What is a candlestick in trading?

A candlestick is a type of price chart used in technical analysis that displays the high, low, open, and closing prices of a security for a specific period. It originated from Japanese rice merchants and traders to track market prices and daily momentum hundreds of years before becoming popularized in the United States.

What does the'real body' on a candlestick mean?

The wide part of the candlestick is called the "real body" and tells investors whether the closing price was higher or lower than the opening price (black/red if the stock closed lower, white/green if the stock closed higher). Candlestick charts display the high, low, open, and closing prices of a security for a specific period.

What does the top Wick of a candlestick mean?

As shown in the graphic below, the top wick of a candlestick indicates the highest price reached during the time period (eg, a day). The bottom wick shows the lowest price. The “candle” part of the chart shows the opening and closing prices for the time period. Learn more about technical analysis indicators, concepts, and strategies including:

Where did candlestick charts come from?

Candlestick charts originated in Japan over 100 years before the West developed the bar and point-and-figure charts. In the 1700s, a Japanese man named Homma discovered that, while there was a link between price and the supply and demand of rice, the markets were strongly influenced by the emotions of traders.