Orders & execution · Beginner

Reading Candlestick Charts

A 1-minute lesson from the MarketPro academy, one of 16 in orders and execution.

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Short answer

A candlestick chart is one of the most widely used ways to visualize price movement over time. Each candlestick summarizes trading activity for a specific period—such as one minute, one hour, or one day—in a compact visual form.

A candlestick chart is one of the most widely used ways to visualize price movement over time. Each candlestick summarizes trading activity for a specific period—such as one minute, one hour, or one day—in a compact visual form.

Reading a Single Candlestick

  • Body: the thick part of the candle, representing the range between the opening and closing price for that period.
  • Wicks (or shadows): the thin lines above and below the body, showing the highest and lowest prices reached during the period.
  • Color: typically, one color indicates the closing price was higher than the opening price, while another indicates the closing price was lower.

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