Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques: A Contemporary Guide to the Ancient Investment Techniques of the Far East, Second Edition

The most important reason to read this book is to learn candlestick charting. The next best reason is that this is a fine well written book for novices and experts alike. Nison gives clear explanations of the indicators important in candlestick charting, and then goes on to explain why the indicators are strong or weak. The result for me was that I learned some very concrete techniques while also gaining a deeper understanding of market behavior in general. In many areas the Japanese interpretation of chart events differ from the Western view, and this is most fascinating. I highly recommend this book for novices and beyond.

Whether you are a short or long term trader, this book is a must have. Once you read this book, you will want to use no other charting method but candlesticks. More important than teaching very common chart patterns, you come away with a good understanding of what each type of candlestick is telling you about the psychology of the market you are studying. Although his clear illustrated examples use mostly futures, these methods definitely apply to equities as well. You will no longer fear shorting a stock when you can clearly see the "dark cloud cover" on strong volume. If you want to know more about technical charting and have money for only one book, this is it.

I had learned the basics of candlestick charting before I purchased this book. I wouldn't always remember to do a candlestick analysis of my stocks, but when I would remember, I benefited. I came across this book when browsing and decided it would be a great way to extend my skills in candlesticks. I've read the book now got a lot out of it. I plan to make it the basis for all my future trades. I was also surprised, when CNBC interviewed a successful daytrader who started trading with this very book. Candlesticks are the way to go in this market, and this is an excellent book to get you started.

If you have heard of candlesticks but know nothing about them, look no further, this is THE book for you. In beautiful form and style, Steve Nison brings you into the world of Japanese candlestick charts and patterns. First giving you a fascinating history of the birth of the futures markets in Japan. Armed with that knowledge, Mr. Nison delves into the "psychology" behind the patterns that develope in the chart. He provides a thorough explaination of each pattern, down to it's historic name, and what to anticipate when the pattern unfolds. There is also a large part of the book devoted to using candlestick charts with various indicators i.e., stochastics, moving averages, relative strength, etc. You name it, he's got it. Actual charts are provided to visually enhance Steve Nison's explainations. Not only does he tell, but he showes you using various markets from coffee futures to the S & P market. This book is a must addition to the library of any trader who relies on technical analysis, from the beginer to the master.