Outside Reversal: Meaning in Technical Analysis (2024)

What Is an Outside Reversal?

An outside reversal is a price pattern that indicates a potential change in trend on a price chart. The two-day pattern is observed when a security’s high and low prices for the day exceed the high and low of the previous day’s trading session. Outside reversal is also known as either a bullish engulfing (after a downward price move) or a bearish engulfingpattern (after an upward price move) when observed on candlestick charts.

Key Takeaways

  • Outside reversal is a two-day price pattern that implies a reversal if it runs counter to the existing trend.
  • The first day is typically a small range day and the second is a larger range day.
  • This pattern is known as an engulfing pattern in candlestick studies.

Understanding an Outside Reversal pattern

Outside reversal is a two-day price pattern that shows when a candle or bar on a candlestick or bar chart falls “outside” of the previous day’s candle or bar. This chart pattern is commonly employed by technical analysts who seek to identify points in the price action which imply a bullish or bearish reversal of an existing trend.

An outside reversal pattern is typically one of the more precise candlestick patterns; however, these patterns require a strict definition to be useful forecasting tools. Technical analysts and experienced traders prefer to build trading signals using this identification in conjunction with other information such as trend, support and resistance or technical studies.

On occasion, traders see volume or support and resistance levels as a way to corroborate the outside reversal. For example, a stock price that undergoes a bearish outside reversal when it approaches trend-line resistance on high bearish volume is considerably more reliable than a stock that is moving sideways and has a bearish outside reversal on lower-than-average volume.

Bullish Outside Reversal

A bullish outside reversal, also called a bullish engulfing, happens when the second candle is a move higher. For instance, a stock may make a small move lower on the first day, then open even lower than the prior day, but rally sharply higher by the end of the second day. The indication is that bears had control over the market, but then bulls took over and overwhelmed them, signifying a change in the prevailing trend.

Outside Reversal: Meaning in Technical Analysis (2)

In the chart above, Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN​) shares appeared to be consolidating before a bullish outside reversal marked a renewal of the uptrend. Its stock price continued to rise the subsequent days as the trend reversal took hold.

Bearish Outside Reversal

A bearish outside reversal, also called a bearish engulfing, transpires when the second candle is a move lower. For instance, a stock may have a small move higher on the first day, climb even higher the second day, but then sharply decline by the second day’s end. This demonstrates that the bulls had control over the market before the bears took the reins in a meaningful way, signaling a shift in the overall trend.

Outside Reversal: Meaning in Technical Analysis (3)

The stock price of Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO​) rose for three consecutive days before a bearish outside reversal. Share prices plunged the day after the outside reversal as the overall trend did an about-face.

Outside Reversal: Meaning in Technical Analysis (2024)

FAQs

Outside Reversal: Meaning in Technical Analysis? ›

An outside reversal is a price pattern that indicates a potential change in trend on a price chart. The two-day pattern is observed when a security's high and low prices for the day exceed the high and low of the previous day's trading session.

What is a reversal pattern in technical analysis? ›

Key Takeaways. A reversal is when the direction of a price trend has changed, from going up to going down, or vice-versa. Traders try to get out of positions that are aligned with the trend prior to a reversal, or they will get out once they see the reversal underway.

What is the most accurate reversal indicator? ›

Some of the most effective reversal indicators include Moving Averages, Bollinger Bands, MACD, and RSI. By combining these indicators and observing key elements such as support and resistance levels, long-term trendlines, and price action, traders can accurately identify trend reversals.

What is an outside day in technical analysis? ›

An outside day occurs when a stock trades below the previous session's low and above its high. (The entire price action is outside the previous range.) This can signal reversals, especially when prices have reached the edge of an existing range.

How to confirm reversal? ›

Summary
  1. Identifying weakness in the trending move.
  2. Identifying strength in the retracement move.
  3. A break of key Support or Resistance.
  4. A break of long-term trendline.
  5. The price is coming into higher timeframe structure.
  6. The price is overextended.
  7. The price goes parabolic.

What is an example of a reversal in trading? ›

It's a pivotal moment for traders, as it can signal a new trading opportunity. For example, let's say a stock has been in a steady uptrend, consistently hitting new highs. Suddenly, the momentum shifts, and the stock begins to hit lower lows and lower highs, indicating a reversal into a downtrend.

What is an example of a reversal pattern? ›

A 2-candle pattern appears at the end of the downtrend. The first candlestick is bearish. The second candle should open below the low of the first candlestick low and close above its high. This pattern produces a strong reversal signal as the bullish price action completely engulfs the bearish one.

What is an outside reversal? ›

What Is an Outside Reversal? An outside reversal is a price pattern that indicates a potential change in trend on a price chart. The two-day pattern is observed when a security's high and low prices for the day exceed the high and low of the previous day's trading session.

Is outside day bullish or bearish? ›

Variations: Bullish vs Bearish Outside Days. Understanding the variations between bullish and bearish Outside Days is vital in predicting future price movements. A bullish Outside Day signifies a potential reversal of a downward trend, while a bearish Outside Day might signal an impending reversal of an upward trend.

What does "outside day" mean in trading? ›

An outside day is a daily price action that has a higher high and a lower low than the prior price bar.

How to predict reversals in trading? ›

To spot a trend reversal using the Supertrend indicator, focus on two key elements: the Supertrend line's position relative to the price and the trend direction line. If the Supertrend line is below the price, it suggests an uptrend, while if it is above the price, it indicates a downtrend.

How to identify reversal in a chart? ›

Drawing a trendline on the chart with a timeframe relevant to your trading is one of the most common ways traders identify and trade trend reversals. Trend lines are straight lines that indicate the general direction of a stock's price. They can be used on any chart timeframe (i.e. 5-minute, daily, weekly, etc.).

What is a positive reversal? ›

A positive reversal is often considered as the opposite of a positive divergence. Positive divergence occurs at the highs in an uptrend. It involves a lower price with a higher RSI. However, positive reversal shows up in a pullback during an uptrend.

What is the difference between a pullback and a reversal? ›

Pullback vs reversal

The most significant difference between pullbacks and reversals is that a pullback is temporary, while a reversal is a more permanent change in the direction of an overall trend. Pullbacks usually last for a few trading sessions, while a reversal can signify a complete change in market sentiment.

What are the major reversal patterns? ›

Types of Reversal Patterns

Examples include hammer, inverse head and shoulders, and double bottom patterns. Bearish Reversal Patterns: Suggest a potential shift from an uptrend to a downtrend. Examples include shooting star, head and shoulders, and double top patterns.

What is the difference between a breakout and a reversal? ›

A breakout signals that the price has enough strength to overcome the previous range and start a new trend. A reversal, on the other hand, occurs when the price changes its direction after a sustained uptrend or downtrend.

What is the key reversal pattern? ›

Key Reversal Down marks the high of any bar whose High is higher than the previous bar's High and whose Close is lower than the previous bar's Close. A Key Reversal Down pattern can signify the end of an uptrend when confirmed by increases in trading volume.

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