What is a Marubozu Candlestick?

What is a Marubozu Candlestick?

A marubozu is a candlestick pattern characterized by a large body with little to no wicks (shadows) on either end. The name comes from Japanese, meaning "bald" or "shaved head," reflecting the candle's clean appearance without protruding wicks. A marubozu indicates strong, uninterrupted buying or selling pressure throughout the entire period, with price moving decisively in one direction from open to close.

The absence of wicks signals that one side of the market dominated completely—buyers never allowed sellers to push price lower (bullish marubozu), or sellers never allowed buyers to push price higher (bearish marubozu). This sustained directional conviction makes marubozu candles powerful signals of momentum and trend strength.

Types of Marubozu

• Bullish marubozu: Opens at or very near the low and closes at or very near the high. The candle shows aggressive buying from start to finish, with buyers in complete control. No lower wick indicates buyers absorbed all selling pressure immediately.
• Bearish marubozu: Opens at or very near the high and closes at or very near the low. This pattern shows relentless selling pressure throughout the period, with no meaningful buying support at any point.
• Partial marubozu: Has a small wick on one end but remains clean on the other. While still showing directional dominance, the small wick reveals minor profit-taking or brief opposing pressure before the dominant direction reasserted itself.

Trading the Marubozu

• Breakout confirmation: Use marubozu candles to confirm breakouts from ranges, triangles, or consolidation patterns. When a marubozu breaks a key level with expanding volume, it validates the move and suggests follow-through.
• Entry timing: Rather than chasing the marubozu as it forms, wait for a retracement into the candle's body or a test of the breakout level. This improves risk-reward by allowing tighter stop placement.
• Trend alignment: Trade marubozu candles in the direction of the higher timeframe trend. Avoid fading powerful marubozu candles that align with the dominant trend—the momentum is likely to continue.
• Exhaustion signals: Multiple consecutive marubozu candles in the same direction often precede short-term exhaustion or parabolic blow-offs. Watch for diminishing returns or divergence on momentum indicators.
• Stop placement: For bullish marubozu, place stops below the candle's low. For bearish marubozu, place stops above the candle's high. The clean structure makes invalidation levels clear.

Limitations

Marubozu candles are relatively rare, especially on higher timeframes. In volatile, whipsaw conditions, marubozu patterns may fail quickly as neither side maintains sustained control. Always confirm with volume and broader market context before trading solely based on a single candle pattern.