Candlestick Patterns And Gaps
by Stephen W. Bigalow

1. Powerful Implications of Gaps
2. Gaps at the Bottom
3. Measuring Gaps
4. Gaps at the Top
5. Selling Gaps
6. Gapping Plays
7. Dumpling Tops and Fry Pan Bottoms
8. San-Ku - Three Gaps Up
9. Breakouts
10. The J-Hook Pattern
11. Island Reversals
12. Bad News Gaps
13. Kicker Signals
14. Summary

Gaps (Ku) are called windows (Mado) in Japanese Candlestick analysis. A gap or window is one of the most misunderstood technical messages. Most investment experts advise not to buy after a gap. This is true only about 10% of the time. The other 90% of the time, the gaps will reveal very powerful trades. Candlestick signals, correlated with the appearance of gaps, provide valuable profit-making set-ups.

These are not "hidden" secret signals or newly discovered formulas that are just now being exposed to the investment world. These are a combination of widely known but little used investment techniques. Candlestick signals obviously have a statistical basis to them or they would not still be in existence after all these centuries. Gaps have very powerful implications. Combining the information of the two produces investment returns that very few investors take the time to exploit.

Consider what a window or gap represents. In a rising market, it illustrates a price opening higher than any of the previous day's trading range. (For illustration in this book, the "day" will be the representative time frame.) What does this mean in reality? During the non-market hours, something made owning this stock tremendously desirable. So desirable that the order imbalance opens the price well above the prior day's body as well as the high of the previous day's trading range.

Witnessing a gap or window at the beginning of a new trend produces new opportunities. Seeing the gap formed at the beginning of the trend reveals that upon a reversal of direction, the buyers have stepped in with a great amount of zeal. A common scenario is witnessing a prolonged downtrend. A Candlestick signal appears, a Doji or Harami, Hammer, or any other signal that would indicate that the selling has stopped. What is required to verify that the downtrend has stopped is more buying the next day. This can be more solidly verified if the next day has a gap up move.

Gaps occur in many different places and forms. Some are easy to see, some are harder to recognize. This book will take you through the different situations where a gap has appeared. Each situation will be explained in detail, (1) to give you a full understanding of what is occurring during the move and (2) to provide a visual illustration to become familiar with the formation, making it easy to recognize. This allows the Candlestick investor to spot an investment situation as it is developing.

Knowing that a gap represents an enthusiasm for getting into or out of a stock position creates the forewarning that a strong profit potential has occurred. Where is the best place to see rampant enthusiasm? At that point you are buying near the bottom. Obviously, seeing a potential Candlestick "buy" signal at the bottom of an extended downtrend is a great place to buy. In keeping with the concepts taught in Candlestick analysis, we want to be buying stocks that are already oversold to reduce the downside risk. What is better to see is the evidence that buyers are very anxious to get into the stock.

Consider the Housing construction industry mid-September 2001. The Housing stocks indicated the best evidence of capital inflow. The initial move to the upside was evident with a large number of good signals found in those stocks after doing a scan of the charts. Investors were really liking the residential home builders. This is clearly seen in Figure 1 - CTX, Centex Corp. It gapped up the same day, illustrating that buyers were coming into this stock with a vengeance. The initial gap is very important. It will indicate how strong the new move will be.

Figure 1: CTX, Centex Corp.

Upon witnessing a gap up, an individual signal, such as the dark candle in the above chart after the gap up, has less relevance. When a large gap occurs, it is not unusual to see immediate selling as the traders take their quick profits. The overall message is that the bulls are in strong. The next few days demonstrated that the price was not going to back off, the new trend had started.

The long-term investor, after analyzing the monthly chart, could have established a position, with the knowledge that funds were flowing into this sector with much more enthusiasm than other sectors, which could have been just rising with the overall tide.

Figure 2 - TOL, Toll Brothers Inc. is another example of the gap up after a Candlestick buy signal, indicating that the investors were coming into this stock with vigor. The result was eventually returns of 80 - 100% in a four or five month time frame.

Figure 2: TOL, Toll Brothers Inc.

For the trader, seeing a Candlestick "buy" signal followed by a gap up, when the prices are in the oversold range, makes for an extremely attractive trade. Notice the Doji formed on the day of the gap up. Logic tells you that the bulls are buying. Thus a Doji. The major indication is that the trend has changed.

Figure 3: XMM, Cross Media Marketing.

Note in Figure 3 - XMM, Cross Media Marketing, after Doji/Haramis, one on November 5th, another on December 18, 2001, that the gap up the next day clearly indicated the trend had stopped. The resulting trades produced 28.5% and 49.3% respectively. Probabilities demonstrate that a gap up is going to preclude an advance in price under these circumstances.

Note in Figure 4 - SPF, Standard Pacific Corp., gaps up the day after a Harami stops the current downtrend, 4/25/2001. The gap initiates a move that sends this price to a higher level to stay. The following day gaps up significantly, consolidates for a few days and then gaps up again. The second and third gaps are considered "measuring gaps". These types of gaps will be explained later in this book. The important aspect from this chart is the initial gap up, revealing that the buying was overwhelming the selling.

Figure 4: SPF, Standard Pacific Corp.

Many investors are afraid to buy after a gap up. The rationale being that they don't like paying up for a stock that may have already moved 3%, 5%, 10% already that day. Witnessing a Candlestick "buy" signal prior to the gap up provides a basis for aggressively buying the stock. If it is at the bottom of a trend, that 3%, 5%, 10% initial move may just be the beginning of a 25% move or a major trend that can last for months.

Note in Figure 5 - XMSR, XM Satellite, has signs of bottoming in early April, 2001. The Homing Pigeon, a form of Harami, shows the selling has stopped. A small Hammer, and then a Doji/Hammer should be evidence that the sellers are losing strength. The Doji/Hammer should produce an alert that there is major indecision going on at this point.

Figure 5: XMSR, XM Satellite.

The bigger the gap up, the more powerful the new trend will be. This was evidenced by another small gap 3 days later. Traders may have gotten out at the $8.00 range, still a good return. The longer-term investor should have gotten out at the $16.00 area. The $12.00 area could have been scary, but notice that after a gap up at $12.25, the lower close still didn't come into the last white body's range. The next black candle also didn't close in the white candle's range. Profit taking. The bears could not move the price back to the big white candle's trading range. The bulls took note of this and came back strong after their confidence was built back up. This moved prices to the next level. When prices gapped higher at the $16.00 range, then gapped down from that level, the selling was picking up strength. If the position was not liquidated then, it would have been logical to do so a few days later when a new high was not reached and an Evening Star formation was seen. Getting out at $15.50 around 5/23/2001 would have produced a very nice 300%.

COH, Coach Inc., Figure 6, illustrates when a trend is starting out strong. Late April, 2001 shows bottoming, a couple of Dojis appearing. If investors had been observing these signals, they would want to see bullish signals confirming the reversal. The gap open to $26.00 would have the Candlestick investor getting in on the open. Over the next 7 trading days, the trader could have realized a 27% gain. The long-term investor would have more than doubled those gains over the next few months.

Figure 6: COH, Coach Inc.

The Morning Star signal is an obvious visual reversal signal. A more potent signal is the Abandoned Baby signal. This is formed by the sellers gapping down a price at the bottom of a trend, trading through a day of indecision with the bulls, then the bulls taking over the next day, gapping prices back up and moving them higher. The bigger that gap, the more powerful the next up move.

As seen in Figure 7 - MERQ, Mercury Interactive Corp. during the early days of April, 2001, had a day where prices gapped down at the end of the downtrend. The weak sellers finally give up and get out at the bottom. They are met with bargain collecting bulls. The trading that day forms a Spinning Top, a day of indecision, almost like that of a Doji.

Figure 7: MERQ, Mercury Interactive Corp.

Quite often you will witness a big volume day during this three-day period. It is most effective if it occurs on the indecision day, showing an inordinate amount of stock moving from the weak traders to the strong traders. The big volume day can still occur on any of those days. What is most important is to see this big amount of stock change hands at this bottom period.

When the stock price gaps back up after the indecision day, this illustrates the sellers are now finished and the bulls have taken control. Again, measuring gaps are seen in this example, creating the opportunity for the trader to make 73% in about two weeks. Example after example can be given on how a gap up at the bottom gives investor a hint to see that a downtrend is ready to reverse.

What can happen from this point? The price has gapped down after weeks of a lengthy decline. If it is a mild gap down, the price may keep declining and you may start seeing a dramatic increase in volume. The price is showing another big down day. However, the aggressive Candlestick investor realizes that the gap down was a blow-off signal. Upon seeing the price decline finally hit bottom and appear to stabilize, the aggressive investor can start to accumulate stock.

If the gap down is severe, the panic may all be built into the opening price. A severe gap down open after an extended downtrend may be a good opportunity time to buy. Watch how the stock price reacts after the open. If it appears to be stabilizing at the open level, with a little downside move that seems to be immediately bought up, it is time to start establishing a position. If at the end of that day you will see a white candle, a close much higher than the open, it illustrates that all the sellers have been washed out. This is the advantage that Candlesticks have over other charting techniques. It is much easier to see what is happening in a stock price when the color of the bodies can be viewed.

Knowing that the gap was part of the panic selling gives the candlestick investor the confidence to step in when there is still panic in the air. A stock price that opens down and continues to go lower means a completely different strategy. The purchase of that position may be a few days or weeks down the road.

A gap that occurs well after the beginning of a trend reversal, has different implications. How do you distinguish whether a gap is a potential measuring gap? Note in the CTX chart, Figure 8 - CTX, Centex, how the trend started with three green candles and a gap up. The next few days, another gap forms, in the midrange of this trend. Later, this gap becomes a resistance level.

Figure 8: CTX, Centex.

Eventually the bulls gapped up the price again. Notice that the beginning of the trend up to the first gap [B] is about the same price movement as the move after the second gap to the top of the trend [A]. This simple measurement gives the gaps their name. The telling ingredient is the fact that the bears could not push prices back down through the first measuring gap (left arrow). That factor gives the bulls renewed confidence and they step back and gap the price up again (right arrow) due to not being afraid of the bear camp.

The gap that appears at the top of a trend is the one that provides the ominous information. Remembering the mental state of most investors, the enthusiasm increases as the trend continues over a period of time. Each day the price continues up, the more investors become convinced that the price is going to go through the roof. The "talking heads" on the financial radiostations start to show their prowess. They come up with a multitude of reasons why the price had already moved and will continue to move into the rosy future.

With all this enthusiasm around, the stock price gaps up. Unfortunately, this is usually the top. Consider the different possibilities that can happen when witnessing the gap up at the top of a sustained uptrend. Most of the time the gap will represent the exhaustion of the trend, thus called an Exhaustion Gap. Or it could be the start of a Three Rising Windows formation. Or big news, a buyout or a huge contract is about to be announced.

Upon a slight to medium gap up, the Candlestick investor should put stop-order at the close of the previous day. The thinking being that if the price gapped up, indicating that the top is in, and the price came back down through the close of the previous day, the buying was not sustained. If so, the stop will close the position at the level of the highest close in the trend.

Look at Figure 9 - NXTP, Nextel Partners Inc. If you had bought the stock the day after the Harami signal, showing that the selling had stopped, the open may not have been the strength wanted to show that the buyers were stepping in. After the price opened lower the next day, not showing resumed buying, a good spot to put the "buy stop" at the closing price of the previous day. The thinking being that if the price, after opening lower, came up through the closing price of the previous day, then the buyers were still around. Buying price is $4.50.

After a few weeks, the price starts to accelerate and finally they gap it up. News was probably looking very rosy at this point. Now the Candlestick investor is prepared. Knowing that a gap up at the top indicates that the top is near, he would implement strategies to secure his position. Most investors will know that their positions is up almost 100% in three weeks. That is not the type of move that will be missed by most. Upon seeing the bigger price days and volume picking up, the Candlestick investor will be ready for any sell signals that appear.

When the gap open appears, a number of strategies can be put in place. First, a stop loss should be put at the closing price of the previous day. If prices start falling off immediately and come down through the previous day's close, then the bears have taken control. You are out at the high close of the uptrend. In this case, as the price moves up, it would be safe to put a stop at the open price.

Figure 9: NXTP, Nextel Partners Inc.

A fundamental change might be in progress. The same rationale as putting a stop loss at the previous day's open, if the price comes back down to and/or through that level, the sellers probably have taken over control. Otherwise, if the stock price continues higher, it may stay in a strong spike move for the next few days. There is always the low percentage possibility that new dynamics are coming into the stock price, an announcement of a new huge contract or a possible buyout offer, something new and different from the dynamic that ran the price up to these levels in the first place. A surge of buying may create a "Three Rising Windows" pattern, moving prices to much higher levels. The probabilities of this occurring at the top of a trend are very small but feasible. Moving the stop losses up to each close or next day's open price maximizes the potential profits from that trade.

As seen in NXTP, a Shooting Star formed, definitely a sell signal. If the price opened lower the next day, the position should be liquidated immediately. That is what the Shooting Star is telling you, that the sellers are showing up. The next day opened higher and stayed up all day. Things still look good. However a Hanging Man formation appears the next day. This is where the Candlestick investor should be thinking, "a Shooting Star, a sell signal, now a Hanging Man, another sell signal, be ready to get out." The next day after the Hanging Man, a lower open should have instigated the liquidation of any remaining position. At worst, the average selling price should have been in the $8.10 area. The gap was the alert signal that positions should be liquidated, and the trade produced an 80% return over three weeks.

Figure 10: OMVI, Omnivision Technologies Inc.

Figure 10 - OMVI, Omnivision Technologies Inc. demonstrates a gap open at the top with absolutely no follow through. This is when having a stop at the previous day's close will be the best exit. Whether the position was established at the breakout gap or the Tri-Star pattern, the profits were substantial. Being prepared for the gap up was the profit maximization technique.

As illustrated in Figure 11 - MGAM, Multimedia Games Inc., the end of the up move was foretold by a large green candle forming after a run up, then a gap up follows. The gap was closed immediately, and it should have alerted Candlestick investors to start profit taking. It produced a good 33% in a just over a week.

Figure 11: MGAM, Multimedia Games Inc.

If the gap up is substantial, after a long uptrend, it is quite common for the majority of investors to liquidate at least one half of the position. The remaining position would have a stop placed at the previous day's close. If the price pulled back to the previous close, as shown in Figure 11, it would be apparent that the sellers had stepped in after the gap up.

If the gap is up substantially, and it continues higher, stop-order should be placed at the open price level. On any of the scenarios described, the price moving back to the stops would more than likely create signals that warranted liquidating the trade, forming Shooting Stars, Dark Clouds, Meeting Lines or Bearish Engulfing patterns. In any case, sellers were making themselves known. It is time to take profits in a high-risk area.

Now turn the tables over. The same enthusiasm demonstrated by a gap to the upside is just as pertinent for sellers on the downside. A gap down illustrates the desire for investors to get out of a stock very quickly. Why? We will know some weeks later. Identifying clear Candlestick "sell" signals prepares the investor for potential reversals. The Doji at the top, Dark Clouds, Bearish Engulfing patterns are obvious signals to be prepared for further moves down. The Doji is the best signal to witness a trend reversal.

The Doji should stand out at the top of a trend just like a blinking alarm. Note the Doji at the top of the ISSI, Integrated Silicon Solution chart, Figure 12. The Candlestick investor would have already been prepared upon seeing that a Doji was forming that day as the close was getting near. The gap down demonstrates an urgency to get out of this position.

Figure 12: ISSI, Integrated Silicon Solution.

As illustrated in the ASTSF chart, Ase Test Limited Ord Shr, Figure 13, the gap down confirms the downtrend a day later after the appearance of the Doji. A clear Evening Star signal requires the black candle after the Doji to close more than half-way down the previous large white candle. In this case, it closed right at the midpoint, still leaving some doubt as to whether the uptrend is truly over. The gap down the following day confirms that the sellers are now in control.

Figure 13: ASTSF, Ase Test Limited Ord. Shrs.

These are examples that demonstrate the obvious benefits of the Candlesticks and gaps. However, there are many more situations where they provide important investment decision-making aspects.

For example, review the Toll Brothers chart, Figure 15, April of 1999. Notice how the initial gap acted as a support level. In the weeks after the gap up the price would come back to the top of the gap but would not close lower. As long as the gap was not filled, the uptrend stayed intact. This is a good rule of thumb. If a gap cannot be filled, the predominant trend will continue. The Japanese term for filling a gap is "Anaume".

Figure 14: TOL, Toll Brothers Inc.

Knowing that a gap will act as a support or resistance level gives the Candlestick investor time to prepare when one of these levels is approached. Note how the gap acts as a support level in the Toll Brothers chart. Each time price dipped to this level, the buyers stepped in and would not let the price fill the gap. Eventually, a border of the gap became a resistance level.

As always, there are exceptions to all rules. The Gapping Plays are those exceptions. As previously discussed, the gap at the top of a trend is the exhaustion gap. The same is said for the gap at the bottom of a trend. However, the Gapping Plays represent a different set of circumstances at the top or bottom.

After a strong run up, it is not unusual to see a price back off and consolidate before the next leg up in a rally. This could be in the form of a back off in price or a backing off from further advance. The latter is a period of the price trading flat at the high end of the previous uptrend. After the flat trading period, a new burst of buying, causing a gap up, illustrates that the buyers have not been discouraged. This new buying is evident by the gap up. As a gap expresses enthusiasm, this is usually the reinstatement of the previous move, taking prices up to a new level.

Figure 15: ITG, Investment Technology.

As seen in Figure 15 - ITG, Investment Technology, the gap up after prices had stayed flat and at the top end of the last large white candle, for about a month and a half, finally convinced buyers that the sellers were not around. The gap up should have alerted the Candlestick investor that prices should be moving up to a new level.

The same is true for a declining trend. After a significant downtrend, prices dropped down. Once the sellers are convinced that there are no buyers around to move the price up, they can sell again with confidence. This confidence is seen in the gapping down of price. At that point, much lower prices can be expected.

As seen in Figure 16 - PCSA, Airgate PCS, after the price dropped dramatically, the buyers and sellers have a few days of indecision. The prices remain flat for three or four days. But after the sellers realize that the buyers are not strong enough to get the prices to move back up, they get out with force. This is known as a Low Price Gapping Play.

Figure 16: PCSA, Airgate PCS.

Gapping Play could be defined as consolidation in which the stock pauses and takes a breather in its ascent or descent. It gives a stock a chance to consolidate, often allowing a stock's ratio of earnings and sales to catch up to its current price. The prudent trader, however, will carefully observe which way the stock will emerge from this consolidation (although for PSCA, there were no chances).

Sometimes a gap or window is required to demonstrate that the price move is picking up steam. Otherwise, the move may not create any signs that a move is forming. The best illustration is the Dumpling Top. The slow curvature of the top would not attract any attention, but gap down is the crucial sign in this pattern. Once the gap occurs, the downtrend should prevail for a number of days. Prior to the gap, there is so little price volatility, so nobody would be interested in what was occurring in this stock.

Note in Figure 17 - CMH, Clayton Homes, Inc., that the trading became listless until the gap down instigated a sell off.

Figure 17: CMH, Clayton Homes, Inc.

Just as the gap down is the main initiative for expecting the downtrend after the Dumpling Top, the same is true for expecting an up-move after a Fry Pan Bottom. The Fry Pan Bottom gets its name from the slow gradual curve made at the bottom of a trend. This provides a lot of time for the sentiment to change from bearish back to bullish.

As the change becomes more bullish, the bulls feel more confident that all the selling is gone. This leads to some exuberance into getting back into the position. Upon witnessing this gap up, the Candlestick investor should be willing to commit funds to buy stock. It usually signifies the beginning of a new trend.

Note in the New Focus Inc. chart, Figure 18, how the bottom slowly curved back up as the selling diminished and the buyers began to build confidence. The small gap up on the ascending side of the Fry Pan alerts the investor that the buying is now getting more enthusiastic. This is the spot that a Candlestick investor should wait before coming into the play.

Figure 18: NUFO, New Focus Inc.

Having the foresight that the slow curving moves are not just dull market conditions creates an opportunity for the Candlestick investor to be ready for that telltale gap. Once the gap appears, putting money into that trade maximizes the returns by being in the trade as it is now moving.

As witnessed in both the Dumpling Top and the Fry Pan Bottom, the gap is the alert that the trend has started with more force behind it than what had been witnessed prior to the gap. The appearance of the gap is the best spot to exploit the new strength in a move.

As mentioned in Japanese candlestick analysis, the number three plays a very relevant part of the investment doctrine. Many of the signals and formations consist of a group of three individual signals. It has become a deeply rooted number for the Japanese investment community whether applied to Candlestick analysis or not.

After observing the bottoming signals, the first gap (ku) indicates that the buyers have entered the position with force. The second gap indicates further enthusiasm for getting into a stock position. This should have a mixture of short covering (or "short squeeze") involved. But upon seeing the third gap up, the Japanese recommend to close the long position and take profits. This is due to the price having probably reached the overbought area well before it should. The same parameters will occur in the opposite direction, in a declining price move.

Figure 19: URI, United Rental Inc.

Note in Figure 19 - URI, United Rental Inc., how the first gap demonstrated that the reversal picked up a lot of strength, buyers gapped up the price and it closed at a high for many months. A few days later buyers realized that the price was not going to back off. This led to another gap up, probably the shorts deciding that the trend is now firmly against them. After a couple of more days of no real weakness, the price gapped up again. Panic short covering? Also the Japanese rule suggests, sell after the third gap up. In this case, selling on the close of the third gap up day would have gotten you most of the gains possible from this trade. There was a day or two that you could have gotten a few percentage gains more, but why risk it? The Japanese have watched these moves for hundreds of years. Why try to squeak out a few more percentage points profit?..

The same dynamics can be seen in the Ingersoll-Rand Ltd. Chart. In Figure 20, the first gap broke out prices above the recent high, the second gap still shows strong buying and the close of the third gap up day is as good a spot to take profits as any.

Figure 20: INGERRAND, Ingersoll-Rand Ltd.

One more illustration shows the factors at work in a San-ku formation. Note in the Maytag Corp. stock price in Figure 21, the initial gap up should have prepared the Candlestick investor for the possibility of the exhaustion gap. However, this stock price opened and steadily moved higher, not affecting any stops. As it closed near its high for the day, a white Marubozu, a bullish continuation pattern, showed that the buyers were still around in force. The second gap up now makes the investor aware that a San-ku may be in the making. As evidenced in the last two examples, selling after the third gap up, although more lengthy a period than the previous examples, would have captured a great majority of the potential of the move.

Figure 21: MYG, Maytag Corp.

Having the knowledge of what could occur after gaps provides that extra advantage. Most investors are leery of gaps because they don't understand all the ramifications gaps introduce. This allows the Candlestick investor to exploit market moves when the majority of the investment community does not understand how to use them. The San-ku formation can get investors to come into the play when many others would be afraid to chase a gap up or gap down. It also gets the Candlestick investor to go out at the appropriate time where other investors would hold their positions too long.

While gaps are useful for alerting when a major run-up is about to occur, it is even more beneficial to know when the gap is about ready to occur. There are particular patterns that forewarn when a gap is likely to occur. And when they do, it means that a whole new trading area is going to be reached. Having this forewarning permits the investor to be ready to get into the trade at the optimal time and have the funds available to take advantage of the move.

Note how the gap up at a level that had not been breached for a couple of months now indicates the buyers not being apprehensive about buying above the past highs. This easily reveals that the price is going to new levels.

Notice the breakout in Figure 22 - DCN, Dana Corp. DCN starts its major run once it broke out of a trading range over the past two months. In this example, volume had a great increase once the new trading levels were reached. The protective stops, placed on a gap up day near the highs, would not have been affected with the price continuing higher.

Figure 22: DCN, Dana Corp.

The Prepaid Legal chart, Figure 23, is a chart that one could anticipate a gap occurring. The best entry level was the confirmed Inverted Hammer pattern with volume dramatically increasing over the next few days. As the price came back up towards the trading area of $22.00, it was feasible that if the price broke that level, it could head much higher. The appearance of the gap should have been an immediate indication that buying was coming into the stock. The long bullish candle would have revealed that the old trading levels were now being disregarded.

Figure 23: PPD, PrePaid Legal Services Inc.

Despite the very small gap in the price rise of Cooper Tire's stock move, it still indicated strong buying even after a strong up day. The fact that the buying after the gap up took prices to new highs would have alerted the Candlestick investor that a new level should be reached.

Figure 24: CTB, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.

All of the above examples had chart set-ups that would leave room for anticipating that a gap up could occur. All illustrate that when a gap up is noticed, new buying strength is involved, moving prices up to much higher prices.

The J-Hook Pattern is another example of being alerted when a gap up could occur. The J-Hook Pattern occurs after a trend has had a fairly strong run up. It backs off for a period, but as the price stabilizes and starts back up, the previous high becomes the logical target. This is the prime time to look for a gap up. The buyers, who saw the price have a strong move, then see it pull back, are now seeing it stabilize and try to move higher again. Once they become convinced that the sellers have been exhausted, the buyers will come back into the stock with confidence. This new confidence, with the appearance of a gap, could be strong enough to breach the recent high and take prices up to new levels.

D.R. Horton Inc. is an example of gaps playing an important part in recognizing when the next run-up will occur. Once the initial run up had run its course, the consolidation period or the hook area didn't allow the price to get down to the oversold area.

Figure 25: DHI, D.R. Horton Inc.

The J-Hook Pattern is also a function of what the markets are doing in general. It is not unusual for the price of a stock to rise with the markets, pull back with the markets, then resume its uptrend when the market starts heading up again. But these stocks usually act with greater volatility than the market in general.

After the "sell" signal, the potential for a J-Hook Pattern to form is always there. If so, watch for Candlestick buy signals forming. The signals will usually be smaller in size compared to a full-fledged bottoming signal. For instance, a series of small Hammers may form for a few days at the same price area. After this stabilization period, a small Bullish Engulfing pattern may appear. Buying in at this time gives the trader two opportunities. First, it is likely that the price is now going up to test the recent highs. This may be a 4%, 8%, or 10% move in itself. The second opportunity is breaking through the recent high and having a strong run up. A gap up at or near the previous highs indicates that the buyers are not concerned about the recent high acting as a resistance level.

Figure 26: TIF, Tiffany & Co.

Review the Tiffany & Co. chart, Figure 26. After an extended uptrend, the stock ran into selling at the $30.00 area. It pulled back to about $27.50 when buying seemed to start supporting the price. As the pullback flattens out, it appears as if the buyers are starting to step backing at around $28.00. Buying at these levels gives the investor the potential to make $2.00, or about 7% over a three or four day period. At this point, watching the market direction in general should have been built into the decision of whether to go away or hold. If the market movement was stable to upward, then holding at the resistance level of the previous high would be warranted.

The gap up to a new trading range was evidence that the sellers were not going to stand in the way. Unless something severe is taking place when the gap up occurs, such as a severe drop in the market or a surprise announcement about the company or the industry, the buyers will continue to move the price higher.

The J-Hook does not have to be a complete retracement to the recent highs to have a gap effect the break out. Note in the Monaco Coach Corp. chart, Figure 27, how the gap up occurred prior to actually getting to the previous high.

Figure 27: MCOAQ, Monaco Coach Corp.

Hopefully the Candlestick investor would have been in the position after the Hammer signal. The gap up to new highs simply indicates that the high was not going to act as a lid on the price, giving buyers new impetus to take prices even higher.

Jones Apparel Group, Figure 28, provides an obvious visual depiction of the prices gapping up at the previous high. The alert investor would have been in near the $26.75 level, upon seeing the Inverted Hammers slowing down the pullback.

Figure 28: JNY, Jones Apparel Group.

Participating in the J-Hook Pattern usually requires being familiar with the price movement of a stock. It is difficult to write a search program that would encompass all the parameters describing a J-Hook Pattern. The easiest method for locating this pattern is to watch for an extended uptrend that is now in a pullback. The aggressive trader will want to get in as the pullback levels out. The more conservative investor will want to get in upon seeing a gap up as the trend is heading back up, especially if the previous high is within a reasonable range.

An easy-to-see, obvious reversal is the Island Reversal. It provides a point in time, where the enthusiasm that sent a price in a particular direction is countered with the same enthusiasm going the other way. In the example of Orbital Sciences Corp. ORB, Figure 29, the up-trend can be easily seen. At the top, after the buying enthusiasm created a long bullish candle, the price gaps up away from the previous trading. This really demonstrates that the enthusiasm had reached an apex.

But upon inspecting the formation that it made, a long-legged Doji, the Candlestick investor should have been alerted to the indecision that was illustrated during this gap up. The following day did not show any evidence that the buyers were still present. This would have been further warning that the blow off top was in place. Finally the gap back down illustrates the same enthusiasm to get back out of the stock. This is an Island Reversal, usually very accurate and powerful.

Figure 29: ORB, Orbital Sciences Corp.

An Island Reversal doesn't have to be a quick move. Note in the Circuit City chart, Figure 30, how the gap down was countered with a gap up over six weeks afterwards.

Figure 30: CC (CCTYQ), Circuit City Stores Inc.

This kind of gaps (on both sides of the bottom trading area) make the Island Reversal an easy-to-see situation. But as long as the gaps remain unfilled, the trend should be regarded as movement in the same direction - in Figure 30, it's a downtrend.

Whatever the news, the price drops 20%, 30% or greater. The question is, "What to do now?" Traders and long-term investors will have completely different outlooks. The trader bought the stock a few days back and should consider liquidating the trade immediately. The longer-term investor may want to hold the position in hope that the price will move back up. Anyway, reading Candlestick signals becomes an important element in knowing what to do in a "bad news" situation.

Figure 31: IBM, International Business Machines.

A "bad news" gap down has a multitude of possibilities after the move. The prior trend gives you valuable information on how to react to the move. Of course, the news is going to be a surprise or there wouldn't be the gap down. Analyzing the trend prior to the move gives you a good idea of how much of a surprise the announcement or news bulletin is. For example, IBM, Figure 31, recently reported lower earning expectations. The price gapped down. However, you have to analyze whether this news was a complete surprise or whether the gradual decline in the stock price was anticipating the coming news. As can be seen in the IBM chart, the price had been declining for three months before the actual news was announced. The smart money was selling from the very top, months ahead of time. It was the diehards who held on until the bad news was reported. As the chart shows, the final gap down produced a long legged Doji, indicating massive indecision. From that point the buyers and the sellers held the price relatively stable for the next few weeks. This now becomes one of the few times that a technical analysis has to revert back to fundamental input. Unless you believe that the markets in general are ready for a severe downtrend, consider what the chart is telling you. The price of IBM stock was reduced from $125.00 per share down to $87.00 per share. The last down move produced a Doji. The price has not moved from that level for two weeks.

Now let's look at the fundamental input. IBM, a major U.S. company, well respected, known to have excellent management. And like any other quality company, it has made marketing or production mistakes from time to time through the years. The announcement made that knocked the price down, whether it was a earnings warning, shutting down a product line or whatever, but IBM is not going out of business. Who was buying at these levels when everybody was selling? The smart money! Are the professional analysts of Wall Street recommending to buy at these levels? Probably not! But once you will see the price move from $85.00 back up to $95.00, then you will see the brave million dollars say it is time to buy.

BKS, Barnes and Noble, Figure 32, has a completely different scenario. Notice it was in a short-term uptrend, just about ready to break out to new highs when it had bad news reported. With the trend being up prior to the announcement, it appears that the announcement came as a complete surprise. This should imply that if you are in the position, get out immediately. There is no Doji after the gap, so there is no telling what the reaction would be. In this case, the sellers continued to sell on the big down day after the announcement.

Figure 32: BKS, Barnes and Noble.

Being out of the position now gives you a better perspective as to what the news will do to the longer-term trend. It took only the next day to see a Doji to be prepared to get back into the stock. For the longer-term investor, this becomes a good place to start building another position. The buyers start becoming evident on the next day after the Doji. A purchase at this level creates a relatively safe trade. A stop at the lows is a logical point for getting out. The rationale being that if those levels did not support, the sellers were still in control.

On major gap down days, major being a 20% down move or more, there is always the initial 30 minutes of churning. The traders who were short start buying to cover, while the sellers are unloading. After that period, the buyers or the sellers will start to overwhelm the other side. This is where an immense amount of information will be revealed. If the price starts acting weaker, the news still had sellers participating. If the price starts up, that would indicate that the news scared out the weak holders and did so at the level where the buyers felt it was oversold, and they stepped in to buy the bargain. This should reveal to the Candlestick investor that the white candle forming represents a buying level. It is not unusual after a major gap down to see the price move back up to the area from where it gapped down. This would occur over a six to twelve week period. Still not a bad return, 20% to 30%.

The Kicker Signal is one of the most powerful Candlestick signals. The description of a Kicker Signal is that the first day of the signal opens and then proceeds to trade in a specific direction for the rest of the day. The second day opens at the same level as the open of the previous day, and then proceeds to trade in the opposite direction of the previous day, but Kicker candle becomes a support level. Not only is the direction completely reversed, it gapped up with enough strength so that there should be no doubt that the trend is not going in the same direction anymore.

Figure 33: CI, Cigna Corporation.

The Kicker Signal clearly illustrates that investor sentiment has changed. This is usually the result of a major news announcement occurring overnight. These news will also elicit the "chasing a stock" response from most investors. If you know what this type of move represents, you should have no fear of buying at those higher prices.

As seen in the Gemstar TV Guide Intl. Inc. chart, Figure 34, the Kicker Signal, although small, did change the trend direction. As professed by the Japanese about the Doji, always pay attention when you see it. The same should be said for the Kicker Signal, always take notice of this formation.

Figure 34: GMST, Gemstar TV Guide Intl. Inc.

Note in Figure 35 - ISIL, Intersil Corporation, had a close semblance to a Kicker Signal. Despite the open not being at the exact identical open, the price gapped back up to almost the same level.

Figure 35: ISIL, Intersil Corporation.

The Kicker Signal is as effective to show inordinate selling. Note in Figure 36, Coca-Cola, the signal is formed by the gap down from the previous close to go the other way. Again, this would not be as clearly defined on a Western Bar chart. The opposite colors and the opposite direction are better seen on the Candlestick chart.

Figure 36: KO, Coca-Cola.

Kicker Signals do not occur very often. But when they do, they will always show a change in the investor sentiment. The fact that a price has already moved 5%, 10%, 15% in the other direction should not be a reason to refuse to get into a position. The move should be the impetus for getting into the position. The trend changed and moved in the other direction. It's time to close the existing position and start an opposite trade.

Gaps have always played an important part in technical analysis. The movement away from the previous trading range signifies an extraordinary shift in investor sentiment. This shift can be more in the same direction as well as a complete reversal of the existing trend. Most important is that a gap has many ramifications. As illustrated before, gaps identify the force that can start a strong rally, or it can signify that final gasp of enthusiasm. The Japanese observed these movements over hundreds of years and accurately identified the results when combined with the signals.

Isn't that the foremost purpose for your investment plan, finding the best possible places to put your funds? Remember, these signals, formations, and philosophy are not the results of some quick, thrown-together back-tested investment program. The investment concepts portrayed in this book are the results of hundreds of years of visual observations confirmed with actual experience. Once you have observed the results of a gap up discovered by your search, you will lose past thought processes such as "it is not wise to chase a stock". A gap up is the indication that a new trend may be starting here and now. It also warns the investor about the end of the trend.