Candlestick charting

Candlestick charting is also referred to as "Japanese charting" because of its popularity in that country. As the name implies, a candlestick chart looks like a collection of candles with wicks. The chart contains the identical information of a bar chart (opening and closing prices, highs and lows) but it displays it differently and, many would argue, more effectively. The candle portion of the chart visually represents the difference between the opening and closing price for the period charted. If the candle's body is black, that means that the closing price was lower than the opening price. If the candle's body is white, then the closing price was higher than the opening price. The "wicks" at either end of the candle mark the high and low prices reached by the financial instrument during the period. These wicks are also referred to as "hairs" or "shadows."