JPMORGAN: hammer formations
Composition and use
We discussed previously some of the trend reversal chart formations. Hammer is one of them. Speaking about its composition, it has two parts: a head and a grip. These are essential to interpret it correctly. Normally, it a hammer's head is lower as if it was falling - that's a bearish reversal coming. If the head is above and the grip is below - bulls are taking over. Let's check through some particular examples.
Classic example
An ideal scenario is a clear green/bullish hammer with a head pointing upwards. That’s a classic example of a hammer formation predicting an upward reversal. In the M15 chart of JPMorgan stock price, this reversal is quick to come – and quick to leave.
For a downtrend, we have the same logic. A clear red/bearish hammer with a head pointing down – that’s a sign of a downtrend. In this particular chart, it comes immediately after the hammer but stops a few candlesticks later.
Inverted color example
There are cases when the color of the hammer candlestick contradicts its direction. In this case, we disregard its color and take its direction as a basis for interpretation.
In the JPMorgan chart below, we see hammer 1 formed as a green/bullish candle. Nevertheless, its head points downwards. Hence, leaving the color aside, this candle should be taken as a bearish sign – and so it eventually fulfills. The second hammer formation comes here as a red/bearish candle. But as long as its head points upwards, it is a bullish sign – and so it happens straight after.
Double-confirmation
Sometimes, hammer candles come one after another. That’s a stronger confirmation of the observed direction if both agree where they point at. In the below example, a red/bearish and a green/bullish hammer stand one next to another, and both have their heads point upwards: that means both confirm the upside potential. Immediately after, it takes place, although for not too long.
Weak outcome
You will encounter a lot of cases when the trend change predicted by hammer formation is not only short-lived but also weak or even insignificant. On the M15 chart of JPMorgan below, we see two hammers pointing upwards. In theory, that should come as a strong sign of a bullish reversal. Eventually, there is indeed a reversal but it is so weak that the highest point of this upward correction hardly reaches the middle of the first hammer’s head.
Opposite outcome
You will also come across hammer formations that result to have no predictive power. In the chart below, the observed hammer is supposed to bring a bearish reversal, but after just two bearish candles not even crossing the low of the hammer, the trend goes upwards.
Conclusion
Hammer formation is ease to notice and use. However, it does have its limitations in terms of its predictive probability. It may be said that it works more often than it doesn’t, that’s why it is a good instrument in trader’s toolkit.