Candlestick Charts

A candlestick chart shows how currency pairs fluctuate in relative value over time. The x axis shows time in what ever increment a trader wants to see it. It could be minutes, hours, days or even weeks. The y axis shows the value of one base currency unit relative to the other currency in the pair. The candlestick chart below shows EUR/USD at five minute intervals over four hours.

The body of the chart shows blue and red rectangles - which are the "candlesticks". When the candlestick is blue, it means the value of the base currency has increased relative to its pair in that time interval. For blue candlesticks, the bottom edge is the opening price and the top edge is the closing price in the time interval.

When the candlestick is red, it means the value of the base currency has decreased relative to its pair in that time interval. For red candlesticks, the top edge is the opening price and the bottom edge is the closing price in the time interval.

The thin lines protruding from the top and bottom of the rectangles are called “wicks” or “tails” or “shadows”. They display the high and low prices of the base currency relative to its pair in that time interval.

Most often, we see “Bid” charts – which shows the price of selling the base currency relative to its pair. But a trader can also choose to display "Ask" charts - which show the price of buying the base currency relative to its pair.