trading strategy, you can open an FXOpen account and apply it to live trading.
• In 2011, Mr. Pines started his own consulting firm through which he advises law firms and investment professionals on issues related to trading, and derivatives.
• The Dark Cloud Cover pattern is further characterized by white and black candlesticks that have long real bodies and relatively short or non-existent shadows.
• FXOpen is a global forex and CFD broker, with a network of worldwide brokerages regulated by the FCA, CySEC and ASIC.
• Between 74%-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.

My book,
Encyclopedia of Candlestick Charts,
pictured on the left, takes an in-depth look at candlesticks, including performance statistics. The material provided is for information purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice. The views, information, or opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not to the author’s employer, organisation, committee or other group or individual or company. The Dark Cloud Cover pattern is the opposite of the Piercing pattern (which is a bullish reversal candlestick). Lawrence Pines is a Princeton University graduate with more than 25 years of experience as an equity and foreign exchange options trader for multinational banks and proprietary trading groups.

Regulated Brokers: Where Can I Trade Commodities?

The piercing line is also a two-candlestick pattern, but it consists of a long bearish candlestick followed by a long bullish candle. The best setup for the dark cloud cover candlestick is for it to appear when price is trending lower. An upward retrace of that down move
appears followed by dark cloud cover. It signals a reversal and when price breaks out downward, and the stock joins the downward primary trend already in existence.

It is like
a swimmer moving with the current turning against the current to avoid a buoy followed by a resumption of him swimming with the current. Traders don’t rely solely on it for making trading decisions but instead, use it as a confirmation tool along with other technical indicators and patterns and fundamental analysis. No price action is 100% reliable, and there is always a risk of false signals and market fluctuations. A trader finds a dark cloud cover candlestick pattern (1, 2) on the M1 chart of Alibaba stocks. Following the general approach, they place a stop loss above the swing high with the take profit at the next area of support.

Is dark cloud cover reliable?

You can examine both formations on charts of different assets and on multiple timeframes for free using the FXOpen TickTrader platform. If the bears continue to control the market on the next candle, a reversal is likely. If the second candle closes below the previous candle’s open, you have a Bearish Engulfing pattern, not a Dark Cloud Cover pattern. The Bearish Engulfing Pattern can be viewed as a more bearish formation, it completely rejects the gains of Day 1 and usually closes below the lows of Day 1. The rejection of the gap up is a bearish sign in and of itself, but the retracement into the gains of the previous day’s gains adds even more bearish sentiment.

In 2011, Mr. Pines started his own consulting firm through which he advises law firms and investment professionals on issues related to trading, and derivatives. Lawrence has served as an expert witness in a number of high profile trials in US Federal and international courts. FXOpen is a global forex and CFD broker, with a network of worldwide brokerages regulated by the FCA, CySEC and ASIC. FXOpen offers ECN, STP, Micro and Crypto trading accounts (dependent on entity). This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only.

Understanding Dark Cloud Cover

The price is expected to decline following the Dark Cloud Cover, so if it doesn’t that indicates the pattern may fail. Dark cloud cover is a two line candlestick that has poor reversal performance. Just 60% of the time, price changes direction from up to down in a bull market. However, once the turn is
made and price breaks out, price trends, ranking 22nd out of 103 candle patterns, where 1 is best. When you spot the Dark Cloud Cover pattern on a Japanese candlestick chart, expect a potential bearish reversal.