Single-candle pattern · bearish bias
Shooting Star candlestick pattern
A shooting star has a small body near the bottom of its range and a long upper wick, appearing after an advance. Buyers pushed price higher but sellers drove it back down before the close.
How to identify it
- A small body near the low of the candle.
- A long upper wick, around twice the body or more.
- Little or no lower wick.
- It appears after a rise.
Where it matters: Appears after an advance, near a high.
What it means
The long upper wick records a rejection of higher prices. It hints that the advance is meeting supply.
What confirms it
A next candle that closes below the shooting star's body.
What invalidates it
A close above the shooting star's high.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring location: the same shape after a decline is an inverted hammer.
- Acting on very small shooting stars that barely stand out from nearby candles.
Frequently asked questions
Is a shooting star bearish?
Yes, after an advance, once the next candle confirms it.
Can a shooting star be green?
Yes. The colour matters less than the long upper wick and small body.
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Educational content only, not financial advice. Chart patterns describe probabilities, not certainties, and every pattern can fail. See our disclaimer.