Marubozu

Anatomy

A marubozu has a real body that spans almost the entire range with little or no upper or lower wick. A bullish (green) marubozu opens at the low and closes at the high; a bearish (red) one opens at the high and closes at the low.

Market psychology

One side controlled the session from open to close with no meaningful pushback. The absence of wicks is the point — there was no rejection in either direction, just sustained pressure.

When it matters

A green marubozu breaking resistance, or a red one breaking support, often signals the start of a trend leg or confirms a breakout. After an extended move it can instead mark a climax (exhaustion), so position matters.

Common beginner mistakes

• Treating every long candle as a marubozu — a true marubozu has essentially no wicks; small wicks make it just a strong candle.
• Chasing a climactic marubozu after a long run, when it may mark exhaustion rather than continuation.

Frequently asked questions

Is a marubozu bullish or bearish?

It depends on the color and context. A green marubozu is bullish conviction, a red one is bearish conviction. The pattern itself is directional but neutral as a category — what matters is where it appears.

What does a marubozu signal at a breakout?

A marubozu closing through a key level on strong volume is a high-conviction breakout signal, because it shows one side dominated the whole session with no rejection. Always check that the level is genuine and volume confirms.