The Bearish Engulfing Pattern

The Bearish Engulfing Candlestick Pattern is considered to be a bearish reversal pattern, usually occuring at the top of an uptrend. The pattern consists of two Candlesticks:

Smaller Bullish Candle (Day 1)

 Larger Bearish Candle (Day 2)

Generally, the bullish candle real body of Day 1 is contained within the real body of the bearish candle of Day 2.

The market gaps up (typically interpreted as a bullish sign) on Day 2; however, the bulls do not push very far higher before bears take over and push prices further down, not only filling in the gap down from the morning's open but also pushing prices below the previous day's open (viewed as a bearish sign).

With the Bullish Engulfing Pattern, there is an incredible change of sentiment from the bullish gap up at the open, to the large bearish real body candle that closed at the lows of the day. Bears have successfully overtaken bulls for the day and possibly for the next few periods.

The chart below of Verizon (VZ) stock shows an example two Bearish Engulfing Patterns occuring at the end of uptrends:

Bearish Engulfing Potential Sell Signal

Three methodologies for selling using the Bearish Engulfing Pattern are listed below in order of most aggressive to most conservative:

1. A trader might sell at the close of Day 2.  If there is a substantial increase in volume that accompanies the large move downward in price  (see: Volume),  a trader might view this as an even stronger indication to sell
2. Also, a trader might sell on the day after the Bearish Engulfing Pattern occurs; by waiting until the next day to sell, a trader is trying to verify that the bearish reversal pattern is for real and was not just a one day occurance. In the chart above of Verizon, a trader would probably entered on the day after the Bearish Engulfing Pattern because the selling continued.
3. Usually trader's wait for other signals, such as a price break below the upward support line  (see: Support & Resistance), before entering a sell order. However, in the case of Verizon above, the Bearish Engulfing Pattern occured at the same time as the trend line break below support.

(Source: onlinetradingconcepts.com)

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