Marubozu
Candlestick PatternsA candlestick with a long body and no wicks (or very short ones), indicating complete dominance by either buyers or sellers throughout the session.
What Is a Marubozu?
A marubozu is a candlestick with a large body and no shadows (wicks) at either end, or shadows so short they are negligible. A bullish (green) marubozu opens at the low and closes at the high. A bearish (red) marubozu opens at the high and closes at the low.
This pattern represents total one-sided control. In a bullish marubozu, buyers dominated from the opening bell to the close with no significant pullback. In a bearish marubozu, sellers controlled the entire session.
Trading Implications
A bullish marubozu on GBP/USD after a period of Consolidation signals a powerful Breakout. The absence of wicks means there was no hesitation. This momentum often continues into subsequent sessions.
A bearish marubozu at a Resistance zone on a daily chart is one of the strongest single-candle rejection signals. It tells you that sellers were in complete control from the start.
Limitations
While a marubozu shows strong momentum, it can also appear during news-driven spikes that quickly reverse. Always check whether the move was driven by a scheduled economic event. Post-news marubozu candles on timeframes below 1 hour are less reliable than those forming on the daily chart during regular price action.
Related Terms
Three White Soldiers
Three consecutive long green candles with progressively higher closes, each opening within the prior candle's body. It signals a strong bullish reversal or continuation.
Three Black Crows
Three consecutive long red candles with progressively lower closes, each opening within the prior candle's body. It signals a strong bearish reversal or continuation.
Bullish Engulfing
A two-candle bullish reversal pattern where a large green candle completely engulfs the body of the preceding red candle. It signals strong buying momentum after a decline.