How to Trade with a Bullish Engulfing Pattern

The bullish engulfing pattern is a two-candlestick formation that suggests a possible reversal from a downtrend to an uptrend in the market. This particular pattern holds immense value for traders and technical analysts as it equips them with the means to discern potential buying opportunities. In this article, we will showcase various instances of the setup on a price chart and explain how traders implement it in their trading strategies.

What Is a Bullish Engulfing Pattern?

The bullish engulfing candle pattern or bullish engulfing line is a technical analysis tool consisting of two candlesticks. This formation emerges when a large bearish candlestick is succeeded by a larger green one that entirely engulfs it.

What does the bullish engulfing mean? The bullish engulfing indicates a potential shift in market sentiment, suggesting that buying pressure might surpass selling pressure in the near future and highlighting a possible reversal from a downtrend to an uptrend.

Traders can find the bullish engulfing candlestick pattern across various financial instruments, including stocks, cryptocurrencies*, ETFs, and indices on different timeframes. FXOpen offers the opportunity for market participants to trade these instruments using contracts for difference (CFDs).

Bearish Engulfing vs Bullish Engulfing

The bearish engulfing pattern occurs during an uptrend, indicating a potential reversal to a downtrend, while the bullish engulfing occurs during a downtrend, signalling a possible reversal to an uptrend. Both setups involve a larger second candlestick (red in case of bearish and green in bullish engulfing) that completely engulfs the body of the preceding candlestick. These formations suggest changes in market sentiment and help traders identify potential trend reversals for their trading strategies. The FXOpen TickTrader platform allows traders to analyse these setups for free on multiple instruments.

Identifying a Bullish Engulfing on Trading Charts

To identify the formation on trading charts, you may need to look for the following characteristics:

Downtrend: Look for a series of consecutive bearish candlesticks indicating a downward price movement. The chances of the setup providing a correct signal are higher during a downtrend than an uptrend.
First Candlestick: The first candlestick in the pattern should be bearish, indicating selling pressure. It is usually larger in size than the preceding candlesticks.
Second Candlestick: The second candlestick is bullish and must be larger than the first one. It should completely engulf the entire body of the preceding bearish candlestick.
Reversal Signal: The formation serves as a potential reversal signal, suggesting a shift from a downtrend to an uptrend. It indicates that buying pressure potentially outweighs selling pressure.

When you spot the setup on a trading chart, it may present a buying opportunity. However, it's essential to consider other technical indicators, confirmations, and market conditions before making trading decisions.

How to Trade the Bullish Engulfing Pattern

Here are some steps traders consider when trading with the bullish engulfing:

Identification: Look for a clear bullish engulfing setup on a price chart at the end of a downtrend.
Confirmation: Confirm the validity of the setup by checking other technical indicators or price action signals. You may consider support levels, trendline breaks, or oversold conditions to strengthen the probability of a price reversal.
Set Entry and Exit Points: The entry point can be set slightly above the high of the bullish engulfing candlestick. A stop-loss level can be below the low of the engulfing candle or below a nearby support level. A take-profit level can be based on a trader’s risk-reward ratio or key resistance levels.
Risk Management: You may consider a risk management strategy by ensuring that your potential losses are limited and using appropriate position sizing and risk-to-reward ratios to maintain a balanced approach to trading.
Monitor the Trade: Once you have entered the trade, monitor price action and market conditions. Pay attention to any sign of reversal confirmation or potential obstacles that may invalidate the signal.
Adjust Stop-Loss and Take-Profit: As the trade progresses, you may consider adjusting your stop-loss level to protect profits or move it to breakeven if the price keeps rising. Similarly, adjust your take-profit level if the price shows signs of further upside potential.

Live Market Example

Let's consider an example of a bullish engulfing on the forex USDJPY pair. The bullish engulfing candle in the example below is marked with 1 and 2. The trader sets the entry point above the green candle and a stop-loss level below it. The take profit is the next resistance level.

Final Thoughts

While the bullish engulfing can provide valuable insights into potential trend reversals, traders don’t rely on it as the sole basis for their trading decisions. Complementing the formation with technical indicators and implementing effective risk management strategies to minimise potential losses is important. Additionally, traders exercise caution and be aware of the possibility of false signals, adapting their trading strategies accordingly to increase their chances of success. Once traders have developed confidence in their trading approach, they may open an FXOpen account to apply their strategy in real-life trading.

FAQ

What is a bullish engulfing pattern?

A bullish engulfing pattern is a two-candlestick formation in technical analysis that suggests a potential reversal from a downtrend to an uptrend. It occurs when a large bearish candlestick is followed by a larger bullish candlestick that completely engulfs the body of the preceding bearish candle.

How reliable is the bullish engulfing pattern?

The reliability of the bullish engulfing pattern as a reversal signal depends on various factors, including the overall market context, confirmation from other technical indicators, and the timeframe being analysed. While it can be a strong indication of a potential trend reversal, it is not foolproof and should be used in conjunction with other tools and analyses.

*At FXOpen UK and FXOpen AU, Cryptocurrency CFDs are only available for trading by those clients categorised as Professional clients under FCA Rules and Professional clients under ASIC Rules, respectively. They are not available for trading by Retail clients.