What is a Shooting Star Candlestick?

Shooting Star
Forex Trading Glossary

Quick Answer: A shooting star is a bearish reversal candle with a tiny body near the low and a long upper wick that appears after an uptrend. It signals buyers were rejected and selling pressure may follow when confirmed by the next candle.

What is a Shooting Star Candlestick?

A Shooting Star is a bearish reversal candlestick pattern that forms during an uptrend. It features a small body at the bottom with a long upper wick, indicating that buyers pushed prices higher but sellers overpowered them, driving prices back down. This rejection of higher prices signals potential reversal.

Shooting Star Characteristics

  • Long upper wick: At least 2x the body length
  • Small body: Near the low of the candle
  • Little to no lower wick: Close near the low
  • Location: Appears after uptrend at resistance
  • Color: Can be red or green, pattern shape matters most

Trading the Shooting Star

  • Confirmation: Wait for next candle to close lower
  • Entry: Short below the Shooting Star's low
  • Stop loss: Above the upper wick high
  • Target: Recent support or swing low

The Shooting Star is more reliable at major resistance levels or after extended uptrends. The opposite pattern is the Hammer (bullish reversal).

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