Heikin-Ashi Candlesticks: The Basics


Heikin-Ashi Candlesticks: The Basics

Heikin-Ashi candlesticks offer smoothed representations of price action, effectively filtering out market noise. Four components make up each Heikin-Ashi candlestick:

  • Open: (Previous Open+Previous Close)/2(Previous Open+Previous Close)/2
  • Close: (Open+High+Low+Close)/4(Open+High+Low+Close)/4
  • High: max⁡(High,Open,Close)max(High,Open,Close)
  • Low: min⁡(Low,Open,Close)min(Low,Open,Close)

Tick Volume: The Basics

Tick volume measures the number of price changes or "ticks" in a given period. Although it doesn't represent the traded shares, a high tick volume typically indicates high trading activity.


Strategy Outline for Non-Beginners


Identifying the Setup

  1. Moving Average Filters: Apply a 50-day and a 200-day moving average to the Heikin-Ashi chart. This is to identify the macro trend.
  2. Volume Baseline: Calculate a 20-day average tick volume to use as a baseline for comparison.

Entry Rules

  1. Trend Confirmation: For an uptrend, look for multiple consecutive Heikin-Ashi candlesticks with long bodies and upper wicks shorter than the bodies. Reverse the criteria for a downtrend.
  2. Volume Confirmation: Tick volume should consistently be above the 20-day average tick volume during the trend confirmation period.
  3. Moving Average Alignment: Make sure that the 50-day moving average is above the 200-day moving average for long positions, and vice versa for short positions.

Exit Rules

  1. Reversal Signs: Exit the position if you see two or more consecutive Heikin-Ashi candlesticks that oppose the prevailing trend.
  2. Volume Exhaustion: Exit if tick volume dramatically falls while price moves against the position, indicating a potential reversal.

Risk Management

  1. Stop-Loss: Use a trailing stop-loss based on the Average True Range (ATR) to account for the market's volatility. A common multiplier is 1.5x to 2x ATR.
  2. Position Sizing: Calculate position size based on the distance to your stop-loss and your acceptable risk level per trade.

Advanced Techniques

  1. Multi-Timeframe Analysis: Validate the trade setup using Heikin-Ashi patterns on higher timeframes.
  2. Correlation Analysis: Cross-verify the asset's performance with correlated assets or market indices to gauge market sentiment.

Example Scenario

  • Heikin-Ashi: You notice that Tencent's Heikin-Ashi chart shows a series of strong bullish candles, which have long bodies and very short wicks.
  • Tick Volume: The tick volume is consistently above the 20-day average, signaling strong buying interest.
  • Moving Averages: The 50-day MA is well above the 200-day MA.

Upon confirming these elements, you initiate a long position. You set your stop-loss at 1.5 times the ATR below the current price, and you exit the position when you notice reversal signs in the Heikin-Ashi candlesticks and tick volume.


By combining Heikin-Ashi and tick volume, you can create a robust trading strategy that leverages both price action and market activity for higher probability trades.
at