Bearish Belt Hold — candlestick pattern
bearish reversal signal · 1 candle · reliability 3/5
A large red candle with no upper wick: it opens at the high, then price sells off through the session.
The Bearish Belt Hold is a large red candle that opens at the period high and closes near the low, with little to no upper wick. At the end of an uptrend, this pattern shows a sharp shift in sentiment: the market reverses immediately after the open and keeps moving lower. Its Japanese name, “yorikiri,” refers to the start of an attack.
What does it signal? A Bearish Belt Hold at the end of an uptrend is a potential reversal signal: buyers tried to push higher, but sellers drove price back down.
When is it reliable? At a strong resistance level, with above-average volume and a confirming red candle in the next period.
When to avoid it? In sideways markets and on very short time frames, such as 1-minute or 5-minute charts, where noise is too high and the signal has little statistical value.
Anatomy and identification rules
Candle anatomy
- 1
Large red body
- 2
Open at the period high, with no upper wick
- 3
A short lower wick may be present
- 4
The body is longer than average
Identification rules
- Forms at the end of an uptrend
- The upper wick is no more than 1–2% of the body length
- The body makes up at least 70% of the full range
- The open often gaps higher, then sentiment reverses
- A confirming next candle increases reliability
Pattern in chart context
What it says about the market
Context of appearance: This pattern appears near the end of an uptrend, often as a reaction to negative news or an earnings release. It carries more weight when volume is high.
Market psychology in three steps
- 1
The uptrend holds. Several candles form higher highs and higher lows. Buyers control the market, and sentiment remains positive.
- 2
The Bearish Belt Hold forms. Buying pressure fades and sellers return. Price is pushed back down near its starting point, creating the potential for a reversal.
- 3
Confirmation arrives. The next candle closes with a red body, ideally on high volume. Sentiment has turned, and a new downtrend begins.
Same shape, opposite meaning
The Bearish Belt Hold and the Bullish Belt Hold look identical. The difference lies in context — mistake one for the other and you enter in the opposite direction. The candle shape alone is never enough: always read the trend first, then the pattern.
Most common mistakes
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Ignoring context. A Bearish Belt Hold makes sense only near the end of an uptrend. In a sideways market or downtrend, it has a different meaning, so check the trend first.
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Entering on the pattern close. The pattern itself is not an entry trigger. Confirmation comes from the close of the next red candle. Patience means fewer false signals.
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Using too short a time frame. On 5-minute candles, most reversal patterns are noise. Daily and 4-hour charts tend to produce cleaner signals.
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Ignoring volume. A Bearish Belt Hold on low volume is a weak signal. With above-average volume, the reversal is more meaningful. Always check the volume bar.