It is possible to recognize the Engulfing pattern when a chart has an obvious trend. The real body of the second day totally engulfs the body of the previous day. However, it does not mean that opening or closing prices of two candlesticks cannot coincide. This only signifies that both opening and closing prices of two real bodies cannot match at the same time.
A body color of the first day reflects the movement of the trend. Therefore, the black color indicates a downward trend while the white color suggests an upward trend. The second body of the Engulfing pattern is always of the opposite color.
Bearish Engulfing
A trend is headed up followed by a short white body and a small trade volume. The next day, after the opening price takes a new high, the prices plunge rapidly. The price drop is accompanied by large trade volumes. As a result, the closing price turns out to be lower than the opening price of the previous day. On the emotional level, the upward trend is considered to be broken. If the prices remain low on the third day, a major reversal of an upward trend appears. An opposite scenario unfolds in the Bullish Engulfing pattern.
Versatility of the pattern
If the real body of the second day engulfs both the body and the shadows of the first day, then the pattern has growing importance. The color of the first day reflects the market trend. When a trend is upward, the body of the first day is colored white, and when a trend is downward, the body is colored black. The color of the second, i.e., engulfing day has to be of the opposite color. Engulfing suggests that any part of the body does not match or goes beyond the opening and closing prices of the real body of the second day. If the real body of the first day is at least 30 per cent shorter than the one of the second day, it indicates that a stronger pattern appears on the chart.
Pattern transformation
The Bullish Engulfing pattern forms a Paper Umbrella or a Hammer which signal a pivot point of the market. The Bearish Engulfing resembles a Shooting Star or more likely a Gravestone Doji when the body of the candlestick is extremely short. Both bearish and bullish patterns come down to a single candlestick which fully encourages their merging.
Relating patterns
The Engulfing pattern is also the first two days in the Three Outside Days pattern. The Bullish Engulfing pattern can become the Three Outside Up pattern when the closing price of the third day is higher. Similarly, the Bearish Engulfing pattern can become the Three Outside Down when the closing price of the third day is lower. At the same time, the Engulfing pattern is the next stage of the Piercing Line and the Dark Cloud Covers. That is why the Engulfing pattern is of major importance.
