OHLC

OHLC stands for Open, High, Low, Close — the four price data points that define each period on a price chart. The open is the first trade price of the period, the high is the maximum price reached, the low is the minimum, and the close is the final trade price. Together, these four values tell you a complete story about what happened during that time interval.

OHLC data forms the foundation of virtually all technical analysis. Candlestick charts, bar charts, and most indicators are built from these four values. The relationship between them reveals market sentiment: a period that closes much higher than it opened suggests buying pressure, while a wide high-low range indicates volatility.

Most retail forex traders use candlestick charts (which are just a visual representation of OHLC data), but OHLC bar charts are also common, especially among futures traders. The underlying data is identical — it's purely an aesthetic preference. What matters is understanding what each component tells you about supply, demand, and market psychology.