Introduction
The Morning Star is a powerful bullish reversal pattern often seen at the end of a downtrend. Recognizing this three-candle formation can help traders spot potential bottoms and enter high-probability buy setups early.
This article explains how to identify the Morning Star pattern, confirm it using indicators like RSI or MACD, determine ideal entry and exit points, and apply effective risk management using stop-loss and take-profit levels.
📖 What is a Morning Star Pattern?
A Morning Star is a 3 or more candle bullish reversal formation that signals the weakening of selling pressure and potential beginning of an uptrend.
✅ Pattern Components:
-
First Candle – A long bearish candle showing strong selling momentum.
-
Second Candle – One or more small-bodied candle (bullish or bearish) ideally that gaps down, reflecting market indecision or exhaustion.
-
Third Candle – A strong bullish candle that closes well into the body of the first candle, confirming a reversal.
📊 Example Charts:
-
USDJPY– 4H Chart (22-04-2025): Morning Star
-
USDCHF – Daily Chart (09-04-2025): Morning Star after RSI divergence
Key Point:
The Morning Star is more reliable when:
-
It forms at or near a major support level
-
The RSI shows bullish divergence
-
It follows a strong downtrend
🔧 How to Trade the Morning Star Pattern
🕒 Time Frame
✅ Most effective on H4 or Daily time frames.
Lower time frames can produce false signals due to market noise.
🛠️ Trade Setup
For a Buy Trade:
-
Identify a valid Morning Star pattern.
-
Confirm with RSI < 50
🎯 Entry
✅ Enter after the third candle closes above the midpoint of the first candle's body.
📉 Stop Loss
✅ Place stop-loss below the low of the second candle (the star).
💰 Take Profit
✅ Target a 1:1.5 or 1:2 risk-to-reward ratio.
📘 Example Trade: Morning Star Setup
-
Pair: USDJPY (H4)
-
Pattern formed at: 140.87
-
RSI: Below 50
-
Entry: 140.87
-
Stop Loss: 139.88
-
Take Profit: 1:1.5 R:R
✅ Conclusion
The Morning Star is a reliable pattern for identifying bullish reversals when confirmed with additional indicators. By trading this setup:
-
Wait for complete pattern confirmation
-
Use disciplined risk management
Mastering the Morning Star strategy can help you confidently catch early trend reversals and improve your overall trading performance.