In this guide to understanding the Dark Cloud Cover Candlestick Pattern, we’ll show you what this chart looks like, explain its components, teach you how to interpret it, and provide examples.
Contents
What Is Dark Cloud Cover?
Dark Cloud Cover is a bearish candlestick reversal pattern, similar to the Bearish Engulfing Pattern.
What Are the Components of Dark Cloud Cover?
There are two components of a Dark Cloud Cover formation:
- A Bullish Candle (Day 1) and
- A Bearish Candle (Day 2).
A Dark Cloud Cover Pattern occurs when a bearish candle on Day 2 closes below the middle of Day 1’s candle, as you can see on Chart 1 above.
In addition, the price gaps up on Day 2 only to fill the gap and close significantly into the gains made by Day 1’s bullish candlestick.
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.
Bulls are unable to hold prices higher, while demand is unable to keep up with the building supply.
Dark Cloud Cover Example
Chart 2 below of Boeing (BA) stock illustrates an example of the Dark Cloud Cover Pattern:
Dark Cloud Cover Potential Sell Signal
Traders typically suggest not selling exactly when one sees the Dark Cloud Cover Pattern (Day 1 & Day 2) until other confirming signals are given such as a break of an upward trendline or other technical indicators.
One reason for waiting for confirmation is that the Dark Cloud Cover Pattern is a bearish pattern, but not as bearish as it could be: part of the gains from Day 1 have still been preserved.
Other Similar Patterns
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.
Also of interest, the bullish equivalent of the Dark Cloud Cover Pattern is the Piercing Pattern.
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Further Reading
Learn more about technical analysis indicators, concepts, and strategies including:
