Why Trading Sessions Matter in Forex: Key OverlapsThe Forex market is open 24 hours a day during the weekdays, allowing traders flexibility to trade at any time. However, understanding the best times to trade is essential for effective trading. The market is divided into four main sessions: Sydney, Tokyo, London, and New York, each corresponding to peak activity in key financial centers. Using a Forex Market Time Zone Converter can help traders determine which sessions are active in their local time, making it easier to plan around high-liquidity periods.
Although the market is technically always open, not all trading times are equally profitable. Higher trading volume, which generally occurs during session overlaps, creates ideal conditions for traders. For example, the overlap of the London and New York sessions sees the highest volume, with more than 50% of daily trades occurring in these two centers. Trading at this time, especially with currency pairs like GBP/USD, can lead to tighter spreads and quicker order execution, reducing slippage and increasing the likelihood of profitable trades. Similarly, trading AUD/JPY during the Asian session, when the Tokyo market is active, is advantageous due to higher trading activity for these currencies.
Conversely, trading during times when only one session is active, such as during the Sydney session alone, can result in wider spreads and less market movement, making it harder to achieve profitable trades. Planning trades around high-activity sessions and overlaps is key to effective forex trading.
Volume
2 Day Anchored VWAP on ES futuresInitially you have to understand what the volume weighted average price (VWAP) is. Broadly it can be defined as: Total dollars traded divided by the total shares for the period studied Vwap= ∑(Price∙Volume)/∑(Volume)
This means that VWAP is more responsive to volume than price and its calculation does not depend on the timeframe we are in. It is also the most common benchmark used to compute transaction costs.
what is the anchored VWAP ?
The AVWAP is an indication of the average transaction price of the participants for however long it’s plotted. Normally the VWAP resets everyday at the start of the trading session, but the anchored vwap will continue its calculations from the candle it was anchored until the present bar meaning no resets in that period.
In an uptrend buyers will try to defend that average entry price when price comes back to it. in the uptrend when the AVWAP is below price that means that the average participant is making money, when price crosses under they start to lose money and that could lead them to try to exit and push price even lower. So the cross of the AVWAP can mark a change on the near term trend. It is very important to mark the AVWAP from significant price levels or catalysts, in this case we will analyze the 2 Day anchored VWAP (2DAVWAP) on CME_MINI:ES1! futures.
Where do you anchor the 2DAVWAP ?
For example, if it's a wednesday morning you want to anchor the VWAP at monday 5pm CME_MINI:ES1! futures open. An easy way of finding the right candle to anchor is checking the "session breaks" option in the chart settings so after your session break line shows the next candle (in any timeframe) that will be the one anchored so you can trade it at the next session.
How to trade it ?
1. It is very important that CME_MINI:ES1! is in a clear and strong uptrend, this is a following the trend strategy. It can also be used in downtrends but backtesting it has proven to me that long setups are the best setups. If CME_MINI:ES1! has been uptrending and then starts consolidating but starts to move up from a good support level you can also enter a setup on that market context.
2. Anchor the VWAP from the session open and wait until next day.
3. Wait until price retraces to the 2DAVWAP the next day. It only works when the retracement happens the next day, don't trade that anchored VWAP further than that.
2. Watch the price action - Volume when it reaches the AVWAP. Price action and volume should Show an effort of buyers to continue the trend, Candle should reach the 2DAVWAP and form a hammer candlestick closing above the AVWAP in the 15 min TF (best entry point, wait for candle close).
3. Mark the 38.2% and 50% Fibonacci retracement levels from previous day low to the present day high. The lowest price can go for you to still consider entering the trade is the 50% retracement, lower than that you dismiss the trade. Go with confidence if there is a confluence between fib and the 2DAVWAP.
4. Set a Stop loss based on maximum adverse excursion (MAE) and the average true range (ATR) for that day (this risk management should be defined with backtest). A good tip is always try to enter the closest to were you would be wrong in a trade, which can be below the 50% retracement for example.
5. Set a Target profit based on maximum favorable excursion (MFE) and the average true range (ATR) for that day (this risk management should be defined with backtest). A good tip is try to exit at least at previous highs if there is volatility on the day.
Finally, the entry could be at any time of the day, it could happen at 2 am EST or it could happen at 10 am EST, it really does not matter. Always take trading seriously, stay discipline and do your own backtesting and find what works the best for you. I will be posting more educational posts on AVWAP. This strategy has only been backtested in CME_MINI:ES1! futures.
A classic setup for finding trading opportunitiesHi traders and investors!
In a recent post, I talked about a classic setup. You can find the post below in the related ideas section. I decided to elaborate on it a bit more because this setup frequently appears across different assets, and certain elements of this setup are common in various trading methodologies. In this article, I used a bar chart because bars take up less space, making it easier to see other elements of the chart.
Take a look at the chart. The seller's move from the 52,550 level updated the previous local high. The bar with the highest volume in this entire buyer's movement is the bar from September 18. The 50% level of the entire buyer's movement lies within this bar (!).
Next, we see the seller's movement, and on October 3, a test is formed within the key buyer's bar, at the level of 59,828.11. The price didn't reach the 50% level (59,524).
The key seller's bar in this movement (the bar with the highest volume) is the bar from October 1. The 50% level of the entire seller's movement is within this bar (!).
Next, we see the buyer's movement, and on October 5, a test is formed within the key seller's bar, at the level of 62,484.85. The price didn't reach the 50% level (63,163.06).
Then we see the buyer's attack on the test level of 62,484.85 and the 50% level of the seller's movement (63,163.06), followed by the seller returning the price below the test level, accumulating volume for a downward move. After that, the local minimum of 59,828.11 was updated.
Then, the seller attacks the test level of 59,828.11 and the 50% level of the buyer's movement (59,524), and the buyer returns the price above the test level, gathering volume for an upward move. What happens next... we will soon see.
This is how the buyer's attack on the 50% level of the seller's movement looked on the 4-hour time frame.
No differences whatsoever. Although, maybe I didn’t look hard enough. The key bar of the seller's movement intersects the 50% movement. First, there’s a test below the 50% level (test level 62,975), then an attack on the test level and the 50% level.
Hope you found it interesting.
Good luck with your trading and investments!
Two Roads to Profit. A Comparison of ICT/SMC and Advanced VSAHello traders and investors!
When we start engaging in trading and investing, we get acquainted with various methods of forecasting price movements. Gradually, if we have enough persistence, strength, and patience, we choose our own path to profitable trades. Among the most popular approaches, we can highlight the use of various oscillators and channels, Dow Theory, Elliott Waves, Fibonacci levels, supply and demand, Volume Spread Analysis (VSA), market auction theory, and the Inner Circle Trader/Smart Money Concept (ICT/SMC). Many traders combine elements from different approaches into their trading system.
I personally prefer a concept I call Advanced VSA. It’s a comprehensive set of tools that combines ideas from VSA, Dow Theory, and Supply and Demand analysis. The name "Advanced VSA" perfectly captures the essence of the method, as it is fundamentally based on analyzing volume and price spread.
Recently, the ICT/SMC concept has been gaining more and more popularity. Today, I want to explore the similarities and differences between ICT/SMC and Advanced VSA. If there are any inaccuracies in my explanation of ICT/SMC basics, feel free to correct me in the comments. Perhaps after reading this article, you’ll be able to decide which approach resonates more with you and which one you believe will help you in your trading. I hope this will be helpful. Let’s dive in!
Basic Differences
Before diving into the technical details, let's first clarify the key differences between these concepts.
Who Controls Price Movements
The ICT/SMC concept assumes that price movements are controlled by large players, such as market makers, who direct prices in the desired direction. This is similar to a model where one "center of power" determines the market's direction.
In contrast, Advanced VSA is based on the idea that two forces influence price — the Buyer and the Seller. All analysis revolves around the interaction between these two sides, creating a more balanced model where both forces are equally important.
Traded Volume
The ICT/SMC concept does not use traded volume as a part of its analysis.
In Advanced VSA, volume is an important factor. It is considered an integral part of the data that helps to understand market processes and the actions of participants.
Now let’s move on to a detailed comparison of the elements of these concepts.
What They Have in Common
Both concepts teach traders to identify price ranges on the chart where a large player (Market Maker in ICT/SMC) or a Buyer (in Advanced VSA) shows interest in buying, and ranges where the Market Maker or Seller is interested in selling. When the price returns to these ranges, traders can execute buys or sells. We can call these price ranges contextual areas for buying and selling.
Neither concept relies on technical indicators. Instead, they focus on the following key terms for identifying the trade direction and the trade entry point:
Trend
Trend break/half-trend
Trend confirmation
Accumulation/Distribution/Sideways movement/Flat
Contextual areas for buying and selling
The first four terms help determine the direction of the trade, while the fifth helps identify the entry point and the likely target of the trade.
Both methods suggest using higher timeframes to find contextual areas and lower timeframes to find entry points within those areas.
What Are the Differences
The differences between the concepts lie in the interpretation of key terms. For the first four terms (trend, trend break, trend confirmation, accumulation/distribution/Sideways movement), the distinctions are minor and relate mostly to specific interpretations. However, the main differences arise in the rules for identifying contextual areas of interest (buyer, seller, or market maker). Let's look at these differences in more detail.
Difference 1: Use of Volume
In ICT/SMC, contextual areas of interest are determined solely based on price action and candlestick patterns, without taking traded volume into account.
In contrast, Advanced VSA sees volume as an integral part of the analysis. contextual areas of interest are identified by both traded volume and price behavior (candlestick patterns). If there was interest from a buyer, seller in a specific price range, leading to a price change, it's logical to assume that the volume traded in that range should be higher than in previous periods over a similar timeframe.
To illustrate the importance of using all available data for analysis, consider an analogy with choosing the best time for a seaside vacation. If the decision is based only on water and air temperature, while ignoring factors like wind or rainfall, the choice may be misguided. For example, choosing April for its comfortable temperature might result in encountering constant rain and high waves.
Thus, in Advanced VSA, volume plays a crucial role, whereas it is absent in ICT/SMC.
Difference 2: Types of Contextual Areas of Interest
In ICT/SMC, the following types of contextual areas of interest are used: order block, breaker, mitigation block, and rejection block. All of these areas are formed by a specific arrangement of candles on the chart.
In contrast, Advanced VSA operates with a different set of contextual areas of interest: effort, zone, and range (sideways movement). Effort refers to a single candle or bar that indicates significant market activity. Zone is formed by a sequence of candles or bars, taking into account their traded volumes. Range (sideways movement) is defined by a series of consecutive candles/bars where price fluctuates within a limited range, interacting alternately with the upper and lower boundaries of the range. It's only possible to identify which party (buyer, seller, or market maker) controls the range after the price breaks out and confirms the move.
If the volumes align with Advanced VSA's criteria, order blocks and mitigation blocks in ICT/SMC can be considered as zones in Advanced VSA. So, not all order blocks and mitigation blocks will be considered zones in Advanced VSA. The breaker will be discussed separately, and there is no equivalent to the rejection block in Advanced VSA.
Difference 3. Price Attraction Points
In ICT/SMC, concepts such as fair value gap, liquidity void, and liquidity are used to describe price attraction points.
In Advanced VSA, the terms fair value gap and liquidity void are not utilized. Most of the time, these ICT/SMC elements correspond to price interest points in Advanced VSA, such as effort. The term liquidity has the same meaning.
Difference 4. Importance of Levels
In Advanced VSA, levels play an important role in identifying trade opportunities. To understand the significance of levels, let’s first recall the concepts of trend and range (sideways movement). In both ICT/SMC and Advanced VSA, a trend is broken down into components, often referred to as impulses or expansion moves. A range, on the other hand, is characterized by its boundaries and the vectors of price movement between those boundaries.
In Advanced VSA, important trading signals include the defense of a broken level or a price retracement to a level followed by its defense.
In Advanced VSA, the defense of a broken level or the cancellation of a breakout (where the price returns back behind the broken level) followed by a defense of that level is considered a signal for identifying trades. This method helps traders spot potential entry points where either buyers or sellers to protect a key price level, giving more confidence in the direction of the market. The most important levels include the base of the last impulse, the boundaries of a range, and the test level of a zone.
In ICT/SMC, there are no direct equivalents of these elements when it comes to searching for trades. However, breakers and sometimes mitigation blocks serve similar purposes to the levels in Advanced VSA, but the approaches differ. In ICT/SMC, trades are typically executed within the breaker or mitigation block, whereas in Advanced VSA, trades are found when a level is defended: buy trades above the level (supported by buyers), and sell trades below the level (supported by sellers).
Additionally, Advanced VSA allows for trading within ranges, moving from one boundary to the other, as long as the boundaries are defended.
Summary
Despite the shared terms and similar approaches, there are significant differences between the two concepts:
Number of forces influencing price movement: In ICT/SMC, it is believed that price is controlled by a single force, the Market Maker (MM). In contrast, Advanced VSA considers the interaction of two forces—buyers and sellers—as driving price movements.
Use of volume in analysis: ICT/SMC does not take traded volume into account during analysis, while in Advanced VSA, volume is a crucial element for identifying market forces and areas of interest.
Use of levels for trade entries: In ICT/SMC, levels do not play an important role, whereas in Advanced VSA, levels one of the possible places for identifying potential trade setups.
Good luck with your trading and investing!
How I used Volume Spread Analysis to avoid FOMO trading!As a trader, I often battle with the fear of missing out (FOMO), a common pitfall among traders that can lead to impulsive, unprofitable trades. After reviewing my journal, I determined that chasing breakouts was costing me a significant portion of my account, so I studied Volume Spread Analysis (VSA) to help me reduce my urges. Here is how is used VSA to avoid FOMOing a trade.
Before we get started, let's clarify two definitions:
Volume: Measures the number of times buyers and sellers exchange 1 unit of an asset at an agreed-upon price. It doesn't inherently indicate whether a trend is bullish or bearish, but rather that a trade has occurred. Low volume suggests that few transactions have taken place because buyers and sellers couldn't agree on price. High volume suggests that buyers OR sellers felt they were getting a bargain at the current price, leading to many transactions.
Spread/Range: The difference between the high and low of a candlestick. A narrow spread indicates little variance between what someone is willing to buy for and what someone is willing to sell for. A wide spread suggests that buyers and sellers have significantly different ideas of what the fair price is.
In short, Volume Spread Analysis (VSA) interprets the relationship between trading volume and candle spread. When volume and spread agree, they are considered harmonious, and the trend will probably continue. If volume and spread disagree, there is a divergence, and the trend may be weak or could even reverse. In general, there are three main harmonious conditions:
Narrowing spread should have narrowing volume.
Average spread should have average volume.
Widening spread should have widening volume.
I spotted a bear flag consolidation on QQQ and decided I would trade the breakout to the downside. I took a break and came back to the chart just after the breakdown had occurred, missing my ideal entry. The candle spread was widening and my first thought was "I have to get in! This thing is free falling!" PAUSE! I reminded myself that I cant make every dollar in the market. If I miss this trade, there will always be another. "Be patient and wait for the market to come back to you."
This is the chart after the initial break. What can we observe? QQQ broke the low of day with high volume and a widening red candle. Based on our definitions from earlier, we know that high volume means that buyers or sellers think they are getting a bargain so they are willing to transact as much as they can at current price. Given that price is falling, we can assume that the volume is due to aggressive selling. We remain patient and continue to watch for something to trade against.
Next, we see a narrower range candle with a long lower shadow and above average volume. By definition, strong volume with a narrow range is a possible divergence. We know that narrow range candles mean that buyers and sellers generally agree on current price, but why would it close near the highs if the selling was so aggressive? Given that there is a long lower shadow and then a bullish candle close, we can infer that sellers were not willing to sell below $467.89. The buyers absorbed the selling at those prices.
Fast forwarding, we notice that the volume and candle size has shrunk back to the average meaning buyers and sellers are in agreeance. The number of people willing to transact is decreasing. We also notice that a small range has formed. Buyers have not stepped in to buy above the previous low of day at $469.35 and the sellers have shown no effort to get back below $467.89. Now we have something to trade against instead of FOMOing in! We will look for a break of this range with increased volume.
On the next candle we see bulls break out of the range with aggressive volume and a wide spread candle. Something of note is that the volume on this bull candle is less that the volume of our initial sell candle. If those sellers were still present, wouldn't they be selling at these higher prices and forcing the candle range to be narrow? This shows us that bulls are now in control and the selling from earlier was just a hoax.
As we can see, the rest is history. If I FOMOed into the short as I had planned, this trade would have resulted in a loss. Being patient allowed me to realize that there was nothing to miss out on and actually allowed me to find a better trade.
Key Notes
Always journal your trades and review them
Never FOMO into a trade. Be patient and wait for the trade to come to you!
You dont need to take every trade to make money in the market. It is okay to miss a trade if it means protecting your account.
Volume spread analysis is not 100%, but it can be useful in determining the strength of a trend.
Navigating the Waves: Elliott Wave Theory and Key IndicatorsEducational Technical Analysis on example chart of UFO Moviez India
Elliott Wave Analysis and Key Moving Averages
Disclaimer
This study is for educational purposes only and does not constitute trading or investment advice. The analysis presented focuses on one potential scenario based on Elliott Wave Theory and other technical indicators. Trading and investing involve substantial risk, and individuals should consult a financial advisor before making any decisions.
Introduction to Elliott Wave Theory
Elliott Wave Theory is a form of technical analysis that traders use to analyze financial market cycles and forecast market trends by identifying extremes in investor psychology, highs and lows in prices, and other collective activities. The theory posits that stock prices move in predictable patterns or "waves" based on investor sentiment.
Principles of Elliott Wave Theory
1. Wave Patterns: According to Elliott, market prices move in five waves in the direction of the main trend (impulse waves) and three waves in a correction against the main trend (corrective waves).
2. Wave Degrees: Waves are fractal in nature, meaning that smaller waves form part of larger waves, and this pattern repeats on all time frames.
3. Wave Characteristics:
- Wave 1: Usually the smallest impulse wave.
- Wave 2: Corrects Wave 1 but does not exceed its starting point.
- Wave 3: Typically the strongest and longest wave.
- Wave 4: Corrective wave that is usually less severe.
- Wave 5: Final leg in the direction of the main trend.
Current Analysis of example chart of UFO Moviez India
Based on the chart and Elliott Wave Theory, UFO Moviez India is currently suggesting an impulsive and momentum-driven 3rd of the 3rd wave ahead, with an invalidation level at 106.
Key Observations:
1. Wave Count:
- Wave (1): An initial 5-wave impulse has completed.
- Wave (2): A corrective ABC pattern.
- Wave (3): Currently unfolding with sub-waves i, ii, iii, iv, and v marked.
- Wave 3: In the larger context is forming.
2. Breakout:
- There is a breakout above the downward trendline with good volumes, indicating strong bullish momentum.
3. Key Moving Averages:
- Price Trading Above:
- 50 EMA, 100 EMA, and 200 EMA
- 50 WEMA, 100 WEMA, and 200 WEMA
- Crossed above 20 MMA
Technical Indicators and Levels
- Price: 148.54 INR (as of the latest close)
- Support Levels:
- Nearest Invalidation Level: 106 INR
- Major Support: 57.20 INR
- Resistance Levels:
- Immediate Target: 175.58 INR (Wave 1 of larger degree)
- Fibonacci Extension Target: 220.51 INR (1.618 extension of Wave 1)
Conclusion
The Elliott Wave analysis of example chart of UFO Moviez India indicates a potentially strong bullish trend as the stock is in the 3rd wave of a larger impulse. The breakout above the trendline with significant volume further supports this bullish outlook. However, it is crucial to monitor the invalidation level at 106 INR, as a break below this level could invalidate the current wave count and suggest a different scenario.
Educational Purpose Notice
This analysis is provided for educational purposes only. It is not an investment or trading advice or tip. Trading and investing in financial markets involve risk, and it is important to do thorough research and consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
I am not Sebi registered analyst.
My studies are for educational purpose only.
Please Consult your financial advisor before trading or investing.
I am not responsible for any kinds of your profits and your losses.
Most investors treat trading as a hobby because they have a full-time job doing something else.
However, If you treat trading like a business, it will pay you like a business.
If you treat like a hobby, hobbies don't pay, they cost you...!
Hope this post is helpful to community
Thanks
RK💕
Disclaimer and Risk Warning.
The analysis and discussion provided on in.tradingview.com is intended for educational purposes only and should not be relied upon for trading decisions. RK_Charts is not an investment adviser and the information provided here should not be taken as professional investment advice. Before buying or selling any investments, securities, or precious metals, it is recommended that you conduct your own due diligence. RK_Charts does not share in your profits and will not take responsibility for any losses you may incur. So Please Consult your financial advisor before trading or investing.
Volume Spread Analysis (VSA): Volume and Price DynamicsVolume Spread Analysis (VSA): Understanding Market Intentions through Volume and Price Dynamics.
█ Simple Explanation:
Volume Spread Analysis (VSA) is a trading technique that identifies key market patterns and trends by analyzing the relationship between volume and price spread, revealing traders' actions and market behavior.
Essentials in Volume Spread Analysis (VSA):
Laws.
VSA Indicator.
Signs of Strength.
Signs of Weakness.
Note that while the provided examples are excellent for illustrating the points, they are unlikely to play out perfectly in most scenarios.
█ Laws
Three basic laws forming the foundation of Volume Spread Analysis (VSA).
The Law of Supply and Demand
This law states that supply and demand balance each other over time. High demand and low supply lead to rising prices until demand falls to a level where supply can meet it. Conversely, low demand and high supply cause prices to fall until demand increases enough to absorb the excess supply.
The Law of Cause and Effect
This law assumes that a 'cause' will result in an 'effect' proportional to the 'cause'. A strong 'cause' will lead to a strong trend (effect), while a weak 'cause' will lead to a weak trend.
The Law of Effort vs Result
This law asserts that the result should reflect the effort exerted. In trading terms, a large volume should result in a significant price move (spread). If the spread is small, the volume should also be small. Any deviation from this pattern is considered an anomaly.
█ VSA Indicator
This indicator simplifies the identification of Volume and Spread Levels. It provides options to display volume and/or spread bars. An enhanced version of the indicator auto-scales both volume and spread for optimal chart presentation, reloading every time the chart is moved.
Levels: Representing the levels of both volume and spread using the terminalogy of low, normal, high, and ultra.
Indicator Version 1: Display volume and/or spread bars. When both are displayed, the spread bars are shown in a fixed quantity.
Indicator Version 2: Display both volume and spread bars, with the spread bars scaled to the volume bars.
█ Signs of Strength
Indicates that the market is likely to experience bullish behavior.
Down Thrust: Indicates strong buying interest at lower prices, suggesting a potential upward reversal.
Selling Climax: Signifies a reversal point as panic selling exhausts and smart money starts accumulating.
Bear Effort No Result: A large downward price move without strong selling effort (volume) indicates an anomaly where the result doesn't match the effort, suggesting the down move may be unsustained.
No Effort Bear Result: Strong selling effort (volume) fails to push prices down indicating an anomaly where the result doesn't match the effort, suggesting a potential lack of downward momentum.
Inverse Down Thrust: Shows buyers overpowering sellers, likely leading to a bullish market reversal.
Failed Selling Climax: Failed selling effort suggests strong buying support and a possible upward trend reversal.
Bull Outside Reversal: Indicates strong buying reversing a downtrend, confirmed by higher close.
End of Falling Market: Signifies strong buying absorbs panic selling at new lows, likely leading to stabilized price or reversal.
Pseudo Down Thrust: Suggests weakening of the downward momentum with a potential upward continuation if broken above high.
No Supply: Indicates a lack of selling interest at lower prices, potentially setting up for a price rise.
█ Signs of Weakness
Indicates that the market is likely to experience bearish behavior.
Up Thrust: Indicates sellers overpowering buyers during a price rise, suggesting a potential downward reversal.
Buying Climax: Represents peak buying, typically at price highs, with potential for reversal as sellers take control.
No Effort Bull Result: A large upward price move without strong buying pressure (volume) indicates an anomaly where the result doesn't match the effort, suggesting the up move may be unsustained.
Bull Effort No Result: Strong buying (volume) fails to drive prices higher indicates an anomaly where the result doesn't match the effort, suggesting a potential lack of upward momentum.
Inverse Up Thrust: Increased selling pressure during an uptrend suggests a possible shift to a downtrend.
Failed Buying Climax: High buying volume fails to sustain higher prices, indicating a potential reversal to downtrend.
Bear Outside Reversal: Strong selling pressure reversing an uptrend, signaling a potential downtrend.
End of Rising Market: Indicates buying saturation at market peaks, suggesting a possible reversal as demand exhausts.
Pseudo Down Thrust: Indicates weakening upward momentum with potential for downward continuation if broken below low.
No Demand: Indicates reduced buying interest at higher prices, possibly leading to a price decline.
Demand Zone Bounce Lesson This is just going over a lesson I learned and seeing the price actually bounce off of my demand zone I thought it was cool.
How to read Volume properlyIn this video, I explain how to interpret volume bars in conjunction with price movements. Recognizing large volume bars is crucial for understanding significant market interest, especially when they accompany substantial percentage changes in the underlying asset. These insights can help confirm institutional buying, signal the beginning or end of uptrends, and indicate the start of sell-offs or the end of downtrends.
For example, large green volume bars can suggest the start of an uptrend or confirm institutional buying, while large red volume bars can signal the beginning of a sell-off or the end of a downtrend. This indicator simplifies the process of reading volume bars, making it easier to extract valuable insights from them.
XAUUSD Daily Proportional StrategyThe Daily Proportional Strategy is based on volatility. It involves trend tracking for a financial asset transitioning from a sideways movement to an upward trend. It relies on the scalp method.
This is not investment advice and does not provide guidance. It is for educational purposes only.
The level defense patternI use the concept of a level being defended by either a buyer or a seller to find potential buying or selling opportunities. This is a specific pattern that can be identified on a chart. Let's consider one variant of this pattern. In this variant, the defense of a level by a buyer looks as follows: a buyer's candle closes above the level. Then, a seller's candle or candles interact with the level, followed by the appearance of a buyer's candle, which needs to be evaluated. If it meets the criteria, entry points can be identified.
Let's look at a concrete example. The pattern developed over 10 hours.
On the chart, blue-shaded areas represent 2-hour buyer's candles, and red-shaded areas represent 2-hour seller's candles. After the buyer pushed the price back above the 6.733 level, they attempted to resume from the 6.7571 level, the volume of the buyer's candle (632K) was less than that of the seller's candle (1.274M).
Then, the seller attacked the 6.733 level with increased volume (709K) but could not push the price below this level. Note where POC of the volume profile for the 2-hour seller's attack candle is: below 6.7571. The high of the attack candle is at 6.8166.
The next buyer's candle had increased volume (792K). Notice where the buyer's movement started in this candle: from the POC of the volume profile of the seller's attack candle.
Now entry points can be identified. In this example, the entry points are visible on the 1-minute time frame. The chart shows two entry points. Note how volumes are distributed at these points and the resulting buyer's zones (blue rectangles on the chart).
The first entry point is the defense of the breakout from the range by the buyer, which was formed in the previous 2-hour candle (RPL on the chart, 6.7784).
The second entry point is the defense of the high of the attacking 2-hour seller's candle by the buyer (6.8166 level).
The Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Pump and Dump Part IIRecently we watched in the news the resurrection of the "Meme Stocks" frenzy and the "Roaring Kitty" username. Those who witnessed the first surge in stocks like NYSE:AMC , NYSE:GME , NYSE:BB , etc., remember those were basically a "Make me Rich quick" kind of event, they were known as "Meme Stocks" because it all started as memes by a group of traders in internet forums who allegedly went against the Wall St. Hedge Funds who were heavily invested in shorting these stocks, by buying all at the same time and triggering a strong short squeeze.
Well, this event was the hope for this group of traders who saw the opportunity to pocket huge profits in a short time frame, and it gave them the sense of power against Wall St. That time these stocks were heavily shortened, and they were prone to an aggressive short squeeze, not only from these member of the meme stock traders, but by professional traders.
At the end of the day this group of stocks spiked, the people took profits, they left the market, some richer, some poorer, and others as bag holders. All these stocks faded along the time and some even went bankrupt. This event was imprinted in the memory of those hoping that this could happen again, but most amateur traders don't take the time to actually learn to trade, they ran with the rumor again after a fuzzy post by the "Roaring Kitty" and they just grabbed whatever was being mentioned in the forums. This time however it was very different. Their behavior was predictable and the professional traders already had a plan in advance, to short the spike. The small buying power of the meme stock traders plus their inexperience in swimming with professional sharks just turned them into an easy morning lunch. The rumor, action and shorting cycle was very fast. In the chart we can see outstanding profits in the order of hundreds of percentual points. But if we take a look at the short sale volume, we notice that the spike was immediately extinguished.
The #VolumeCandles feature of Trading View is an excellent tool to visually pinpoint the development of this pump and dump event. In the chart I added some more stocks which were rumored in the forums, NYSE:GME , NYSE:AMC , NASDAQ:KOSS , NYSE:OKLO , NASDAQ:FFIE , NASDAQ:GWAV , $CRKN. The symbols used to display the short volume were:
FINRA:GME_SHORT_VOLUME
FINRA:AMC_SHORT_VOLUME
FINRA:KOSS_SHORT_VOLUME
FINRA:OKLO_SHORT_VOLUME
FINRA:FFIE_SHORT_VOLUME
FINRA:GWAV_SHORT_VOLUME
FINRA:CRKN_SHORT_VOLUME
All of them have the same pattern,
Rumor in the meme stock forums
Frenzy buying
Immediate huge short volume
The takeaway of this presentation is, never fall for what others "rumor" in forums, trade following your own system, your money and your profit/loses are just yours, so the responsibility to plan your trade.
Buying and selling shares in the stock market is very easy, trading is not, and they're definitely not the same. #LearnToEarn.
Volumes. Why every trader should be able to work with them.The third “stream” of incoming real data, which simply cannot be ignored when analyzing a chart, is volumes. I’ll try to explain why the third stream, what are the first two.
On any chart of a trading instrument there are two scales, price and time. These are two real and independent incoming data streams.
All Technical Analysis studies them inside and out.
Price behavior is studied in the form of graphic figures, support/resistance levels, candlestick analysis and patterns, trend lines and channels, the movement of waves of price movement, using indicators, Renko charts, tic-tac-toe, etc. and so on.
The time scale is divided into seasonality, quarters, trading sessions, sessions for hours before and after lunch, and simply into hours and minutes of possible manipulations (in ICT smartmoney, for example, Kill zones, macros).
I would call volumes the third stream of data, the “3rd scale on the chart.”
This is an independent and independent flow of data about the turnover of money, or more precisely, contracts traded at a certain time and at a certain price.
All indicators and volume analysis tools do not depend on price and time in the direct sense. They work with their data coming from the exchange.
A clear example... Any oscillator, for example, depends on the price, is calculated using a formula based on the price value, and produces a certain “averaged” option.” The cumulative delta curve is constructed based on data on the number of contracts traded from the exchange, and does not depend in any way on the price value; it has its own data.
Volumes also include not only analysis using various indicators and clusters. And the ability to work with COT reports, open interest and other data from CME. This is also data on contracts traded by different groups of participants.
And understanding how options work, all markets are closely related and influence each other. There are many complex risk hedging designs. Nobody wants to lose money.
And I think ignoring this data flow and not being able to work with it is, at the very least, stupid.
And simply, isn’t it interesting to look inside a candle or figure to see what’s really going on there? The price is in a “triangle or sideways”, accumulation/distribution is taking place, but is anything really happening there? Are you waiting for a rollback to imbalance (FVG), but is there this imbalance there? Are you waiting for a reaction to a level, “liquidity withdrawal”, order block, but is there something or someone inside the reaction or not?
By the way, I don’t know the fourth data stream, if you know, please let me know. I'll be happy to study it.
I hope the information will be useful. Don't forget to like, subscribe, share with friends, leave comments. All you have to do is click a button, and I love seeing feedback. Thank you.
The TradingView Show: Live With OKX & TradeTravelChillGreetings, TradingViewers worldwide! This interview was conducted live and is now available for playback and on-demand viewing on our TradingView account, accessible for free. This program delves into trader education, cryptocurrencies, and the flexibility of trading from anywhere with an Internet connection.
Keep in mind that this show was streamed LIVE, so you might come across references to our live chat. No worries, though; you can still watch the show instantly and access the comments section below. Feel free to leave us your feedback!
Here's a glimpse of what we cover in this episode:
1. Gain insights into crypto trading, specific strategies, and the essence of trading them.
2. Understand the dynamics of trading on-the-go and establishing personal rules in an era where crypto trades round-the-clock and connectivity is constant.
3. Discover how TradeTravelChill began on TradingView and OKX, now leveraging our integrated broker partnership. TradeTravelChill and OKX are partners, with OKX being a broker partner on our platform, facilitating seamless connections for traders.
4. Dive into trade ideas and setups in crypto markets, particularly focusing on major coins.
5. Explore some of the hottest topics in crypto markets at the moment.
Our objective with this show is to educate traders worldwide! While we don't provide direct advice, our focus is on empowering traders to learn, practice, and excel in the markets.
Relax, ask questions, and enjoy the show!
How to use different timeframesHello traders and investors!
Today I'll talk about choosing the right timeframe and how you can use different timeframes when looking for trades. This will help us uncover what is hidden in this candle on the chart.
When we look at something, we are usually limited by a certain viewpoint. From this point, we only see part of the whole picture. But if we move and look from a different perspective, we will discover new details and aspects that were previously unnoticed. The same applies to analyzing the chart of a financial instrument when using different types of charts or different timeframes. This post will focus on using different timeframes. On one timeframe, it may be difficult to understand the essence of what is happening, while on another, everything can become clearer and more understandable.
I've already talked about using different timeframes when looking for trades in an educational article a few weeks ago (see the related post below). In that article, I highlighted 5 skills that help effectively trade in sideways markets. Discussing the first of them - how to combine higher and lower timeframes when looking for trades, I provided a practical example on the OPUSDT chart using the daily and hourly timeframes. In that practical example, I formulated target levels that are likely to be reached. You can see the results in the related post (see below).
I'll provide another example of choosing the right timeframe and the correlation between timeframes, using the BTCUSDT chart. This will help us uncover what is hidden in this candle on the chart.
In the update of this idea I noted that on the hourly timeframe at the contextual point of the seller (the beginning of the last seller impulse, level 66867), I didn't see an active seller and wasn't ready to join the sales at that moment. As a potential target, I indicated 62776.
So, I looked at the chart on different timeframes and searched for what remains unnoticed. On the 7-minute timeframe, I discovered a sideways movement at the contextual point of the seller (level 66867), as mentioned in the idea update with a recommendation to look for a trade after exiting the sideways movement and protecting this exit:
Now, let's analyze what happened next (on the bars chart, as bars take up less space and additional marks are better visible).
The seller broke through the lower boundary of the sideways movement at 65626.87.
The seller's impulse ended at 10:49 (New York time), when after breaking through the lower boundary of the sideways movement, the first buyer bar appeared.
The key candle(bar) of the impulse (the largest volume in the impulse) is marked on the chart as "KC". Therefore, the seller's defense of this candle or the lower boundary of the sideways movement (65626) increases the probability of further price decrease. The price range of the key candle of the impulse is highlighted on the chart (from high to close). Now let's pick a lower timeframe to see more clearly what happened before and after 10:49.
On the 1-minute timeframe by 10:49, a sideways movement formed, and at 10:49, the price attacked the upper boundary of the sideways movement (level at point 2).
The key candle of the buyer's impulse ("KC" on the chart) is in the middle of the impulse. At 10:59, the buyer attacked a new boundary of the sideways movement (level at point 6 - 65249.01). Pay attention to the volume of the attacking candle. At 11:02, the seller pressed the attack candle, forming a seller zone (red background on the chart). On the buyer's candle at 11:04 (black downward arrow on the chart), you can sell because:
On the hourly timeframe, the price is in the seller's impulse in the seller's area of interest, which defended the level 66867.
On the 7-minute timeframe, the seller broke through the lower boundary of the sideways movement.
On the 1-minute timeframe, the seller defended the level (65249.01) from the buyer's attack on a significant volume, which is within the price range of the key candle of the 7-minute timeframe impulse.
And one more interesting point. Look where the seller's resumption on the minute timeframe came from - from the 50% of the key candle of the 7-minute timeframe seller impulse.
Could the price, without reaching the target of 62776, go up? Yes, the probability of this event is not zero. And we see how the price did not reach the target by 18 dollars (black upward arrow on the chart) and turned upward. Where did the seller stop it? It stopped right there inside the key candle of the sideways movement exit on the 7-minute timeframe (black downward arrow on the chart). After that, the target of 62776 was reached.
Use Case for LuxAlgo's Delta Volume Bars indicator
This is how I have been using this indicator, coloring the divergence bars a separate color helps them stand out and makes it easy to build the rest of the model around the strong volume in the bars.
Futures Day Trading with Volume ProfileToday was yet another amazing trade off a long term volume profile level for over 50 points on the CME_MINI:ES1! S&P500 E-mini futures.
I want to document these trades as teachable moments because I think Volume Profile is an absolutely amazing tool that should be in ever trader's toolbox!
BUY, SELL, with Waves PART 1 Tutorial 30Min TF formula. Buy, Sell, and wave settings work with 30min TF for best results.
1. Wait for Buy
2. After the Buy label, the green Wave Confirms Entry BUY Above the orange and yellow waves.
3. Follow the green wave with candlesticks
4. Wait for the green wave to move underneath the orange and yellow waves to confirm by exiting the trade.
You may get a Sell signal before the green wave falls beneath the yellow and the orange waves. Does not mean you should exit (up to you) but I'll take the sell signal label as guidance knowing the green wave will fall beneath the orange and the yellow waves soon or the green wave will reverse.
Just like the buying signal, doesn't mean I should buy when the buying label appears but I should wait until the green wave moves above the yellow and the orange wave.
Anything else I might have missed, I'm not responsible. Backtest it, and do your research. This is not intended for financial advice. Agreeing to use this tutorial strategy, means you are solely making your own decisions to enter and exit a trade. You also agree not to hold me responsible in case of financial loss.
The Buy, Sell, and Waves have specific settings to make it work. I'm only sharing input settings for those who request along with indicator names. I'll private message you with them.
Any trader making changes to these two indicators must know, that trading is a risk and profits are not guaranteed. Nothing in trading is 100% guaranteed to win.
What I mean when I say "Activate an algorithm" - Quick TutorialThis should be helpful for anyone looking to understand further what I define as an activation of an algorithm.
This candle on the hourly is a beautiful example after my video this market where I said we want to see yellow "activated". It is basically proof that price is now respecting and following that algorithm/channel and this is so important to understand for my analysis and trading style.
Always here to answer further questions for those who are interested in learning more!
Happy Trading :)
Trade in a sideways marketMain price pattern of financial instruments
So, when we talk about the price of financial stuff, like stocks or crypto, it often moves in specific ranges over different timeframes, right? Whether it's weekly, daily, hourly, or even minute charts, prices tend to hang out in these ranges for a while. Traders call this kind of price movement "consolidation," "range-bound," or simply a "sideways market."
In this article, we'll just call it a sideways market or range. When prices are stuck in this sideways action, they can break out with a sudden burst of momentum, kickstarting a trend, or they might just keep bouncing around, forming a new sideways pattern.
Let's check out the daily chart of BTCUSDT starting from October 2021. On the chart (see above), we've marked those periods where the price was moving sideways with blue markers. Since October 2021, we've spotted 7 of these sideways patterns. We label the first point of each sideways move as "1". Out of 884 trading days, the price was stuck in this sideways action for 758 days (884 - 72 - 39 - 15), which makes up about 85%. This means that throughout this whole period, you could've been looking at trades from one edge of the sideways range to the other.
Based on my estimates, most financial instruments spend more than 75% of their time in this sideways market mode.
So, knowing how to trade in sideways markets is a super important skill for traders. And for investors, understanding these sideways moves can really amp up the profitability of their investments by pinpointing better entry and exit points.
For example, right now, considering buying BABA stocks might be a good idea because the price is chilling at the bottom of a sideways range on the weekly chart.
Example1
Mastering the Skills for Successful Trading in Sideways Market
Being able to effectively trade within trading ranges, between their boundaries, requires not only a certain amount of knowledge but also the development of specific skills. Initially, one must grasp the theoretical foundations and then apply them in practice, gradually honing their skills. Let's look at the necessary skills:
Skill 1: Understanding and applying the Concept of Time Frame (TF) Interconnection: higher TF, lower TF. Grasping the context of the higher TF in relation to the sideways market TF.
Skill 2: Identifying sideways market: determining the absolute and current boundaries of the range, as well as the current direction (vector) of price movement.
Skill 3: Recognizing zones of interest for buyers and sellers.
Skill 4: Determining the presence of buyers at the lower boundary (bottom protection by buyers) and sellers at the upper boundary (top protection by sellers).
Skill 5: Adhering to risk management principles when entering trades (especially crucial for traders).
Each of these skills is based on a vast amount of knowledge that needs to be absorbed first and then applied in practice. The journey can be long and sometimes tedious. Is there a way to hack this system and shorten the time it takes to acquire knowledge, develop skills, and start trading? Well, there are options. For example, you can use technical indicators (such as RSI, Bollinger Bands, ATR, etc.) to make buying or selling decisions. Or you could completely bypass the process of acquiring knowledge and skills and rely on signals from Telegram channels or expert opinions. But what will you find there about trading in sideways market (ranges), where the market spends more than 75% of its time?
This series of articles is written for those who are ready to take control of their financial destiny, who strive to understand how financial markets work, and who want to master the skills of independent trading and making more informed investment decisions. Here you will find the knowledge and tools to start understanding what is happening in the financial markets and how to profit from it. I don't promise any magic pills or "money" buttons:).
So, let's get started.
Skill 1: Applying the Concept of Time Frame Interconnection
The higher time frame (TF) always takes precedence over the lower one. For instance, if we observe on the daily chart that the market is in a seller's zone (which is determined by Skill 3), then on the hourly chart, we need to analyze the seller's actions (Skill 4) and primarily look for selling opportunities. However, there might be a situation where the seller is inactive, and the price starts to rise due to buyer pressure (in this case, Skill 4 comes into play again).
Example2
On the provided chart, areas of seller interest are marked in red, while buyer interest areas are marked in blue. Let's examine the period from March 25th to March 27th, highlighted in yellow on the chart.
On the daily TF, we observe sideways movement since December 22, 2023, with the bearish vector (11-12) being relevant. The first target of the bearish vector, 3.119, was reached on March 19, 2024. The second target (2.822) and the third (2.611) remain valid. On March 25th, the price returned to the seller's zone on the daily chart (the red zone with the lower boundary at 3.680).
On the hourly chart, on March 25th, the price trend reached the daily seller's zone and formed a range with 7 points. The breakout from this range occurred downwards on March 27th. Therefore, in this range, it was advisable to look for selling opportunities from the upper boundary and riskily consider buying from the lower one.
Similarly, you can make investment decisions by analyzing, for example, the weekly and daily TFs.
To be continued...
P.S. This is indeed an interesting point! Despite the fact that the market spends more than 75% of its time in sideways movement, indicators and strategies specifically designed for trading in this mode have not gained as much popularity as other trading approaches. Even on the internet, including TV and trading Telegram channels, signals or analyses based on identifying sideways movement are very rarely encountered. If you have experience or knowledge about trading methods in sideways markets (including indicators), please share them in the comments!
XAU - Understanding how to analyze Multiple Time FramesYes - This way of seeing price action works on any time frame and in any market -
Why? - Because it's using basic understanding of how the market works and utilizing these channels as a way to see the strength of buyers and sellers at any given price. In a way, it's a third eye (Price, Volume, Strength). Utilizing this alongside any indicators you'd like to add can lead you to real vision in the crazy and "unpredictable" world of trading.
I personally don't use any additional indicators aside from straight up Volume - and that's what works best for me. But if you can find confluence with any of the thousands of indicators out there, that's amazing and i'm sure you'll be able to find real success.
Hope this was helpful! And as always,
Happy Trading!
A further breakdown of how I read the market and all the "lines"Key words to understand:
- Tapering
- Liquidity
- Tapering
- Tapering
It's important to understand how liquidity plays a role in moving price and what it actually means. In order for price to make a solid move anywhere, there has to be liquidity built up for price to grab (use) to break out of strong resistance levels (i.e. levels with lots of sellers ready to short when price gets there).
Tapering is a way of seeing a lack of liquidity by a certain side - if we begin tapering from a strong buying channel to a less strong buying channel, it typically means we are lacking liquidity to break out of that strong selling level (i.e. the top of a more tapered channel acts as a level of resistance because the more tapered it is (or the more horizontal it is), the more it lines up for all sellers to get in at the same price win the battle.
This all makes so much sense to me and it is the key for you to unlock the market . To be able to tell a story in every chart and understand who is in charge, why there in charge, and what each side has to do in order to win their next battle.
Please reach out with any questions, comments, etc. I am here for you !
Happy Trading :)
Head and Shoulders Tutorial on Crude Oil ChartI have decided to start a short series of tutorials covering common instruments used in technical analysis.
In today's tutorial, we observe a successfully identified head and shoulders pattern on the 4-hour chart of Crude Oil, resulting in a substantial movement of around 17%.
Here's how to find the instrument: navigate to the left sidebar and select 'Patterns,' where you will find 'Head and Shoulders.'
Analyzing and trading correctly involve the following steps:
1) Both shoulders must form within a rising or falling trend. In the case of that Oil chart, we observe a rising trend, indicating a potential short position.
2) The size of the head becomes our target for take profit (TP), and upon reaching TP, we close 80% of the position.
3) Ideally, volumes at the right shoulder should decrease, and upon breaking, they should increase.
Risk Management Strategy:
1) Limit each trade to no more than 2% of your deposit.
2) Always utilize stop-loss and take-profit orders.
3) Never trade money you are not prepared to lose.
4) Start with small budgets.
It is crucial to emphasize that risk management must be adhered to whenever you engage in trading!
Register and trade stocks and crypto using my link with a discount on commissions: bingx.com/invite/E6RCUFJT
