Belt Hold Bearish Complete Guide

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What is Belt Hold Bearish?

The Belt Hold Bearish, or 'Yorikiri' in Japanese, is a single-candlestick pattern signaling a potential reversal of an uptrend. Introduced to the Western world by Steve Nison, this pattern appears as a long black (or red) candlestick following a discernible uptrend. Its distinctive feature is that it opens at or very near its high for the period, showing little to no upper shadow, and then declines steadily throughout the session to close near its low, leaving little to no lower shadow. This formation indicates that despite an initial strong opening, sellers quickly overwhelmed buyers, pushing prices down significantly and demonstrating a clear shift in market sentiment from bullish to bearish. High trading volume on the day the pattern forms often strengthens its bearish implications, suggesting strong selling pressure. Historically, while traditionally interpreted as a bearish reversal, statistical analysis by Thomas Bulkowski in his 'Encyclopedia of Candlestick Charts' indicates it has a moderate reversal performance rank (48 out of 103 patterns) but a better continuation performance rank (19 out of 103 patterns) when appearing in a downtrend. For reversal, Bulkowski's data suggests an average decline of 6% within 10 days after the pattern forms.

Belt Hold Bearish pattern illustration

Identification Rules

  1. A clear uptrend must precede the pattern, indicating that buyers have been in control.
  2. The pattern consists of a single long black (or red) candlestick.
  3. The candlestick opens at or very near its high for the period, showing little to no upper shadow.
  4. The candlestick closes significantly lower, near its low for the period, showing little to no lower shadow.

References

  • Thomas N. Bulkowski (2005). Encyclopedia of Chart Patterns.
  • Steve Nison (2001). Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques.

FAQ

How reliable is the Belt Hold Bearish pattern as a reversal signal?

While traditionally viewed as a bearish reversal, Thomas Bulkowski's statistical analysis indicates it has a moderate reversal performance rank (48 out of 103 candlestick patterns). It's more effective as a continuation pattern within a downtrend, where it ranks 19 out of 103. For reversal, it suggests an average decline of 6% within 10 days after formation.

What role does volume play in confirming the Belt Hold Bearish pattern?

Higher than average trading volume on the day the Belt Hold Bearish forms significantly strengthens its bearish implications. Increased volume indicates strong selling pressure and conviction behind the price decline, making the reversal signal more reliable.

How does the Belt Hold Bearish differ from a Bearish Engulfing pattern?

The Belt Hold Bearish is a single-candlestick pattern, characterized by its open near the high and close near the low. A Bearish Engulfing pattern, however, is a two-candlestick pattern where a large black (or red) body completely engulfs the body of the preceding smaller white (or green) candlestick, signaling a more aggressive shift in sentiment.

What kind of confirmation should traders look for after a Belt Hold Bearish pattern?

Traders typically look for subsequent bearish price action to confirm the reversal. This could include a lower close on the next trading day, a break below a significant support level, or the formation of other bearish patterns. Without confirmation, the pattern's reliability decreases.

Can the Belt Hold Bearish pattern appear in a downtrend, and what does it signify then?

Yes, while traditionally a reversal pattern from an uptrend, Bulkowski's research suggests it performs better as a continuation pattern within a downtrend. When it appears in a downtrend, it can signal a continuation of the existing bearish momentum, indicating that sellers remain firmly in control and the downtrend is likely to persist.

More Analysis

Reviewed by KlineVision Research Team, CFA Charterholder, 10+ years quantitative research· 23 апр. 2026 г.

Parts of this page (FAQ, introductions) are AI-assisted. Core data and statistics are algorithmically computed. All pattern definitions are human-reviewed.

Data source: EODHD · Last updated: 23 апр. 2026 г.

Отказ от ответственности: Эта страница основана на общедоступных рыночных данных и алгоритмическом техническом анализе. Она не является инвестиционным советом.

Data source: EODHD · © 2026 KlineVision AI