Volume Profile Part 1: The Essentials
Welcome to the first instalment of our three-part series on Volume Profile Analysis – a technique that has the potential to add a new dimension to your price action trading. Let’s start by exploring the fundamentals of Volume Profile Analysis, its essential components, and why it is a valuable tool in your trading arsenal.
Understanding Volume Profile Analysis
Volume Profile Analysis reveals the distribution of trading volume at different price levels over a given period. Unlike traditional volume charts, which aggregate volume based on time intervals, Volume Profile focuses on how volume is distributed across price levels. This method provides a unique view into where significant trading activity occurs, helping traders identify key support and resistance levels.
Types of Volume Profile Indicators
Whilst there are many Volume Profile indicators available on TradingView, our series will specifically focus the following two:
1. Visible Range Volume Profile (VRVP)
• Description: The VRVP indicator displays volume distribution within the visible range of your chart. It helps in identifying high and low volume areas based on the currently visible price range.
• Use: Ideal for understanding the volume distribution over larger time periods. The indicator is highly flexible as it can pinpoint pockets of high and low volume across the visible range on your chart and any specified timeframe.
VRVP Indicator: FTSE 100 Hourly Candle Chart
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results
2. Session Volume Profile High Definition (SVP HD)
• Description: The SVP HD indicator provides detailed volume profiles within specified trading sessions. It adjusts the level of detail according to the zoom level of the chart, offering a high-definition view of intraday volume activity.
• Use: Useful for analysing intraday volume activity with a focus on specific trading sessions. It paints a picture of how a markets volume is changing day by day.
SVP HD Indicator: FTSE 100 Hourly Candle Chart
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results
Key Components of Volume Profile Analysis
Value Area (VA): The Value Area represents the price range where approximately 70% of the total trading volume occurs. It indicates the range within which most trades are concentrated. It reflects market balance and identifies where the majority of trading activity has taken place.
High Volume Node (HVN): HVNs are price levels with a high amount of trading activity, indicating areas of significant price congestion and liquidity. HVN’s have the potential to act as strong support or resistance due to its historical trading volume.
Point of Control (POC): The Point of Control is the price level with the highest trading volume during the specified period. It often represents the “fair price” where the most trades have occurred. POC serves as a key reference point for potential support or resistance, showing where market consensus has been achieved.
Low Volume Node (LVN): LVNs are price levels with relatively low trading activity, representing areas with minimal price congestion.
VRVP Indicator: Brent Crude Daily Candle Chart
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results
Why Volume Profile Analysis is Essential
Volume Profile Analysis offers several key advantages that can deepen your understanding of the markets and improve your decision-making process.
1. Identify Key Price Levels:
One of the most significant benefits of Volume Profile Analysis is its ability to highlight areas of significant trading volume. These areas are crucial because they reveal where large amounts of buying and selling have occurred, often acting as strong support and resistance levels. By identifying these key price levels, traders can better anticipate potential price reversals or continuations. For instance, a price level with high volume suggests a consensus among market participants, making it a likely candidate for future support or resistance. This information allows traders to set more accurate stop-loss orders, identify strategic entry points, and place profit targets with greater confidence. We’ll delve deeper into how to do this in Part2!
2. Reveals Market Sentiment:
Volume Profile doesn’t just show where trading activity has occurred; it also provides insights into the underlying market sentiment. By examining the distribution of volume at various price levels, traders can infer whether the market is dominated by bullish or bearish sentiment. For example, a concentration of volume at higher price levels might indicate strong buying interest, suggesting that the market is bullish. Conversely, a significant volume at lower price levels could indicate selling pressure and a bearish market. Understanding market sentiment through Volume Profile helps traders gauge the strength of current trends and spot potential turning points where the sentiment might shift.
3. Improves Trade Decisions:
Armed with the insights provided by Volume Profile Analysis, traders can make more informed decisions about their trades. By understanding where significant trading activity has occurred, traders can better assess the validity of price levels, decide when to enter or exit trades, and manage risk more effectively. For example, if a trader sees that the price is approaching a high-volume node (HVN), they might anticipate a slowdown in price movement or a potential reversal, adjusting their strategy accordingly. On the other hand, low-volume nodes (LVNs) can indicate areas where price might move quickly, offering opportunities for breakout trades.
Conclusion
In essence, Volume Profile Analysis equips traders with a clearer picture of the market landscape, enabling them to make decisions that are grounded in a deeper understanding of price action and volume dynamics.
In Part 2, we’ll uncover how to identify hidden market levels that aren’t immediately obvious on traditional price charts. We’ll explore the deeper layers of market structure and learn how to apply these insights to your price action trading.
Disclaimer: This is for information and learning purposes only. The information provided does not constitute investment advice nor take into account the individual financial circumstances or objectives of any investor. Any information that may be provided relating to past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results or performance. Social media channels are not relevant for UK residents.
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