Gravestone Doji

Gravestone Doji

• Direction: Bullish
• Type: Reversal
• Reliability: Weak


• The first day is a red day confirming a bearish trend, closing at the lower trading range near the days low
• The second day is gravestone doji day, one that has the identical opening and closing price, but the upper wick should be well into the previous days body.
• The lower wick of the second day should be non-existent or very little.


In a down trending market, buyers rally price briefly, but are not able to get the market to close above the days open. This forms the classic Gravestone Doji, named for its apparent similarity to the traditional gravestone.

Although this formation is weak in signal strength, the rally illustrated by the Gravestone Doji higher wick is a warning for shorts that the downtrend is losing momentum and bears may retake the market soon.

• Gravestone Doji Market Psychology
Any Doji candle by definition has the close at or near the close price. Gravestone Dojis have a high wick reflecting a rally during the days trading. Candlestick traders will watch the following day to see if buyers are able to take control of the market trend. When day-threes price holds above the Greavestone Doji, it suggests that short positions may cover their exposure, closing out their sell positions and leading to the weakening of the bear market. Many bottom pickers will start buying once that occurs, leading to a bullish reversal.

Confirmation for the Gravestone Doji pattern is strongly suggested for this pattern.

• Gravestone Doji vs Inverted Hammer Formation
An Inverted Hammer pattern is similar to the Gravestone Doji pattern, except its second day is characterized by a small body rather than a clear doji. The Gravestone Doji is a more reliable than Inverted Hammer.