
Heikin-Ashi (HA) candlesticks are a type of price chart that uses averages to show the price movement of an asset. They are used to identify market trends and make trading decisions. The calculation of the Heikin-Ashi chart is based on averaging the opening, high, low, and closing prices of the previous period, resulting in a smoother appearance compared to regular candlestick charts. This smoothing effect helps to filter out market noise and makes trends easier to identify. The open of a Heikin-Ashi candlestick is calculated as the midpoint of the previous candle, while the close is the average value between the open, high, low, and close of the current period. The high and low values are determined by the maximum and minimum values of the current period. These charts can be applied to various markets and are useful for trend traders looking to identify the direction of the trend and make informed trading decisions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Open | (Open of the previous bar + Close of the previous bar) / 2 |
| Close | (Open + High + Low + Close of the current bar) / 4 |
| High | Maximum value from High, Open, or Close of the current period |
| Low | Minimum value from Low, Open, or Close of the current period |
| Wick | The top of the upper wick is the highest value on the candle, and the bottom of the lower wick is the lowest value on the candle |
| Body | The body of an HA candle indicates the current balance of power in the market. A white or green bar indicates a bullish market, while a black or red bar indicates a bearish market |
| Colour | The colour of the HA candle changes based on the current trend. A green candle indicates an uptrend, while a red candle indicates a downtrend |
| Time Series | Defined by the user, depending on the type of chart desired (daily, hourly, or five-minute intervals) |
| Data Points | HA-open and HA-close are averages, while HA-high and HA-low are extremes of compared values |
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What You'll Learn

How the open value is calculated
Heikin-Ashi charts are calculated differently from traditional Japanese candlestick charts, which only use the open, high, low, and close prices of a specific bar. In contrast, Heikin-Ashi bars are calculated using a formula that incorporates the previous bar's data, resulting in a smoother representation of price action. This unique formula averages four parameters: open, close, max, and min (maximum and minimum price data values).
The open value of a Heikin-Ashi candlestick is calculated as the midpoint of the previous candlestick. Specifically, it is calculated as the average of the open and close values of the previous candlestick. This can be represented by the formula:
> Open = (Open of the previous bar + Close of the previous bar) / 2
By starting each new candlestick at the middle of the previous one, the Heikin-Ashi chart presents a smoother appearance and filters out the "noise" of day-to-day price fluctuations. This smoothing effect is further enhanced by the calculation of the close value, which averages the open, high, low, and close prices of the current bar.
The open value of the Heikin-Ashi candlestick is a crucial component of its formula, as it helps to identify and analyze trends. The open value, along with the close value, forms the body of the candlestick, which indicates the current balance of power in the market. A white or green bar represents a bullish market, while a black or red bar indicates a bearish market.
The Heikin-Ashi open value is calculated based on the previous candlestick's open and close prices, providing a more stable starting point for the current candlestick. This calculation method contributes to the overall smoothing effect of the Heikin-Ashi chart, making it a valuable tool for trend traders who want to identify the direction of market trends and make informed trading decisions.
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How the close value is calculated
Heikin-Ashi, also spelt Heiken-Ashi, means "average bar" in Japanese. The Heikin-Ashi formula is used to calculate each candlestick on the chart. The formula is designed to smooth out price movements and make trends easier to identify and analyse.
The close value of a Heikin-Ashi candlestick is calculated as the average value between the open, high, low, and close prices of the current period. This can be calculated using the formula:
> Close = (open + high + low + close of current bar) / 4
This differs from traditional Japanese candlestick charts, where the close value is simply the closing price of the current period. By taking the average of these four values, the Heikin-Ashi chart provides a smoother representation of price action, reducing the impact of short-term fluctuations and highlighting the underlying trend.
The smoothed appearance of Heikin-Ashi charts can make it easier to identify trends and potential reversal patterns. The candles tend to stay red during a downtrend and green during an uptrend, whereas traditional candlesticks may alternate colours even if the price is moving dominantly in one direction. This can help traders stay focused on the overall trend and avoid exiting trades prematurely due to short-term fluctuations.
However, because Heikin-Ashi charts use averages, the current price of the candle may not match the actual trading price. Therefore, it is recommended to use another type of chart in conjunction with Heikin-Ashi to confirm the real-time prices.
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How the high value is calculated
Heikin-Ashi charts are calculated differently from Japanese candlestick charts, providing a different visual appearance and better trend identification. The calculation of the Heikin-Ashi high value involves taking the actual high or maximum value of the period. This could be the highest shadow, open, or close price of the current period. The Heikin-Ashi high value is determined by selecting the highest value among these three data points.
The Heikin-Ashi technique uses a unique formula that averages four parameters: open, close, max, and min (maximum and minimum price data values). This approach results in a smoother representation of price action, reducing the impact of short-term fluctuations and highlighting the underlying trend. The smoothed bars in Heikin-Ashi charts may have lower wicks, and the max may not reach the actual high of the candlestick.
The Heikin-Ashi high value is calculated based on the current candle's high, open, and close prices, as well as the previous candle's open and close prices. This formulaic approach helps traders identify trends more easily by smoothing out price movements and filtering out market noise.
The Heikin-Ashi chart is particularly useful for trend traders as it emphasizes trends and helps identify the direction of the market trend over the longer term. By applying additional trend indicators, traders can identify the strength of market momentum and make informed trading decisions, knowing that day-to-day fluctuations have been minimised.
Overall, the calculation of the Heikin-Ashi high value, as part of the overall Heikin-Ashi formula, plays a crucial role in smoothing out price data, making trends more visible, and enabling traders to make better-informed decisions about entering or exiting trades.
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How the low value is calculated
The low value of a Heikin Ashi candlestick is calculated using the minimum value of the low, open, or close of the current period. It is designed to smooth out the price action and minimise market noise, making it easier to identify price trends.
The Heikin Ashi (HA) candlestick is a type of price chart that uses averages to show the price movement of an asset. This is in contrast to traditional candlestick charts, which represent the open, high, low, and close prices within the current time period. The HA chart is constructed like a regular candlestick chart, but with a different formula for calculating each bar.
The low value of an HA candlestick is calculated using the following formula:
Low = Minimum of Low, Open, or Close
This means that the low value of the current period is determined by taking the lowest value among the low, open, or close prices. This value is then used in the overall HA formula to calculate the low of the HA candlestick:
Low = Minimum of (Low, Open, or Close of the current period)
By taking the minimum value of the current period's low, open, or close, the HA low value calculation aims to capture the lowest price point of that period. This is then reflected in the HA candlestick chart, helping traders identify the lowest price level within the specified time frame.
It is important to note that the HA low value does not represent the absolute lowest price within the time period. Instead, it provides a smoothed-out indication of the low price, as it is calculated using averages. This smoothing effect can make it easier to identify trends and trading opportunities, but it also means that the HA low value may not match the exact low price of the market during that period.
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How Heiken Ashi candles are different from Japanese candlesticks
Heiken Ashi (HA) candlesticks are calculated differently from traditional Japanese candlesticks. While both types of candlesticks display four different price levels (lowest point, highest point, and open and close prices), the HA candlestick uses averages to show the price movement of an asset. This means that the open and close values of each candlestick are calculated differently using data from the current and previous sessions.
The open value of an HA candlestick is calculated as the midpoint of the previous candlestick, while the close value is calculated as the average of the open, high, low, and close values of the current candlestick. This results in a smoother appearance on HA charts compared to regular candlestick charts, as the directional moves are smoothed out. HA candlesticks also tend to stay red during a downtrend and green during an uptrend, whereas traditional candlesticks may alternate colours even if the price is moving dominantly in one direction.
Another difference between HA and traditional candlesticks is the use of wicks. The emergence of an upper wick on an HA candle signals that a downtrend may be losing momentum, while the emergence of a lower wick signals that an uptrend may be losing bullish momentum. Traders can use these signals to make more informed decisions about entering or exiting trades.
The main objective of HA candlesticks is to smoothen out the price volatility seen in traditional Japanese candlestick charts, making it easier to detect trends. By filtering out the "noise" of day-to-day price fluctuations, HA candlesticks provide a clearer picture of the overall trend. This makes them a valuable tool for trend traders and helps to reduce false signals.
In summary, Heiken Ashi candlesticks differ from Japanese candlesticks in their calculation method, appearance, and ability to smooth out price volatility and identify trends. These differences make HA candlesticks a useful tool for traders looking to analyse trends and make more informed trading decisions.
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Frequently asked questions
The HA candlestick is used to filter out the "noise" of day-to-day price fluctuations, making it easier to identify trends and trading opportunities.
The HA candlestick uses a modified formula that incorporates the previous bar's data. It takes an average of the open, high, low, and close prices of the previous period.
The open value of an HA candlestick is calculated as the midpoint of the previous candlestick: (open of previous bar + close of previous bar) / 2.
The close value of an HA candlestick is calculated as the average of the open, high, low, and close prices of the current bar: (open + high + low + close) / 4.
A white or green HA candlestick indicates an uptrend, while a black or red candlestick indicates a downtrend.











































