Shooting Star Candlestick
The shooting star is a bearish reversal pattern with a small body at the bottom and a long upper wick.
Last reviewed: 2026-03-06
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Overview
The shooting star forms after an uptrend. It has a small body near the bottom of the candle and a long upper wick (at least twice the body length). It shows that buyers pushed price higher, but sellers rejected those highs and pushed price back down. It signals potential exhaustion and reversal.
Identification
- Small body at the lower end of the candle.
- Long upper wick (at least 2x body length).
- Little or no lower wick.
- Forms after an uptrend. Can be green or red; red is slightly more bearish.
Trading Tip
Enter short after confirmation—e.g. the next candle closes lower. Place stop loss above the shooting star's high. Target the nearest support. Studies show shooting stars produce bearish reactions about 54% of the time on major pairs.
Knowledge check
1 of 3The shooting star has:
FAQ
Common questions about this topic.
What is the difference between shooting star and inverted hammer?
Same shape. Shooting star appears after an uptrend (bearish). Inverted hammer appears after a downtrend (bullish). Context determines the signal.
How reliable is the shooting star?
No pattern is 100% reliable. Shooting stars work best at resistance and with confirmation from the next candle.
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Disclaimer and sources
Educational content only. Not financial advice.
Important disclaimer
Forex trading involves risk. This content is for educational purposes only.