On-balance volume

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On-balance volume (OBV) is a technical analysis indicator intended to relate price and volume in the stock market. [1] OBV is based on a cumulative total volume. [2]

Contents

The formula

Because OBV is a cumulative result, the value of OBV depends upon the starting point of the calculation.

Application

Total volume for each day is assigned a positive or negative value depending on prices being higher or lower that day. A higher close results in the volume for that day to get a positive value, while a lower close results in negative value. [3] So, when prices are going up, OBV should be going up too, and when prices make a new rally high, then OBV should too. If OBV fails to go past its previous rally high, then this is a negative divergence, suggesting a weak move. [4]

The technique, originally called "continuous volume" by Woods and Vignola, was later named "on-balance volume" by Joseph Granville who popularized the technique in his 1963 book Granville's New Key to Stock Market Profits. [2] The index can be applied to stocks individually based upon their daily up or down close, or to the market as a whole, using breadth of market data, i.e. the advance/decline ratio. [2]

OBV is generally used to confirm price moves. [5] The idea is that volume is higher on days where the price move is in the dominant direction, for example in a strong uptrend there is more volume on up days than down days. [6]

Similar indicators

Other price × volume indicators:

See also

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References

  1. "What is the On-Balance Volume indicator and how to use it on Tuned?". Tuned. 2022-01-30. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
  2. 1 2 3 Joseph E. Granville, Granville's New Strategy of Daily Stock Market Timing for Maximum Profit, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1976. ISBN   0-13-363432-9
  3. On Balance Volume ( OBV ). 22 September 2007.
  4. OBV Behavioral Limitations and Formulas at Financial-edu.com.
  5. What Does On-Balance Volume Mean
  6. StockCharts.com article on On Balance Volume