HEIKIN - Average,  ASHI - PaceHeikin Ashi pattern represents the average pace of the prices. These patterns are useful for getting an idea of the price trend.

Heikin Ashi Pattern

The regular candlestick patterns have no correlation between two consecutive candles. However, a Heikin Ashi bar is based on the previous day's low, high, open and closing prices. The bar starts from the middle of the previous day's candle.

Heikin Ashi vs Regular Japanese Candlestick Pattern

The size, color and relative direction of the candlestick help draw conclusions about the trend of the price movement. Advantages -<ul><li>Smoothness of price movement </li><li>Helps remove noise or false signals.</li><li>Easier trend analysis</li></ul>Disadvantages -<ul><li>Lagging indicator</li><li>Can't spot reversal in time</li><li>Late exits</li><li>Not efficient on lower timeframes</li></ul>

The Heikin Ashi candles do not show true prices. Use it as an indicator to understand the market trendDon't use this pattern for scalping strategies.

Caution!

<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/heikinashi.asp" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">Heikin-Ashi</a>, also sometimes spelled Heiken-Ashi, means "average bar" in Japanese. The Heikin-Ashi technique can be used in conjunction with <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/candlestick.asp" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="2" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">candlestick charts</a> when <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/articles/trading/06/marketnoise.asp" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="3" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">trading securities</a> to spot market trends and predict future prices.&nbsp;It's useful for making candlestick charts more readable and trends easier to analyze. For example, traders can use Heikin-Ashi&nbsp;charts to know when to stay in trades while a trend persists&nbsp;but get out when the trend pauses or reverses. Most profits&nbsp;are generated when markets are trending, so predicting trends correctly is&nbsp;necessary.
<h2 dir="ltr"> The Heikin-Ashi Formula </h2>
Normal candlestick charts are composed of a series of open-high-low-close (OHLC) candles&nbsp;set apart by a <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/timeseries.asp" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1" rel="noopener noreferrer" dir="ltr">time series</a>. The Heikin-Ashi technique shares some characteristics with standard candlestick charts but uses a modified formula of close-open-high-low (COHL):
<annotation encoding="application/x-tex">\begin{aligned}&amp;\text{Close}=\frac{1}{4}\text{ (Open}+\text{High}+\text{Low}+\text{Close)}\\&amp;\quad(\textit{The average price of the current bar})\\&amp;\text{Open}=\frac{1}{2}\text{ (Open of Prev. Bar}+\text{Close of Prev. Bar})\\&amp;\quad(\textit{The midpoint of the previous bar})\\&amp;\text{High}=\text{Max[High, Open, Close}]\\&amp;\text{Low}=\text{Min[Low, Open, Close]}\end{aligned}</annotation><span data-value="\begin{aligned}&amp;\text{Close}=\frac{1}{4}\text{ (Open}+\text{High}+\text{Low}+\text{Close)}\\&amp;\quad(\textit{The average price of the current bar})\\&amp;\text{Open}=\frac{1}{2}\text{ (Open of Prev. Bar}+\text{Close of Prev. Bar})\\&amp;\quad(\textit{The midpoint of the previous bar})\\&amp;\text{High}=\text{Max[High, Open, Close}]\\&amp;\text{Low}=\text{Min[Low, Open, Close]}\end{aligned}">​<h2 dir="ltr"> Constructing the Chart </h2>
The Heikin-Ashi chart is constructed like a <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/trading/candlestick-charting-what-is-it/" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1" dir="ltr">regular candlestick chart</a>, except the formula for calculating each bar is different, as shown above. The time series is defined by the user, depending on the type of chart desired, such as daily, hourly, or&nbsp;five-minute intervals.&nbsp;The down days are represented by filled candles, while the up days are represented by empty candles. These can also be colored in by the chart platform, so up days are white or green, and down days are red or black, for example.
<figure><img alt="Image" width="4872" height="3924" src="https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/orw0-JFzx5Y2d01PPqfqoU1Eheg=/4872x3924/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/dotdash_Final_Heikin-Ashi_A_Better_Candlestick_Sep_2020-01-4eba5ed66d4b4833a29c976e4a10fd8e.jpg"><figcaption dir="auto">Image by Sabrina Jiang © Investopedia&nbsp;2020</figcaption></figure>
There are a few differences to note between the two types of charts, and they're demonstrated by the charts above. Heikin-Ashi&nbsp;has a smoother look because it is essentially taking an average of the movement. There is a tendency with Heikin-Ashi for the candles to stay red during a <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/downtrend.asp" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1" dir="ltr">downtrend</a> and green during an <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/u/uptrend.asp" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="2" dir="ltr">uptrend</a>, whereas normal candlesticks alternate color even if the price is moving dominantly in one direction.&nbsp;

The price scale is also of note. The current price shown on a normal candlestick chart will also be the current price of the asset, and that matches the <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/closing.asp" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1" dir="ltr">closing</a> price of the candlestick (or current price if the bar hasn't closed). Because Heikin-Ashi is taking an average, the current price on the candle may not match the price at which the market is actually trading. For this reason, many charting platforms show two prices on the Y-axis: one for the calculation of the Heiken-Ashi&nbsp;and another for the current price of the asset.
<h2 dir="ltr"> Putting It to Use </h2>
These charts can apply to any market. Most charting platforms have Heikin-Ashi charts included as an option.&nbsp;

There are five primary signals that identify trends and buying opportunities:
<OL><LI>Hollow or green candles with no lower "shadows" indicate a strong uptrend: Let your profits ride!</LI><LI>Hollow or green candles signify an uptrend: You might want to add to your <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/long.asp" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1" dir="ltr">long position</a>&nbsp;and exit <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/short.asp" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="2" dir="ltr">short positions</a>.</LI><LI>Candles with a small body surrounded by upper and lower shadows indicate&nbsp;a trend change: Risk-loving traders might buy or sell here, while others will wait for confirmation before going long or short.</LI><LI>Filled or red candles indicate a downtrend: You might want to add to your short position&nbsp;and exit long positions.</LI><LI>Filled or red candles with no higher shadows identify a strong downtrend: Stay short until there's a change in trend.</LI></OL>
These signals may make locating trends or trading opportunities easier than with traditional candlesticks. The trends are not interrupted by <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/false-signal.asp" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1" dir="ltr">false signals</a> as often&nbsp;and are thus more easily spotted.&nbsp;
<figure><img alt="Image" width="5497" height="2606" src="https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/_Y0KQpe5UOPHrrP5-xQiEOpKRj8=/5497x2606/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/dotdash_Final_Heikin-Ashi_A_Better_Candlestick_Sep_2020-02-3018496f496e4bbfabe61f78d3208a71.jpg"><figcaption dir="auto">Image by Sabrina Jiang © Investopedia&nbsp;2020</figcaption></figure>
The chart example above shows how Heikin-Ashi&nbsp;charts can be used for analysis and making trading decisions. On the left, there are long red candles, and at the start of the decline, the lower wicks are quite small. As the price continues to drop, the lower wicks get longer, indicating that the price dropped but was then pushed back up. Buying pressure&nbsp;is starting to build. This is followed by a strong move to the upside.&nbsp;

The upward move is strong and doesn't give major indications of a reversal until there are several small candles in a row, with shadows on either side. This shows indecision. Traders can look at the bigger picture to help determine whether they should go long or short.&nbsp;

The charts can also be used to keep a trader in a trade after a trend begins. It's usually best to stay in a trade until the Heikin-Ashi&nbsp;candles change color. A change in color doesn't always mean the end of a trend—it could just be a pause.

Learning how to be a better investor/ trader

A valuable tool in technical analysis, Heikin-Ashi charts smooth out price action, and with candlestick charts can make it easier to spot trends and reversals when trading.

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Money & Investments

<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/heikinashi.asp">Heikin-Ashi </a>, also sometimes spelled Heiken-Ashi, means "average bar" in Japanese. The Heikin-Ashi technique can be used in conjunction with <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/candlestick.asp">candlestick charts </a>when <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/articles/trading/06/marketnoise.asp">trading securities </a>to spot market trends and predict future prices. It's useful for making candlestick charts more readable and trends easier to analyze. For example, traders can use Heikin-Ashi charts to know when to stay in trades while a trend persists but get out when the trend pauses or reverses. Most profits are generated when markets are trending, so predicting trends correctly is necessary.

Normal candlestick charts are composed of a series of open-high-low-close (OHLC) candles set apart by a <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/timeseries.asp">time series </a>. The Heikin-Ashi technique shares some characteristics with standard candlestick charts but uses a modified formula of close-open-high-low (COHL):

​

The Heikin-Ashi chart is constructed like a <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/trading/candlestick-charting-what-is-it/">regular candlestick chart </a>, except the formula for calculating each bar is different, as shown above. The time series is defined by the user, depending on the type of chart desired, such as daily, hourly, or five-minute intervals. The down days are represented by filled candles, while the up days are represented by empty candles. These can also be colored in by the chart platform, so up days are white or green, and down days are red or black, for example.

There are a few differences to note between the two types of charts, and they're demonstrated by the charts above. Heikin-Ashi has a smoother look because it is essentially taking an average of the movement. There is a tendency with Heikin-Ashi for the candles to stay red during a <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/downtrend.asp">downtrend </a>and green during an <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/u/uptrend.asp">uptrend </a>, whereas normal candlesticks alternate color even if the price is moving dominantly in one direction.

The price scale is also of note. The current price shown on a normal candlestick chart will also be the current price of the asset, and that matches the <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/closing.asp">closing </a>price of the candlestick (or current price if the bar hasn't closed). Because Heikin-Ashi is taking an average, the current price on the candle may not match the price at which the market is actually trading. For this reason, many charting platforms show two prices on the Y-axis: one for the calculation of the Heiken-Ashi and another for the current price of the asset.

These charts can apply to any market. Most charting platforms have Heikin-Ashi charts included as an option.

There are five primary signals that identify trends and buying opportunities:

<ol><li>Hollow or green candles with no lower "shadows" indicate a strong uptrend: Let your profits ride! </li><li>Hollow or green candles signify an uptrend: You might want to add to your <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/long.asp">long position </a> and exit <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/short.asp">short positions </a>. </li><li>Candles with a small body surrounded by upper and lower shadows indicate a trend change: Risk-loving traders might buy or sell here, while others will wait for confirmation before going long or short. </li><li>Filled or red candles indicate a downtrend: You might want to add to your short position and exit long positions. </li><li>Filled or red candles with no higher shadows identify a strong downtrend: Stay short until there's a change in trend. </li> </ol>

These signals may make locating trends or trading opportunities easier than with traditional candlesticks. The trends are not interrupted by <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/false-signal.asp">false signals </a>as often and are thus more easily spotted.

The chart example above shows how Heikin-Ashi charts can be used for analysis and making trading decisions. On the left, there are long red candles, and at the start of the decline, the lower wicks are quite small. As the price continues to drop, the lower wicks get longer, indicating that the price dropped but was then pushed back up. Buying pressure is starting to build. This is followed by a strong move to the upside.

The upward move is strong and doesn't give major indications of a reversal until there are several small candles in a row, with shadows on either side. This shows indecision. Traders can look at the bigger picture to help determine whether they should go long or short.

The charts can also be used to keep a trader in a trade after a trend begins. It's usually best to stay in a trade until the Heikin-Ashi candles change color. A change in color doesn't always mean the end of a trend—it could just be a pause.

Heikin-Ashi: A Better Candlestick

Heikin Ashi Pattern

Heikin Ashi vs Regular Japanese Candlestick Pattern

Caution!

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CURATOR'S NOTE

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