Bullish Harami Candlestick Pattern: Backtest Analysis

There are different ways of analyzing financial markets using price charts. Some traders make use of indicators, while others study the price movements and the patterns made by candlesticks. One common candlestick pattern used in spotting buying opportunities in the market is the bullish Harami pattern. What is the bullish Harami pattern?

The bullish engulfing pattern is a 2-candlestick pattern that forms after a downward price swing and is characterized by the second candlestick being completely consumed within the body of the first candlestick. As the name indicates, it is a bullish reversal pattern that signals a potential beginning of an upward swing.

In this post, we answer some questions about the bullish Harami pattern and strategy

What Is a Bullish Harami Candlestick?

The bullish engulfing pattern is a 2-candlestick pattern that forms after a downward price swing and is characterized by the second candlestick being completely consumed within the body of the first candlestick. As the name indicates, it is a bullish reversal pattern that signals a potential beginning of an upward swing.

The pattern consists of two candlesticks:

• The first candlestick has a large body and can have a bearish color in line with the downward swing preceding it, but it can also have a bullish color.
• The second candlestick is very small and completely consumed by the body of the first candlestick — indicating a pause in the downswing, which could turn to a bullish momentum if the price breaks above the high of the first candlestick

This pattern indicates that the bears are losing control and the bulls are starting to take control of the market, which suggests a potential reversal in the trend. It gives a bullish signal only after the price has broken above the high of the first candlestick.

Bullish Harami Candlestick Pattern Backtest

We recommend backtesting all your trading ideas – including candlestick patterns.

To backtest candlestick patterns, you need to set specific rules and definitions. That requires time and effort, but don’t worry: it’s already done for you!

We have defined ALL 75 candlestick patterns and put them into strict trading rules that are testable. Each single candlestick pattern is backtested and includes rules, settings, statistics, probabilities, and performance metrics.

Even better, you get the rules with Amibroker or Tradestation/Easy Language code (in addition to plain English if you like to code yourself, like putting it into a Python trading strategy, for example).

Click here to read more or order.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Bullish Harami Candlestick?

A Bullish Harami candlestick pattern can provide valuable information about a potential reversal in the trend of a security. Here are some benefits of using this pattern:

• It can help traders identify a possible turning point in a downtrend market, indicating that the bears are losing control and the bulls are starting to take control.
• It can be used in combination with other technical indicators to confirm a potential reversal.
• It can be used to identify entry points for buying a security that may be undervalued or oversold.
• It can be used to identify potential stop-loss points for short positions.
• It can be used to identify potential exit points for taking profits on long positions.

What Are the Risks Involved with a Bullish Harami?

While a Bullish Harami candlestick pattern can provide valuable information to traders about a potential reversal in the trend of a security, there are also risks involved with interpreting this pattern. Some of the risks include:

• False signals: The Bullish Harami pattern is not always a reliable indicator of a trend reversal. Sometimes, it may just be a pause before the downtrend continues. As such, traders should use caution when interpreting this pattern.
• Confirmation needed: The Bullish Harami pattern has to be confirmed with other technical indicators or analysis before making a trade decision.
• Limited duration: The Bullish Harami pattern is typically a short-term signal; after a while, the signal becomes overtaken by other patterns in the market.
• Risk of overtrading: The Bullish Harami pattern may occur frequently and can be used as an excuse to enter a trade without proper analysis and planning, which can lead to overtrading and poor risk management.

How Can You Spot a Bullish Harami Pattern?

To spot a Bullish Harami pattern, here are the steps to follow:

• Look for a downswing on the chart: The Bullish Harami pattern is typically formed during a downward price swing, where the bears are in control.
• Identify two candlesticks: The Bullish Harami pattern is formed by two candlesticks, where a small bullish candlestick is enclosed within the prior larger bearish or bullish candlestick.
• Check the position of the small candlestick: The small, second candlestick (can be bullish or bearish) should be positioned within the real body of the larger, first candlestick (can be bearish or bullish), it should not penetrate the real body of the first candlestick.
• Check the length of the real body: The real body of the small candlestick should be relatively short in comparison to the real body of the larger, first candlestick.
• Check the position of the wicks: The wicks of the small candlestick should be inside the wicks of the larger candlestick.

What Are the Rules for Trading with a Bullish Harami?

When trading with a Bullish Harami pattern, traders should consider the following rules:

• The pattern must form in a downward price swing around a key support level
• The pattern should be confirmed with other technical indicators or analyses before making a trade decision.
• The general market condition must be considered
• A buy signal is generated only after the price has closed above the high of the first (bigger) candlestick, even though some aggressive traders may consider the breakout of the high of the second (smaller) candlestick a buy signal
• A stop loss should be set below the low of the larger candlestick
• A profit target can be at the next resistance level

How Can You Backtest the Performance of a Bullish Harami Trading Strategy?

The steps for backtesting a Bullish Harami trading strategy will include the following:

• Gathering historical price data of the asset/market you wish to trade
• Identifying Bullish Harami patterns in the past, with software tools or manually scanning the charts
• Setting specific rules for entry and exit trades based on the Bullish Harami pattern
• Simulating trades using historical data and entry and exit rules
• Evaluating the performance by analyzing metrics such as percentage of winning trades, average profit per trade, maximum drawdown, profit factor, Sharpe ratio, etc.
• Optimizing the strategy by adjusting the entry and exit rules or other parameters and repeating the backtesting process

What Are the Common Mistakes to Avoid When Trading with a Bullish Harami?

When trading with a Bullish Harami pattern, traders should be aware of the following common mistakes to avoid:

• Trading Harami patterns that occur outside key support levels
• Not confirming the Bullish Harami pattern with other technical indicators or analysis before making a trade decision
• Entering a long position before the price breaks out above the high of the pattern — can increase the risk of a false signal
• Not setting stop loss levels to protect their position in case the trend does not reverse
• Not taking profit when the stock price reaches a resistance level or when other indicators suggest that the trend reversal is over
• Ignoring the overall state of the market

What Are the Most Important Technical Indicators to Consider When Using a Bullish Harami?

Several technical indicators can be used in combination with the Bullish Harami pattern to confirm a potential reversal. Some important indicators to consider include moving averages, relative strength index (RSI), and stochastic. Moving averages can help identify the direction of the trend and potential support and resistance levels.

The RSI and stochastic can help identify overbought or oversold conditions, which can indicate a potential reversal. Also, it is important to pay attention to volume, as an increase in volume when the price breaks above the pattern can confirm a reversal. Another important indicator is the Fibonacci retracement, which can help identify key levels of support.

What Strategies Should You Use to Maximize Profits When Trading with a Bullish Harami?

These are some of them:

• Confirming the reversal by looking for additional bullish signals such as a break of a key resistance level or the RSI rising from an oversold level
• Making use of stop loss to minimize potential losses in case the reversal does not occur
• Using a trailing stop loss to lock in profits as the price moves in your favor
• Scaling in and out of your position by adding to your position as the price moves in your favor and reducing your position size as it moves against you
• Diversifying across different markets and timeframes

What Types of Market Conditions Are Best Suited for a Bullish Harami?

The Bullish Harami pattern can be traded in an up-trending market and a range-bound market with sizeable price swings. It is used to look for buying opportunities, in anticipation of an upswing in price after a downswing.

While some may want to trade the strategy in a down-trending market, it is not a good idea. The strategy is best suited for trading the reversal of pullbacks in an uptrend after the price has retraced to a support level. When the pattern forms after a 61.8% retracement to a support level in an uptrend, its odds of success are high. The same is true when the pattern forms at the support zone of a range-bound market.

What Are the Different Variations of a Bullish Harami?

There are two main variations of a Bullish Harami pattern: Bullish Harami Cross and Bullish Harami.

The Bullish Harami Cross is a variation of the Bullish Harami pattern, characterized by a large bearish (bullish) candle followed by a Doji candle, which is a small candle with little or no real body. The Doji candle is contained within the range of the large candle and is considered a stronger reversal signal than a small bullish candle.

The Bullish Harami is the original pattern, characterized by a large bearish candle followed by a small bullish candle that is contained within the range of the large bearish candle. It is considered a relatively weak reversal signal and it’s best used in combination with other technical indicators and chart patterns to confirm a potential trend reversal.

How Can You Differentiate Between a Bullish Harami and Other Candlestick Patterns?

A Bullish Harami can be differentiated from other cand patterns by its specific characteristics. A Bullish Harami is a candlestick pattern that occurs in a downswing and is characterized by a large candle followed by a small candle that is contained within the range of the large bearish candle. Other candlestick patterns that may look similar but are different are:

• Bullish Engulfing: This pattern is similar to the Bullish Harami, but the second candle (which is always bullish) is larger than the first and completely engulfs the first candle. This is considered a stronger reversal signal than the Bullish Harami.
• Tweezer Bottom: This pattern also forms at the end of a downswing, but the two candlesticks are often of equal size, and their lows must be around the same level.

How Can You Utilize a Bullish Harami in Your Trading Strategy?

A Bullish Harami can be utilized in a trading strategy in several ways. One way is to use it as a potential reversal signal when the price pulls back to a support level in an uptrend. Another way is to use the Bullish Harami in combination with other technical indicators and chart patterns to confirm a potential trend reversal. It can be used to enter a long position or to exit a short position.

For example, you can have a strategy that uses a trendline, a Bullish Harami pattern, and RSI — a trade setup occurs when the price is around an up-trendline, the RSI is rising from the oversold region, and the price forms a bullish Harami and breaks above the pattern’s high.

How Can You Use a Bullish Harami in Conjunction with Other Technical Indicators?

There are different ways. These are some of them:

• Look for a bullish crossover in indicators such as moving averages or the Relative Strength Index (RSI) to confirm that the bulls are gaining momentum and the bears are losing control.
• Look for overbought or oversold conditions in indicators such as the Stochastic Oscillator to confirm that the market is ready for a reversal.
• Look for a bullish divergence between the Bullish Harami pattern and indicators such as the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD)
• Use Fibonacci retracement and trendline to identify key levels of support and resistance to improve the odds of the Bullish Harami pattern

What Are the Best Timeframes to Trade with a Bullish Harami?

The best timeframes to trade with a Bullish Harami pattern can vary depending on a trader’s strategy and risk tolerance. Generally, the pattern can form on any timeframe, but the higher the timeframe, the better the signal.

The pattern is more commonly used on daily and weekly timeframes, as it allows traders to see the overall market sentiment and trend. However, it can also be used on shorter timeframes such as the 4-hour and hourly charts, to get a more granular view of price action and potential reversal points.

What Are the Key Factors to Consider When Trading with a Bullish Harami?

When trading with a Bullish Harami pattern, there are several key factors to consider:

• The overall market conditions: Pay attention to economic news and fundamental analysis to get a better understanding of the market sentiment.
• Timeframe: The Bullish Harami pattern works better on the higher timeframe than on the lower timeframe. But you must consider how that affects your trading style.
• How to confirm the signal: Wait for the price to break out above the high of the Harami pattern.
• Risk management: Use a stop-loss order to minimize potential losses in case the reversal does not occur, and use a trailing stop loss to lock in profits as the price moves in your favor. Consider your position size too.

What Are the Best Practices to Follow When Trading with a Bullish Harami?

When trading with a Bullish Harami pattern, it is important to follow best practices to maximize potential profits and minimize potential losses. These are the best practices to follow:

• Take only setups that occur around key support levels
• Wait for the price to break above the high of the Bullish Harami pattern
• Support your Bullish Harami signal with bullish signals from technical indicators like stochastic and RSI
• Always have a risk management plan in place
• Use multiple timeframes
• Keep a detailed record of your trades and analyze them to learn from your mistakes and improve your strategy

What Are the Best Resources to Learn More About Trading with a Bullish Harami?

There are several resources available to learn more about trading with a Bullish Harami pattern. Some of the best resources include:

• Books: There are several books on technical analysis and candlestick patterns, such as “Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques” by Steve Nison, that can provide a comprehensive understanding of the Bullish Harami pattern.

• Online Courses: There are online courses available that specialize in technical analysis and candlestick patterns. These courses can provide a detailed understanding of the Bullish Harami pattern, as well as other technical indicators and chart patterns.
• Trading blogs: There are several trading blogs that provide educational resources on technical analysis and candlestick patterns, such as the one you are reading now.
• Demo trading: You can learn by practicing with a demo account and trading on platforms like TradingView and MetaTrader 4 or 5.
• Community: You can join online communities of traders or traders’ forum to discuss strategies, share knowledge and experience, and learn from other traders.

How Can You Protect Yourself from Losses When Trading with a Bullish Harami?

To protect yourself from losses when trading with a Bullish Harami pattern, it’s important to have a risk management plan in place. This includes using position sizing to limit your capital at risk and setting a stop loss to minimize potential losses in case the reversal does not occur.

Also, it’s important to pay attention to overall market conditions and use technical analysis and other indicators to confirm a potential trend reversal. Scaling in and out of your position by adding to your position as the price moves in your favor and reducing your position size as it moves against you can also help to minimize potential losses.

What Are the Latest Developments in the Use of a Bullish Harami?

Recent developments in the use of a Bullish Harami pattern include the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze market trends and make predictions. This can help to identify potential Bullish Harami patterns and other price action patterns more accurately. Also, the use of big data and predictive analytics can provide a more in-depth analysis of market trends.

What is the difference between a Bullish Harami the same as Bullish Harami cross?

A Bullish Harami and a Bullish Harami Cross are both candlestick patterns observed in financial markets that suggest a potential reversal from a downtrend to an uptrend. However, they differ slightly in their formation and the signals they provide. Understanding these patterns can help traders and investors make informed decisions.

These are the key differences:

• Candlestick on the Second Day: The main difference lies in the second candlestick of the pattern. A Bullish Harami has a small bullish candle, while a Bullish Harami Cross has a Doji.
• Signal Strength: The Bullish Harami Cross is often considered a stronger reversal signal than the Bullish Harami because the Doji indicates a higher level of indecision and potential change in market sentiment.

FAQ:

How is the Bullish Harami pattern formed?

The Bullish Harami is a candlestick pattern used in technical analysis to identify potential reversals in a downtrend. It consists of two candlesticks – the first is a large bearish candle, followed by a small bullish candle that is contained within the range of the first candle.

When does a Bullish Harami provide a buy signal?

The pattern suggests a potential reversal in the market, signaling that bears are losing control, and bulls may be taking over. A buy signal is generated when the price closes above the high of the first (larger) candlestick.

How can traders spot a Bullish Harami pattern on a price chart?

Look for a downswing on the chart, identify two candlesticks, and ensure that the small candlestick is within the real body of the larger candlestick. It can be a false signals, the need for confirmation with other indicators, the pattern’s limited duration, and the potential for overtrading.