Most candlestick patterns show a battle between buyers and sellers. The marubozu shows no battle at all — just total domination.
The word "marubozu" comes from Japanese meaning "bald" or "shaved" — because the candle has no wicks (or nearly none). The price opened at one extreme and closed at the other, with no pullback in between. That's what complete market conviction looks like.
This guide explains every type of marubozu, what it means in Nifty and BankNifty trading, and how to use it as a signal.
What You'll Learn
What Is a Marubozu Candlestick?
A marubozu is a single-candle pattern with no upper or lower wick — or wicks so small they're negligible. The open equals the low (for a bullish marubozu) and the close equals the high. Or the open equals the high (for a bearish marubozu) and the close equals the low.
In plain terms: from the moment the session opened until it closed, one side was in complete control. There was never a moment where the opposing side pushed price back even slightly.
Types of Marubozu
| Type | Upper Wick | Lower Wick | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Marubozu | None | None | Strongest — complete dominance |
| Closing Marubozu (Bullish) | Small | None | Close = High — strong buying at close |
| Opening Marubozu (Bullish) | None | Small | Open = Low — buyers from open |
| Closing Marubozu (Bearish) | None | Small | Close = Low — strong selling at close |
| Opening Marubozu (Bearish) | Small | None | Open = High — sellers from open |
In practice, a perfect "no wick at all" marubozu is rare. Most traders accept a candle as a marubozu if the wicks are less than 5% of the total candle length.
Why No Wicks = Strong Signal
Every candlestick wick represents price being pushed back. A long lower wick means sellers pushed price down but buyers pushed it back up. A long upper wick means buyers pushed price up but sellers pushed it back down.
No wick means no pushback at all. The session opened, and one side immediately took control and never let go. Not a moment of hesitation from the opposite side.
This makes the marubozu a continuation signal — it suggests the existing trend has strong momentum and is likely to continue in the same direction.
How to Identify a Valid Marubozu
- No or minimal wicks: Total wick length should be less than 5% of the full candle height
- Long body: A marubozu should be significantly larger than the average candles around it — this shows the force was exceptional, not routine
- Higher than average volume: A marubozu on high volume is much more significant than one on thin trading
- Context matters: A bullish marubozu after a period of consolidation is more significant than one in the middle of an already-strong uptrend
How to Trade in Nifty & BankNifty F&O
Bullish Marubozu — CE Buy Setup
- A large green marubozu forms on Nifty after breaking above a resistance zone
- Enter CE options at the open of the next session
- Stop loss: Below the marubozu's low (the candle's opening price)
- Target: Previous resistance levels above or 1:2 minimum R:R
Bearish Marubozu — PE Buy Setup
- A large red marubozu forms on Nifty after breaking below a support zone
- Enter PE options at the open of the next session
- Stop loss: Above the marubozu's high (the candle's opening price)
- Target: Next support below or 1:2 minimum R:R
See all your marubozu-triggered trades on live charts
FnoDiary syncs every trade from your broker and shows it on live candlestick charts. Identify which sessions had marubozu candles and whether your entries on the following day delivered profits.
Start Free →Limitations to Know
- Not a reversal signal: Marubozu signals continuation, not reversal. Don't use it to call a top or bottom.
- Risk of chasing: Entering a CE trade after a huge bullish marubozu day means entering after the move has already happened. Risk/reward can be poor if the next day gaps up further.
- Less reliable in volatile markets: During high-volatility events (budget, Fed decisions), marubozu candles appear frequently but don't always continue — the news-driven move can reverse sharply the next session.
- Check the gap at open: If the next day opens with a large gap in the marubozu's direction, your stop loss (at the marubozu's far end) becomes very large. Size positions accordingly.
Track Your Marubozu Continuation Trades — Know Your Win Rate
FnoDiary auto-syncs your trades from Dhan, Zerodha, Upstox, Angel One, Fyers and Groww. Review every trade on live charts. Tag by pattern. Know your real win rate.
Start Free — Sync Your Broker →Frequently Asked Questions
What is a marubozu candlestick?
A marubozu is a candlestick with no or minimal wicks — the price opens at one extreme and closes at the other without any pushback from the opposing side. A bullish marubozu opens at the session low and closes at the high; a bearish marubozu opens at the high and closes at the low. It signals strong conviction.
Is marubozu bullish or bearish?
Marubozu can be either. A green (bullish) marubozu signals strong buying momentum and a likely upward continuation. A red (bearish) marubozu signals strong selling momentum and a likely downward continuation. The signal is one of continuation, not reversal.
How rare is a perfect marubozu?
A true full marubozu with zero wicks is rare. In practice, traders accept a candle as a marubozu if the total wick length is less than 5% of the candle's full height. Partial marubozu (wick on one end only) are more common and still carry significant directional conviction.
How do you trade a marubozu in Nifty F&O?
After a bullish marubozu on Nifty: Buy CE options at the open of the next session, stop loss below the marubozu's open (its low), target next resistance. After a bearish marubozu: Buy PE options at next open, stop loss above the marubozu's open (its high), target next support.
What does marubozu mean in Japanese?
Marubozu (丸坊主) means 'bald' or 'shaved head' in Japanese — referring to the candle's lack of wicks, like a shaved head with no hair. Steve Nison introduced Japanese candlestick terminology to Western trading in the early 1990s.