Volume Patterns
Volume is used for two major purposes:
- To confirm price changes: if the start of a trend is not accompanied by an increase in volume it is considered to be weak and lacking commitment.
- To anticipate changes in price: increases in volume often precede changes in price. See Accumulation and Distribution for more detail.
Trading Signals
Trending Markets
Short-term
Trend confirmation:
- Rising prices and rising volume signal a healthy up-trend.
- Falling prices and rising volume signal a healthy down-trend.
Trend weakness:
- Rising prices and falling volume signal trend weakness.
- Falling prices and falling volume may signal trend weakness. See Low Volume in Down-trends for further details.
A large range with low volume indicates a lack of interest from sellers (if price is rising) or buyers (if price is falling).
Long-term
Trend confirmation:
- Higher peaks with higher volume at peaks signal a healthy up-trend.
- Lower troughs with higher volume at troughs signal a healthy down-trend.
Trend weakness:
- Higher peaks with lower volume at peaks signal that the up-trend is weakening.
- Lower troughs with lower volume at troughs signal that the down-trend is weakening.
Accumulation and Distribution
Accumulation and distribution indicate who is in control of the market and often signal a reversal.
Trading ranges represent longer term accumulation or distribution.
Accumulation
Accumulation is when the market is controlled by buyers.
A down-trend that stalls while volume remains high signals that accumulation is taking place. Sellers have lost control to buyers and a reversal is likely.
An Accumulation Day occurs when either:
- Volume increases (compared to yesterday) and closing price moves higher, or
- After trending downwards, there is little or no price movement and an increase in volume.
Distribution
Distribution is when the market is controlled by sellers.
An up-trend that stalls while volume remains high is a sign that distribution is taking place. Buyers have lost control to sellers and a reversal is likely.
A Distribution Day occurs when either:
- Volume increases (compared to yesterday) and closing price moves lower, or
- After trending upwards, there is little or no price movement and an increase in volume.
Breakouts
When price is trading in a range, volume may indicate in which direction a breakout is most likely to occur:
- Higher volume before (leading up to) peaks means that an upward breakout is more likely
- Higher volume before troughs indicates that a downward breakout is more likely
Use volume to confirm the breakout:
- High volume immediately after the breakout indicates a healthy breakout.
- Low volume immediately after the breakout indicates weakness.
Trend Climaxes
After a trend has made substantial gains, there is often a surge in price and volume which may signal that the trend is about to expire. Look out for:
- Spikes,
- Wide-ranging days,
- Exhaustion gaps, and/or
- Reversal signals.
Low Volume in Down-Trends
Low volumes do not necessarily signal the end of a down-trend. Commitment from buyers is necessary to drive up prices. Prices can fall due to a lack of interest from both buyers and sellers.