9:15 to 9:45 AM; the opening TPO period that sets the tone for the day. The first 30 minutes of trading (9:15–9:45 AM) can provide important clues about the day's potential structure. Institutional participants often show their hand during A-period, making it crucial for identifying potential session direction and control.
When large volume is transacted with little price movement, indicating passive control by limit orders. Absorption is visible on Order Flow charts when large volume bars occur with minimal price movement. This indicates passive buying or selling via limit orders, often from larger market participants. Strong absorption can lead to exhaustion of the opposing party and potential reversal.
A price area where the market spends significant time and volume, forming value. Price acceptance is indicated by wide, developed profiles with substantial volume. When a market accepts a price level, it tends to spend time rotating around that area, forming what Market Profile refers to as “value”. Contrast this with rejection, which creates tails or single prints.
A Market Profile structure showing a missing TPO in a developing curve; often leads to revisit or fill. Anomalies in Market Profile are important signals that can lead to trading opportunities. When the profile shows gaps or missing TPOs, these areas often attract price in future sessions as the market seeks to “complete” the profile structure.
The basic process of price discovery in the market through the interaction of buyers and sellers. The auction process is fundamental to all markets. It represents how buyers and sellers interact to determine fair value. In Market Profile, auctions move between balance and imbalance states as the market seeks price discovery.
9:45 to 10:15 AM; used to confirm the open and signal continuation or rejection. B-period often reveals whether the directional move from A-period will continue or reverse. When A and B periods move in the same direction, it frequently indicates a potential trend day forming. When B-period reverses A-period, expect more balance or rotational behavior.
A state where buyers and sellers are in equilibrium, resulting in a sideways market. Balance areas form when neither buyers nor sellers can gain control. These zones typically display horizontal development in the profile with a prominent Point of Control. Balance areas often resolve with breakouts once initiative participants enter the market with conviction.
A move beyond a reference point (IBH, IBL, Value Area) that shows potential new direction. True breakouts display strong volume, initiative participation, and follow-through beyond key levels. Failed breakouts often show poor volume and quickly reverse, creating opportunities for fade trades. Context matters when trading breakouts—consider the broader structure and day type.
A single TPO or thin structure at the low that signals aggressive buying rejection. Buying tails form when price explores lower but is quickly rejected due to aggressive buying interest. Look for tails with minimal time spent (few TPOs) but strong volume, indicating initiative buying. These structures often mark meaningful support levels for future trading sessions.
Indicates long liquidation; strong selling early, but buying interest at lower levels. The b-shaped profile visually resembles the letter “b” and indicates an initial drop followed by accumulation at lower prices. This pattern often emerges when early sellers exhaust themselves, creating buying opportunities for value-based participants. Look for this structure to potentially resolve to the upside in future sessions.
10:15 to 10:45 AM; often shows late majority entries, dubbed the “Dhokha” (trap) period at Vtrender. The C-period often attracts less-informed participants who chase the initial move, potentially creating reversal opportunities. Called “Dhokha” (meaning deception) by some traders, this period frequently traps late entrants before the real move occurs. Pay attention to volume and acceptance in this period to identify potential traps.
An Orderflow measure indicating who is in control (buyers vs sellers). In Order Flow analysis, COT measures whether buyers or sellers are more aggressive in a given period. This is determined by analyzing whether trades are executed at the bid (selling pressure) or ask (buying pressure). A series of positive COT bars indicates sustained buyer control and potential continuation higher.
A multi-day profile used to evaluate long-term value and structure. Composite profiles merge multiple trading sessions into a single profile display, revealing longer-term value areas and significant support/resistance zones. These multi-day profiles help identify virgin POCs, multi-session value, and potential institutional interest levels across a broader time horizon.
A movement that extends beyond prior levels, confirming a directional bias. Continuation moves show sustained conviction beyond reference points like the Initial Balance or previous day Value Area. Look for strong Order Flow signals like stacked imbalances and absorption at key levels to confirm true continuation vs a false breakout. Volume should increase during genuine continuation moves.
10:45 to 11:15 AM; critical for confirming IB breaks or failed moves. As the final period of the Initial Balance, D-period often reveals whether a directional move will continue or reverse. When price breaks the Initial Balance during D-period, pay close attention to volume and follow-through to distinguish between true breakouts and false moves that may quickly reverse.
Indicates a balanced day; rotational trading around a fair value zone. The D-shaped profile resembles a bell curve with most activity concentrated around a central value area. This indicates a balanced, two-sided market with neither buyers nor sellers gaining control. These profiles often form on low-volume, rotational days and represent equilibrium pricing.
The price with the highest volume during the current session. The DPOC is a dynamic level that evolves throughout the session as volume accumulates. This level often acts as intraday support/resistance, with price frequently rotating around it in balanced conditions. Monitor how price behaves when revisiting the DPOC—rejection vs acceptance provides important clues about market structure.
A trend day that pauses mid-session before moving into a new balance zone. Double Distribution days show two distinct value areas separated by a thin, poorly developed region (often single prints). This structure indicates a strong directional move that created a new value area. These days often display a “p” or “b” shaped profile and can provide future magnets for price.
A strong, directional open with conviction and institutional activity. An Open Drive is characterized by consistent, one-sided action from the market open with minimal pullbacks. These moves typically indicate institutional participation and often continue for extended ranges. Look for strong initial volume, continuous TPO arrangement, and minimal overlap to identify true drive conditions.
11:15 to 11:45 AM; part of IB development, confirms early directional behavior. E-period reveals how the market responds following the Initial Balance formation. Strong continuation during this period often indicates a developing trend day. Conversely, rotation back into the IB suggests a more balanced session ahead. Pay attention to the relationship between E-period and the established IB range.
A market’s rejection from a price area, seen as a tail or spike with little follow-through. Excess represents price discovery that was quickly rejected by the market. These structures appear as tails or single prints and often indicate important support/resistance levels. When excess forms at range extremes, it frequently signals exhaustion and potential reversal of the preceding move.
Price movement beyond the Initial Balance, indicating directional conviction. Extensions are measured in multiples of the Initial Balance range (1 IB, 2 IB, etc.). Markets typically extend 1–2 IB on normal trend days, while stronger trends may reach 3+ IB extensions. The ease with which price extends beyond the IB offers insight into the strength of the controlling party (buyers or sellers).
A counter-directional trade taken against momentum, usually near extremes where responsive buyers or sellers are expected to show up. Fade trades work best at structural extremes or after excessive momentum. These counter-trend entries require precise timing and clear invalidation levels. Look for exhaustion signals in Order Flow (absorption, buying/selling tails, volume climax) to identify optimal fade locations with favorable risk–reward profiles.
A market move that attempts to break beyond a reference level (like IBH/IBL) but quickly reverses within 30 minutes, signaling rejection. A true FA often leads price to travel to the other end of the IB — e.g., a failure at IBL followed by a move above IBH. Failed Auctions provide high-probability trading opportunities as they often lead to sharp reversals. Look for price to break a key reference level but with poor volume or participation, followed by rejection. These failures frequently result in moves to the opposite extreme, making them valuable for swing entries and trend identification.
A buffer value (e.g., 3–5 points in Nifty) added beyond a key level like IBH or an IS bar high/low to confirm breakout or stop loss placement. Filters help distinguish between genuine breakouts and false moves around key levels. The appropriate filter size varies by instrument volatility — larger for high-volatility markets, smaller for calmer conditions. Applying proper filters reduces false signals while maintaining reasonable risk parameters, especially in choppy market conditions.
The real-time sequence of executed buy and sell orders that reveals immediate buyer/seller intent and market aggression. Order Flow reveals the microstructure of market activity by showing the sequence, size, and aggression of executed trades. By analyzing patterns like absorption, stacked imbalances, and volume distribution within price bars, traders can identify potential continuation or reversal scenarios before they appear in traditional charts.
A visual representation of traded volume at each price level inside a bar, helping identify control and imbalance. Footprint charts display volume at each price level within a bar, often color-coded to show buyer/seller aggression. These charts reveal important microstructure details like absorption, exhaustion, and trapped participants. Key footprint patterns include diagonal imbalances (showing aggressive directional flow) and high-volume absorption zones (potential reversal areas).
The 12:15–12:45 PM time slot in Market Profile; statistically known for forming intraday highs or lows. G-period coincides with lunchtime in many markets and often displays reduced volume and volatility. Statistically, this period frequently forms intraday extremes as institutional participation wanes. Movements during G-period should be monitored for potential reversals as afternoon sessions begin and primary participants return.
The rate of change of delta in options pricing; though not a core MP/OF concept, it impacts short-term volatility and institutional hedging. While not strictly a Market Profile concept, gamma has significant influence on intraday market behavior through dealer hedging flows. High gamma environments can amplify volatility as options dealers hedge positions, creating self-reinforcing price movements. Understanding key gamma levels provides context for potential support/resistance and volatility expansion/contraction zones.
A price area at the open where no volume is traded between two sessions, typically reflecting imbalance from the prior close; must be interpreted in context (gap and go, or gap fade). Gaps represent overnight order imbalance and often provide important context for the trading session. Unfilled gaps create “windows” in the profile that frequently attract price in future sessions. Small gaps within previous day’s range often fill, while larger gaps outside prior structure may indicate strong continuation (gap and go) when supported by follow-through volume.
In Order Flow, a bar showing net COT (Commitment of Traders) positive — net buyer aggression; should be interpreted along with POC position and volume strength. Green bars in Order Flow indicate net buying aggression (more trades executed at the ask than the bid). The intensity of color typically represents the degree of imbalance. For optimal interpretation, analyze these bars in context with volume, POC location, and market structure, as isolated green bars without supporting context can lead to false signals.
Slow, directionless price movement common on Normal days; reflects a rotational market with locals in control and no initiative presence. Grinding price action indicates a lack of directional conviction and typically occurs in balanced markets dominated by short-term traders. These conditions create poor reward-to-risk opportunities for directional traders but can benefit range-bound strategies. Reduced position size and wider stop placement are often necessary during grinding phases.
A price level where a large chunk of volume has traded; suggests prior acceptance and potential hesitation in the future. High Volume Nodes represent significant agreement between buyers and sellers at a specific price. These nodes often act as support/resistance when revisited, as participants who missed opportunities at these levels often reenter. Multiple sessions with overlapping HVNs create especially strong reference points for future trading decisions. Volumes at this level are almost similar to VPOC. Generally marked as thick Brown band on profiles wherever applicable.
Structure defining an uptrend in price action; often used in conjunction with trend day identification. The formation of higher highs and higher lows provides structural confirmation of uptrend conditions. In Market Profile analysis, these structures should be supported by migration of value areas and POCs in the trend direction. Look for acceptance (time spent) at new levels rather than just brief price touches to confirm genuine trend development.
A quick-entry, short-duration trade typically taken near known edges or volume clusters; aims to capture small, high-probability moves. Hit & Run trades capitalize on short-term inefficiencies at structural edges. These trades typically target quick profits with tight risk parameters, often executed near failed auctions, excess formations, or major support/resistance levels. While individual profits may be modest, the high win rate and reduced exposure time make this approach valuable for consistent performance.
A condition where price revisits and respects the day's developing point of control (DPOC), indicating balance or stalling momentum. When price returns to the DPOC and respects it (bounces from it), this indicates the level is significant for the session's auction. Multiple tests of the DPOC that hold suggest the market is in balance, while a breach of the DPOC after multiple tests often leads to accelerated movement as the market seeks new value.
A pre-market scenario or trade plan for how the day may unfold, usually derived from past structure, open type, and potential flow zones. Developing multiple trading hypotheses before the session begins helps traders avoid biased thinking and react objectively to market conditions. Effective hypotheses include specific conditions for validation/invalidation and clear trade management rules for each scenario. This approach transforms reactive trading into a structured, probability-based process.
Historical Volatility. These values are measured using statistical analysis of daily basis price changes on different parameters and metrics.
Hybrid Value Area. TPO based VA and Volume based VWAP (TPO-VAH / TPO-VAL / TPOC, VWAP) are displayed on profiles in Market Profile charts with this setting.
The range formed during the first hour of trade (9:15–10:15 AM); provides structure for the rest of the session. The Initial Balance establishes the day's early auction range and serves as a critical reference for subsequent price action. Wide IB ranges often indicate high volatility and potential range days, while narrow IB formations may precede trend development or breakouts. Many traders use IB extensions (1.5 IB, 2 IB) as profit targets for trend day scenarios.
Initiative Buying or Selling seen within the 30-minute period, strong signal of directional conviction. Initiative Buying or Selling is referred to as IB and IS. When it happens within a 30-minute window or timeframe it is called an IB30 or an IS30. If happens in a 3 minute time frame it is called an IB3 or IS3 or an IB5 or IS5. The IB and IS provides strong evidence of directional conviction. These moves typically show aggressive participation from seasoned traders of the markets and often predict further extension in the same direction. Look for strong volume and COT to confirm genuine initiative activity.
Initial Balance High/Low; breakout above/below signals potential momentum; common FA reference points. The high and low of the Initial Balance period serve as primary reference points for the trading session. Breakouts beyond these levels with strong volume suggest directional conviction, while failed breaks often lead to moves toward the opposite extreme. Many trend day scenarios begin with a decisive break of IBH/IBL followed by continued extension.
A skew in buy vs. sell volumes (typically on the diagonal in Order Flow), suggesting control by one party and potential continuation. Order Flow imbalances reveal aggressive participation by either buyers or sellers and frequently precede directional moves. Imbalances appear as diagonal patterns in footprint charts, with volume concentrating on either the bid (selling pressure) or ask (buying pressure) side. Multiple consecutive imbalances in the same direction signal strong conviction and potential continuation.
Aggressive entry by buyers/sellers beyond value areas, often triggering follow-through moves and indicating control. Initiative activity occurs when participants aggressively enter positions beyond established value, showing willingness to buy high or sell low. This behavior contrasts with responsive action (buying low, selling high) and typically drives trend development. Initiative control is confirmed by acceptance at new levels rather than immediate rejection back to value.
Implied Volatility. This value is Implied Volatility of an Option price of a given strike at a given time.
The 1:45–2:15 PM time slot; used to assess afternoon continuation or reversal setups, especially when paired with K (2:15–2:45 PM). The J period marks the beginning of afternoon trading patterns and often reveals whether morning trends will continue or reverse. This period frequently shows renewed interest from institutional participants after lunch hour lulls. When analyzed alongside the K period, these timeframes provide valuable insight into potential closing direction and strength.
Aggressive push in price to trigger stop losses and shake out weak hands before reversing; often spotted with sudden volume spikes or O-prints. Stop hunting moves are characterized by sharp, sudden price thrusts beyond obvious technical levels, followed by immediate reversal once stops are triggered. These manipulative patterns frequently occur near session extremes or before significant directional moves. Order Flow often reveals these intentions through brief volume spikes followed by immediate absorption in the opposite direction.
Entering a trade too early without confirmation from Order Flow or structural cues; increases risk of false starts. Jumping the gun represents a common trading error where positions are established before proper confirmation signals appear. This behavior often stems from FOMO (fear of missing out) and typically leads to poor entry prices or outright failed trades. Discipline in waiting for confluence between Market Profile structure and Order Flow confirmation improves entry quality.
A poorly developed profile with thin structure and low volume; typically lacks conviction and is prone to reversals. Junk auctions display thin, poorly developed profile structure with minimal participation and low volume. These patterns indicate low-quality price discovery and often lead to sharp reversals when genuine participation returns. Trading in junk auction conditions requires extra caution due to potential liquidity gaps and erratic price movement.
The market period from 2:15 PM to 2:45 PM. Known as the “Killer Period” where the market often shows decisive moves toward the close, revealing control shifts. The K period earned its “Killer” nickname due to its tendency to reveal true market direction heading into the close. This period often shows decisive moves after afternoon consolidation, with stronger participants asserting control as the session matures. Failed moves during K period frequently lead to sharp reversals, making it a critical timeframe for position management.
Important market levels like IBH/IBL, previous day high/low, or DPOC, which traders monitor for breakout or rejection behavior. Key Reference Levels provide structural anchors for trading decisions. Effective traders maintain a hierarchy of these levels, prioritizing those with multiple confirming factors (e.g., a level that is both yesterday’s high and a multi-day volume node). How price behaves at these references—immediate rejection, slow acceptance, or strong continuation—reveals valuable information about market control and intent.
A term for when price returns repeatedly to the VWAP, indicating mean reversion and indecision. Repeated tests of the Volume Weighted Average Price indicate a balanced market seeking fair value. This “kissing” behavior often occurs in rotational conditions when neither buyers nor sellers can establish control. Trading strategies can exploit these patterns through mean-reversion approaches, with entries on deviations from VWAP and targets back toward this average value.
The time period from 2:45 PM to 3:15 PM. This is often when trend days either continue or stall before close; significant for visualizing the day's final narrative. The L period reveals the market's behavior heading into the final phase of trading. On trend days, this period often shows continued extension in the primary direction as late participants chase the move. On balanced days, L period may display profit-taking and position squaring ahead of the close. This period is crucial for determining end-of-day trade management decisions.
A participant entering late into a move, often opposite to early majority. Typically trapped in failing trades. Lagging participants enter positions after significant price movement has already occurred, often driven by emotional decision-making rather than structural analysis. These late entrants frequently become trapped when the move exhausts, creating fuel for reversals. Identifying potential areas where lagging participants may enter helps anticipate exhaustion points in trending moves.
A zone with thin structure and minimal traded volume, where price moves rapidly due to absence of limit orders. Liquidity vacuums appear as areas with minimal historical trading activity in the profile. When price enters these zones, it typically moves rapidly due to the absence of resting limit orders. These vacuums often form above poor highs or below poor lows, between separated distribution areas, or in gaps between trading sessions, creating opportunities for momentum-based strategies.
The final trading period from 3:15 PM to 3:30 PM. Known for forced exits, volatility spikes, and margin-driven closing moves. The final trading period often displays heightened volatility as day traders exit positions and overnight traders establish new ones. This period frequently shows exaggerated moves that may not reflect genuine auction discovery. Caution is warranted during M period, particularly when entering new positions, as liquidity may be reduced and price movement more erratic than during regular session hours.
A framework to visualize time-price opportunity via letters (TPOs) that display auction behavior and market structure across time. Developed by J. Peter Steidlmayer at the Chicago Board of Trade, Market Profile provides a dimensional view of market activity by mapping time at price. This visualization reveals the auction process, showing where the market spent time (opportunity) rather than just price extremes. By identifying value areas, poor structures, and acceptance/rejection zones, Market Profile helps traders understand the “why” behind price movement.
A tendency for price to return to VWAP or DPOC after excess or imbalance; common in Normal or Normal Variation Days. Mean reversion occurs as markets oscillate between periods of extension and return to value. This behavior is particularly common in balanced markets, where price frequently tests extremes before returning to central value areas like VWAP or the developing POC. Mean reversion strategies perform best in rotational environments but should be avoided during strong trend days or when markets are establishing new value areas.
Vtrender tool to visualize near-the-money options volume dynamically; helps track option trader interest. Near-the-money option volume visualization helps identify levels where significant hedging activity may impact underlying price action. These charts reveal potential support/resistance created by option positioning, particularly near expiration dates. By monitoring changes in NTM volume patterns, traders can anticipate potential pinning behavior or volatility expansion when options-driven liquidity enters or exits the market.
A Point of Control (POC) that hasn't been visited again after being established; acts as a magnet for future price. Naked POCs remain “unrepaired” from previous sessions and represent significant volume nodes that never received a revisit. These levels act as powerful magnets for future price discovery, often providing support/resistance when approached. The older a naked POC, the more significant its potential influence, as it represents unfinished business in the auction process.
A day when the market breaks both IBH and IBL, showing indecision; useful to observe for failed auctions. Neutral days reveal a market testing both directional extremes without establishing clear control. These sessions often provide excellent opportunities for failed auction trades, as the market attempts moves in both directions before finding resolution. The sequence of breakouts (which extreme was tested first) provides context for potential day-end direction and next-day follow-through.
Market opens within the prior day's range and exhibits two-way rotation, suggesting balance. When markets open within the previous session's range and show two-sided trading, it typically indicates a balanced market with no overnight catalysts. These opens often lead to rotational trading days where the market seeks to develop value within established ranges. Range openings require patience from traders, as directional moves may develop more slowly compared to Out of Range scenarios.
Opening outside the prior day's range; signals potential for volatility and imbalance. When price opens beyond the previous session's range, it indicates significant overnight repositioning or new information affecting market perception. These openings often lead to trend days or volatile sessions as the market explores new territory. Out of Range opens require careful observation of the first hour's behavior to determine whether the move will continue (trend) or reject (fade).
A strong directional open where price moves swiftly without testing prior references; signals institutional participation. Open Drive conditions show immediate conviction from the session's start, with price moving directionally on strong volume without testing prior references. This pattern typically indicates institutional participation and often leads to trend day scenarios. The absence of early two-sided trade suggests a significant imbalance between buyers and sellers that may persist throughout the session.
Market opens, tests a prior reference, and then drives in the opposite direction with conviction. The Open Test Drive pattern reveals a deliberate price exploration followed by rejection and strong movement in the opposite direction. This behavior often indicates calculated institutional positioning rather than emotional reaction. The initial test serves to evaluate liquidity at the reference level before establishing the primary directional move with greater conviction.
A charting method showing executed trades (not just orders) to reveal real-time buyer/seller control within candles. Order Flow analytics display actual executed transactions rather than just price movement, revealing who is in control at the micro level. By analyzing trade execution at bid vs. ask, trade size, and speed, traders can identify aggressive buying/selling before it appears in traditional charts. This data helps determine whether price movement is driven by active (market orders) or passive (limit orders) participants.
A profile showing short covering; excess volume builds at the top after a narrow base. The P-shaped profile visually resembles the letter “p” and indicates an initial upward move followed by significant activity at higher levels. This pattern typically forms when short-covering accelerates a move higher, creating a bulge of activity at the top of the range. P-profiles often indicate potential buying exhaustion and may offer fade opportunities once the short-covering phase completes.
The price level where the highest volume traded for the session; often serves as support/resistance. The Point of Control represents the market's most accepted price for a given session, where the highest volume traded. This level frequently acts as support/resistance when revisited in current or future sessions. The relationship between consecutive POCs (migrating higher/lower) helps identify developing trends, while horizontal POCs suggest balanced conditions.
A minor high or low formed during a trend; useful for validating trend continuation or failure. Pullback structures form natural retracements within trending markets and provide important clues about trend strength. In healthy uptrends, pullback lows should form higher than previous pullback lows (and vice versa for downtrends). When a pullback violates a previous extreme, it often signals potential trend exhaustion or reversal requiring reassessment of directional bias.
Statistical analysis used in Market Profile/Order Flow to estimate extension targets (e.g., 2IB range). Quantitative analysis in Market Profile uses statistical measurements like Initial Balance extensions, Value Area percentages, and volume distribution to identify potential targets and support/resistance zones. These objective measurements help traders set realistic profit targets and stop levels based on market structure rather than arbitrary price points. Common quantitative references include 1.5 IB and 2 IB extensions.
A condition with low volume and rotational behavior, often forming balanced profiles and compressed ranges. Quiet markets display reduced participation, narrow ranges, and primarily rotational behavior. These conditions often occur during holiday periods, ahead of major announcements, or during institutional absence. Trading approaches should adapt to these environments by reducing position size, widening profit targets, and focusing on shorter timeframe opportunities within the compressed range.
When price moves beyond the IBH or IBL, indicating directional conviction or shift in control. Range extensions beyond the Initial Balance reveal which side (buyers or sellers) has gained control following the day's opening phase. Early, strong extensions with high volume often lead to trend days, while late or weak extensions may indicate false breakouts prone to reversal.
Sharp price reversal from a level with little volume traded; signals poor auction quality and potential turn. Rejections appear as single prints or thin profile areas and often lead to moves in the opposite direction as the market seeks levels where two-sided trade can develop.
Buying activity that responds to lower prices (buys weakness); halts seller control temporarily. Responsive buying often appears at support levels or profile lows but must transition into initiative buying for a true reversal.
Selling activity that responds to higher prices (sells strength); temporary resistance to buyer control. Responsive selling typically appears at resistance levels or profile highs and may trigger short-term retracements without reversing the broader trend.
Alternating up and down movement in price; typically seen in balanced or non-trend days. Rotational markets favor fade strategies at range extremes rather than breakout anticipation.
Price areas with only one TPO print; represent poor auction and often get revisited. Single prints indicate unfinished business and frequently act as weak spots in market structure.
A Vtrender term for representing gamma-based option ranges, helping traders anticipate expected move limits. Spectrum bands often act as support or resistance due to options dealer activity.
A proprietary Vtrender indicator measuring the pace of trades; faster readings imply aggressive market moves. Accelerating readings often precede momentum, while deceleration may signal exhaustion.
Multiple aggressive trades in the same direction on consecutive price levels; strong Order Flow signal. Stacked imbalances indicate strong conviction and often precede accelerated price movement.
The market’s form as seen in the profile (e.g., poor high, weak low); helps judge auction quality. Poor structure often leads to future revisits as the market seeks repair.
A unit of time spent at a price (typically 30 minutes per letter); forms the Market Profile. TPOs reveal where the market spent time, offering deeper context than price-only charts.
Time (or TPO) based Point of Control. The price where time spent by the market was highest during the concerned period.
Time (or TPO) Weighted Average Price. Center price where time spent by the market was equal above and below that level.
Time (or TPO) based Value Area High. Marked as the upper level of the TPO-based Value Area shaded region.
Time (or TPO) based Value Area Low. Marked as the lower level of the TPO-based Value Area shaded region.
Time (or TPO) based Value Area. TPO-VAH / TPO-VAL / TPOC / TWAP are displayed on profiles with this setting.
Single prints at the high or low of the day; show strong rejection and potential excess. Tails often mark important support or resistance.
A day that opens at one end and closes near the opposite extreme, with little overlap; strong directional intent.
A cluster of both buying and selling imbalances appearing together on Order Flow; signals intense battle zones and potential control shifts.
A profile with missing elements like excess or DPOC–VWAP convergence; signals poor quality auction and often leads to future revisits.
A prior value area where price has not returned; often acts as a magnet or barrier for future price movement.
Price range where 70% of volume traded; key reference for understanding current market perception.
When a market opens above or below a Value Area, often referred to as the 80% Rule, indicating high probability of rotation through value if acceptance occurs.
Volume-based Value Area High. Marked as the upper level of the Value Area shaded region.
Volume-based Value Area Low. Marked as the lower level of the Value Area shaded region.
A POC from a previous session that has not been revisited; considered a high-probability price magnet.
A grouping of high volume levels across multiple bars; signals consolidation or absorption zones.
Volume-based Point of Control. Price at which volume was highest during the concerned time period.
Volume Weighted Average Price. Average price of all trades taken in the concerned time period, weighted by volume.
Volume-based Value Area. VAH / VAL / VPOC / VWAP are displayed on profiles with this setting.
A profile top or bottom with multiple TPOs lined up; shows no initiative action and is prone to break. Weak highs or lows appear as flat edge formations in the profile, with multiple TPOs aligned horizontally rather than forming a gradual curve. These structures indicate poor auction discovery at extremes and lack of initiative rejection, making them vulnerable to future breakouts. Contrast these with strong highs/lows, which show single prints or tails indicating decisive rejection.
Indicates heavy rotation and lack of conviction; often seen during balance or transition phases. Wide Value Areas develop when price spends significant time rotating across an extended range, creating a broad, balanced profile. These formations typically indicate two-sided, rotational markets with neither buyers nor sellers establishing clear control. Trading approaches should adapt to these conditions, recognizing that breakouts may be less sustainable and mean reversion strategies often perform better than momentum approaches.
Time representation on chart.
Return generated from trading.
Area of interest rather than a single price.
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