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Mastering Inverse Fair Value Gaps (IFVG) - How to use them?In this guide, I’ll explain the concept of the Inverse Fair Value Gap (IFVG), how it forms, and how you can use it to identify high-probability trading opportunities. You'll learn how to spot the IFVG on a chart, understand their significance in price action, and apply a simple strategy to trade them effectively. What will be discussed? - What is a FVG - What is an IFVG - What is a bullish IFVG - What is a bearish IFVG - How to trade the IFVG ------------------------------- What is a FVG? A FVG is a technical concept used by traders to identify inefficiencies in price movement on a chart. The idea behind a fair value gap is that during periods of strong momentum, price can move so quickly that it leaves behind a "gap" where not all buy and sell orders were able to be executed efficiently. This gap creates an imbalance in the market, which price may later revisit in an attempt to rebalance supply and demand. A fair value gap is typically observed within a sequence of three candles (or bars). The first candle marks the beginning of a strong move. The second candle shows a significant directional push, either bullish or bearish, often with a long body indicating strong momentum. The third candle continues in the direction of the move, opening and closing beyond the range of the first candle. The fair value gap itself is defined by the price range between the high of the first candle and the low of the third candle (in the case of a bullish move), or between the low of the first candle and the high of the third (in a bearish move). This range represents the area of imbalance or inefficiency. ------------------------------- What is an IFVG? An Inverse Fair Value Gap (IFVG) occurs when a traditional Fair Value Gap (FVG) is not respected by price, and instead of acting as a support or resistance zone, price breaks through it with strength. Normally, a Fair Value Gap represents a price imbalance left by a strong move, and when price returns to this area, it often reacts by respecting the gap, bouncing off it or reversing, because it's seen as a high-probability level where orders may rest. However, in the case of an IFVG, price does not respect this imbalance. Instead, it slices through the FVG in the opposite direction, showing that the initial momentum behind the imbalance has weakened or reversed. This breach is a strong indication that market sentiment is shifting. What was once a zone of strength now becomes invalid, and this failed reaction signals that the opposite side of the market (buyers or sellers) has taken control. The IFVG highlights a key transition in momentum. It tells traders that the prior bias, bullish or bearish, is breaking down, and the new dominant force is pushing price beyond levels that would typically hold. This makes the IFVG useful not only as a sign of failed structure but also as a potential confirmation of a trend reversal or strong continuation in the opposite direction. Essentially, where an FVG usually acts as a wall, an IFVG is what’s left after that wall gets knocked down. ------------------------------- What is a bullish IFVG? A bullish Inverse Fair Value Gap (IFVG) occurs when price breaks through a bearish Fair Value Gap (FVG) instead of respecting it. In a typical bearish FVG, the expectation is that when price retraces into the gap, it will react to the imbalance, usually by reversing lower, as the area represents previous selling pressure or inefficiency caused by aggressive sellers. However, when price does not react bearishly and instead breaks cleanly through the bearish FVG, it signals a shift in market sentiment and momentum. This breakout through the imbalance suggests that buyers are now in control and that the bearish pressure in that zone has been absorbed or invalidated. What was once considered a resistance area is now being overpowered, often leading to continued bullish movement. ------------------------------- What is a bearish IFVG? A bearish Inverse Fair Value Gap (IFVG) occurs when price breaks through a bullish Fair Value Gap (FVG) instead of respecting it. In a normal bullish FVG, the expectation is that when price returns to the gap, it will act as support and prompt a move higher, as this area represents a previous imbalance created by strong buying pressure. However, when price fails to respect the bullish FVG and instead breaks down through it, this signals a shift in momentum to the downside. The anticipated support fails to hold, suggesting that buyers are no longer in control or that their efforts have been overwhelmed by aggressive selling. This kind of move transforms the bullish FVG into a bearish signal, as it confirms weakness in what was previously considered a demand zone. ------------------------------- How to trade the IFVG? Trading the Inverse Fair Value Gap (IFVG) requires patience, precision, and clear confirmation of a shift in momentum. The process involves waiting for key conditions to form before entering a trade. Here's how to approach it step-by-step: First, you need to wait for a liquidity sweep. This means price must take out a recent high or low, typically a short-term liquidity pool, trapping traders on the wrong side of the market. This sweep sets the stage for a potential reversal and indicates that the market is ready to shift direction. After the liquidity sweep, watch for a 1-minute Fair Value Gap (FVG) to form and then get broken in the opposite direction. This break is crucial, it’s what creates the Inverse Fair Value Gap. The invalidation of this initial FVG confirms that momentum has switched and that the market is no longer respecting the previous imbalance. Once the IFVG has formed, your entry comes on the close of the candle that breaks and closes beyond the IFVG, above it in a bullish scenario, or below it in a bearish one. This close confirms that the gap has not held and that price is likely to continue in the new direction. Place your stop loss below the low (for a bullish setup) or above the high (for a bearish setup) of the structure that formed the IFVG. This gives you protection just beyond the level that would invalidate the setup. ------------------------------- Thanks for your support. - Make sure to follow me so you don't miss out on the next analysis! - Drop a like and leave a comment!
Education
by Youriverse
49
Fair Value Gap (FVG) in Crypto: The Complete Guide🔸Introduction: In financial markets in general—and the crypto market in particular—understanding market liquidity and imbalance zones is essential for building successful trading strategies. One of the most prominent modern price analysis concepts, especially within the Smart Money Concepts (SMC) framework, is the Fair Value Gap (FVG). This refers to a price imbalance between buyers and sellers. 🔸What is the Fair Value Gap (FVG)? A Fair Value Gap is an area on the price chart that shows an imbalance between supply and demand. It occurs when the price moves rapidly in one direction without being fairly traded within a balanced price range. This usually happens due to the entry of large players or “smart money,” creating a gap between three consecutive candlesticks on the chart. Classic Bullish FVG Setup: Candle 1: A bearish or neutral candle. Candle 2: A strong bullish candle (usually large). Candle 3: A bullish or neutral candle. 🔸Where is the Gap? The gap lies between the high of candle 1 and the low of candle 3. If candle 3 does not touch the high of candle 1, an unfilled price gap (FVG) is present. 🔸How is FVG Used in Market Analysis? Traders use Fair Value Gaps as potential areas for: Entering trades when the price returns to retest the gap. Identifying zones of institutional interest. Setting potential targets for price movement. 🔸Common Scenario: If a strong bullish candle creates a Fair Value Gap, the price often returns later to retest that gap before continuing its upward movement. The gap can be considered "delayed demand" or "delayed supply". 🔸🔸Types of FVG:🔸🔸 🔸Bullish FVG: Indicates strong buying pressure. The price is expected to return to the gap, then bounce upwards. 🔸Bearish FVG: Indicates strong selling pressure. The price is expected to return to the gap, then continue downward. 🔸Relationship Between FVG and Liquidity: Fair Value Gaps are often linked to untapped liquidity zones, where buy or sell orders have not yet been fulfilled. When the price returns to these areas: Institutional orders are activated. The price is pushed again in the primary direction. 🔸How to Trade Using FVG (Simple Entry Plan): Steps: Identify the overall trend (bullish or bearish). Observe the formation of an FVG in the same direction. Wait for the price to return and test the gap. Look for entry confirmation (like a reversal candle or a supporting indicator). Set your stop loss below or above the gap. Take profit at a previous structure level or the next FVG. 🔸🔸Real-World Examples (Simplified):🔸🔸 🔸Bullish Example: A strong bullish candle appears on BTC/USD. A gap forms between $74K and $80K. The price rises to $108K, then returns to 74K$ (inside the gap). From there, it begins to rise again. 🔸Important Tips When Using FVG: Don’t rely on FVGs alone—combine them with: -Market Structure. -Support and resistance zones. -Confirmation indicators like RSI or Volume Profile. -Best used on higher timeframes (15m, 1H, 4H, Daily). -The gap can be filled the same day or after days/weeks. 🔸Conclusion The Fair Value Gap is a powerful analytical tool used to identify zones of institutional interest. It plays a key role in the toolset of professional traders who follow smart money principles. By mastering this concept, traders can improve entry and exit timing, reduce risk, and increase their chances of success. Best regards Ceciliones🎯
Education
by ceciliones
35
Mastering Fair Value Gaps (FVG) - How to use them in trading?In this guide, I’ll explain the concept of the Fair Value Gap (FVG), how it forms, and how you can use it to identify high-probability trading opportunities. You'll learn how to spot FVGs on a chart, understand their significance in price action, and apply a simple strategy to trade them effectively. What will be explained: - What is a FVG? - How can a FVG occur? - What is a bullish FVG? - What is a bearish FVG? - How to trade a FVG? ------------------------------- What is a FVG? A FVG is a technical concept used by traders to identify inefficiencies in price movement on a chart. The idea behind a fair value gap is that during periods of strong momentum, price can move so quickly that it leaves behind a "gap" where not all buy and sell orders were able to be executed efficiently. This gap creates an imbalance in the market, which price may later revisit in an attempt to rebalance supply and demand. A fair value gap is typically observed within a sequence of three candles (or bars). The first candle marks the beginning of a strong move. The second candle shows a significant directional push, either bullish or bearish, often with a long body indicating strong momentum. The third candle continues in the direction of the move, opening and closing beyond the range of the first candle. The fair value gap itself is defined by the price range between the high of the first candle and the low of the third candle (in the case of a bullish move), or between the low of the first candle and the high of the third (in a bearish move). This range represents the area of imbalance or inefficiency. ------------------------------- How can a FVG occur? There are several factors that can trigger a fair value gap - Economic news and announcements - Earnings reports - Market sentiment - Supply and demand imbalances ------------------------------- What is a bullish FVG? A bullish FVG is a specific type of price imbalance that occurs during a strong upward move in the market. It represents a zone where the price moved so aggressively to the upside that it didn’t spend time trading through a particular range, essentially skipping over it. This gap usually forms over the course of three candles. First, a bullish candle marks the beginning of upward momentum. The second candle is also bullish and typically has a large body, indicating strong buying pressure. The third candle opens higher and continues moving upward, confirming the strength of the move. The bullish fair value gap is the price range between the high of the first candle and the low of the third candle. This area is considered an imbalance zone because the market moved too quickly for all buyers and sellers to interact at those prices. ------------------------------- What is a bearish FVG? A bearish FVG is a price imbalance that forms during a strong downward move in the market. It occurs when price drops so rapidly that it leaves behind a section on the chart where little to no trading activity happened. This gap is identified using a three-candle formation. The first candle typically closes bearish or neutral, marking the start of the move. The second candle is strongly bearish, with a long body indicating aggressive selling pressure. The third candle opens lower and continues the move down. The bearish fair value gap is the price range between the low of the first candle and the high of the third candle. That range is considered the imbalance zone, where price skipped over potential trade interactions. ------------------------------- How to trade a FVG? To trade a FVG effectively, wait for price to retrace back into the gap after it has formed. The ideal entry point is around the 50% fill of the FVG, as this often represents a balanced level where price is likely to react. During the retracement, it’s helpful to see if the FVG zone aligns with other key technical areas such as support or resistance levels, Fibonacci retracement levels, or dynamic indicators like moving averages. These additional confluences can strengthen the validity of the zone and increase the probability of a successful trade. Enter the trade at the 50% level of the FVG, and place your stop loss just below the most recent swing low (for a bullish setup) or swing high (for a bearish one). From there, manage the trade according to your risk-to-reward preferences—whether that’s 1:1, 1:2, or a higher ratio depending on your strategy and market conditions. ------------------------------- Thanks for your support. - Make sure to follow me so you don't miss out on the next analysis! - Drop a like and leave a comment!
Education
by Youriverse
87
Ultimate Guide to Smart Money ConceptsWhat Are Smart Money Concepts? Introduction: If you’ve been trading for a while, you’ve probably noticed that sometimes the market moves in ways that just don’t make sense. You’ve got your technical analysis all set, but the market seems to go in the opposite direction. That’s where Smart Money Concepts (SMC) come in. At its core, SMC is all about understanding how big players in the market (think hedge funds, institutions, and banks) move prices. These players have massive amounts of capital and information, and they don’t trade like the average retail trader. Understanding their behavior can help you see where the market is going next before it happens. What is Smart Money? In the world of trading, smart money refers to the institutional investors who move markets with their huge orders. Unlike retail traders, who might be relying on indicators or patterns, smart money trades based on liquidity, market structure, and order flow. While retail traders are typically reacting to price movements, smart money is the one causing those moves. They’re out there seeking out places where they can accumulate positions or distribute them. The tricky part is that they’ll often make the market go in one direction just to trap retail traders and get them to take positions before flipping it back to where they wanted it to go in the first place. Key Concepts in Smart Money Trading 1. Market Structure Market structure refers to the way price moves in a trend. It’s essentially a pattern of higher highs and higher lows for an uptrend, or lower highs and lower lows for a downtrend. Smart money uses these patterns to their advantage. When they see the market creating a series of higher highs and higher lows, they’ll take advantage of that momentum to push prices further, knowing retail traders will follow along. But when they want to reverse the market, they’ll push it in the opposite direction, creating a market structure shift or a break of structure, which signals that the trend is over and a new one is starting. 2. Liquidity Liquidity refers to the amount of orders available to be filled at different price levels. Smart money knows exactly where retail traders are likely to place their stops or buy orders. They’ll often push the price to these levels, triggering those stops and collecting the liquidity. Once that liquidity is grabbed, they’ll reverse the price and move it in the intended direction. A common way to spot liquidity is by looking for equal highs or equal lows, where traders often place their stop-loss orders. These are often areas smart money will target. 3. Order Blocks Order blocks are areas on the chart where institutions have placed big orders. These are key levels that represent where price might return to later, and they can act as areas of support or resistance. Order blocks are usually found after big price moves. Institutions place these orders to either accumulate positions or offload them, and price often comes back to these levels to fill orders that were left behind. 4. Fair Value Gaps (FVG) Fair value gaps, or imbalances, are price areas where the market moves quickly, leaving gaps between candlesticks. These gaps represent areas where the market has moved too fast for regular orders to fill, and price tends to return to these levels to fill the gaps. Smart money knows that these imbalances are critical areas for future price action, and they’ll use them to re-enter the market after a move has been completed. Why Does Smart Money Matter? Understanding smart money concepts is like learning to think like an institution. Instead of chasing after price based on typical retail indicators, you start looking for the big moves that smart money is making. You begin to notice when the market is setting traps for retail traders, and how these large players accumulate positions before pushing price in a big way. With SMC, you stop guessing and start anticipating. By looking for liquidity zones, order blocks, and market structure shifts, you can get in sync with the big players and follow their moves, not fight them. Conclusion Smart Money Concepts are all about shifting your perspective. Instead of thinking like a retail trader looking for quick breakouts, oversold/overbought conditions, or chasing trends — start looking at the market as the big players do. Pay attention to where the liquidity is, identify key order blocks, and use market structure shifts to guide your trades. By learning to spot these key signs, you’ll stop being the one who’s trapped and start being the one who’s in sync with the smart money. Ready to trade smarter? Keep an eye on those order blocks and liquidity zones — they’re where the real money is made. Next Steps - Start practicing by reviewing charts through the SMC lens. - Keep refining your understanding of market structure, liquidity, and order blocks. - Stay patient, smart money trades aren’t about quick wins, but about positioning yourself for big moves. __________________________________________ Thanks for your support! If you found this guide helpful or learned something new, drop a like 👍 and leave a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🚀 Make sure to follow me for more price action insights, free indicators, and trading strategies. Let’s grow and trade smarter together! 📈
Education
by TehThomas
79
What Are the Inner Circle Trading Concepts? What Are the Inner Circle Trading Concepts? Inner Circle Trading (ICT) offers a sophisticated lens through which traders can view and interpret market movements, providing traders with insights that go beyond conventional technical analysis. This article explores key ICT concepts, aiming to equip traders with a thorough understanding of how these insights can be applied to enhance their trading decisions. Introduction to the Inner Circle Trading Methodology Inner Circle Trading (ICT) methodology is a sophisticated approach to financial markets that zeroes in on the behaviours of large institutional traders. Unlike conventional trading methods, ICT is not merely about recognising patterns in price movements but involves understanding the intentions behind those movements. It is part of the broader Smart Money Concept (SMC), which analyses how major players influence the market. Key Inner Circle Trading Concepts Within the ICT methodology, there are many concepts to learn. Below, we’ve explained the most fundamental ideas central to ICT trading. Structure Understanding the structure of a market is fundamental to effectively employing the ICT methodology. In the context of ICT, market structure is defined by the identification of trends through specific patterns of highs and lows. Market Structure A market trend is typically characterised by a series of higher highs and higher lows in an uptrend, or lower highs and lower lows in a downtrend. This sequential pattern provides a visual representation of market sentiment and momentum. Importantly, market trends are fractal, replicating similar patterns at different scales or timeframes. For example, what appears as a bearish trend on a short timeframe might merely be a corrective phase within a larger bullish trend. By understanding this fractal nature, traders can better align their strategies with the prevailing trend at different trading intervals. Break of Structure (BOS) A Break of Structure occurs when there is a clear deviation from these established patterns of highs and lows. In an uptrend, a BOS is signalled by prices exceeding a previous high without falling below the most recent higher low, confirming the strength and continuation of the uptrend. Conversely, in a downtrend, a BOS is indicated when prices drop below a previous low without breaching the prior lower high, signifying that the downtrend remains strong. Identifying a BOS gives traders valuable clues about the continuation of the current market direction. Change of Character (CHoCH) The Change of Character in a market happens when there is a noticeable alteration in the behaviour of price movements, suggesting a potential reversal of a given trend. This might be seen in an uptrend where the price fails to reach a new high and then breaks below a recent higher low, indicating that the buying momentum is waning and a bearish reversal is possible. Identifying a CHoCH helps traders recognise when the market momentum is shifting, which is critical for adjusting positions to capitalise on or protect against a new trend. Market Structure Shift (MSS) A Market Structure Shift is a significant change in the market that can disrupt the existing trend. This specific type of CHoCH is typically marked by a price moving sharply (a displacement) through a key structural level, such as a higher low in an uptrend or a lower high in a downtrend. These shifts can signal a profound change in market dynamics, with the sharp move often preceding a new sustained trend. Recognising an MSS allows traders to reevaluate their current bias and adapt to a new trend, given its clear signal. Order Blocks Order blocks are a central component of ICT trading, providing crucial insights into potential areas where the price may react strongly due to significant buy or sell interests from large market participants. Regular Order Blocks A regular order block is an area on the price chart representing a concentration of buying (demand zone) or selling (supply zone) activity. In an uptrend, a bullish order block is identified during a downward price movement and marks the last area of selling before a substantial upward price movement occurs. Conversely, a bearish order block forms in an uptrend where the last buying action appears before a significant downward price shift. In the ICT trading strategy, order blocks are seen as reversal areas. So, if the price revisits a bullish order block following a BOS higher, it’s assumed that the block will hold and prompt a reversal that produces a new higher high. Breaker Blocks Breaker blocks play a crucial role in identifying trend reversals. They are typically formed when the price makes a BOS before reversing and breaking beyond an order block that should hold if the established market structure is to be maintained. This formation indicates that liquidity has been taken. For instance, in an uptrend, if the price creates a new high but then reverses below the previous higher low, the bullish order block above the low becomes a breaker block. A breaker block can be an area that prompts a reversal as the new trend unfolds; it’s a similar concept to support becoming resistance and vice versa. Mitigation Blocks Mitigation blocks are similar to breaker blocks, except they occur after a failure swing, where the price attempts but fails to surpass a previous peak in an uptrend or a previous trough in a downtrend. This pattern indicates a loss of momentum and potential reversal as the price fails to sustain its previous direction. For example, in an uptrend, if the price makes a lower high and then breaks the structure by dropping below the previous low, the order block formed at the previous low becomes a mitigation block. These blocks are critical for traders because they’re also expected to produce a reversal if a new trend has been set in motion. Liquidity Liquidity refers to areas on the price chart with a high concentration of trading activity, typically marked by stop orders from retail traders. Buy- and Sell-Side Liquidity Buy-side liquidity is found where there is a likely accumulation of short-selling traders' stop orders, typically above recent highs. Conversely, sell-side liquidity is located below recent lows, where bullish traders' stop orders accumulate. When prices touch these areas, activating stop orders can cause a reversal, presenting a potential level of support or resistance. Liquidity Grabs A liquidity grab occurs when the price quickly spikes into these high-density order areas, triggering stops and then reversing direction. In ICT theory, this action is often orchestrated by larger players aiming to capitalise on the flurry of orders to execute their large-volume trades with minimal slippage. It's a strategic move that temporarily shifts price momentum, usually just long enough to trigger the stops before the market direction reverses. Inducement An inducement is a specific type of liquidity grab that triggers stops and entices other traders to enter the market. It often appears as a peak or trough, typically into an area of liquidity, in a minor counter-trend within the larger market trend. Inducements are designed by smart money to create an illusion of a trend change, prompting an influx of retail trading in the wrong direction. Once the retail traders have committed, the price swiftly reverses, aligning back with the original major trend. Trending Movements In the Inner Circle Trading methodology, two specific types of sharp trending movements signal significant shifts in market dynamics: fair value gaps and displacements. Fair Value Gaps A fair value gap (FVG) occurs when there is a noticeable absence of trading within a price range, typically represented by a swift and substantial price move without retracement. This gap often forms between the wicks of two adjacent candles where no trading has occurred, signifying a strong directional push. Fair value gaps are important because they indicate areas on the chart where the price may return to "fill" the gap, usually before meeting an order block, offering potential trading opportunities as the market seeks to establish equilibrium. Displacements Displacements, also known as liquidity voids, are characterised by sudden, forceful price movements occurring between two chart levels and lacking the typical gradual trading activity observed in between. They are essentially amplified and more substantial versions of fair value gaps, often spanning multiple candles and FVGs, signalling a heightened imbalance between buy and sell orders. Other Components Beyond these ICT concepts, there are a few other niche components. Kill Zones Kill Zones refer to specific timeframes during the trading day when market activity significantly increases due to the opening or closing of major financial centres. These periods are crucial for traders as they often set the tone for price movements based on the increased volume and volatility: Optimal Trade Entry An optimal trade entry (OTE) is a type of Inner Circle trading strategy, found using Fibonacci retracement levels. After an inducement that prompts a displacement (leaving behind an FVG), traders use the Fibonacci retracement tool to pinpoint entry areas. The first point is set at the major high or low that prompts the displacement, while the second point is set at the next significant swing high or low that forms. In a bearish movement, for example, the initial point is set at the swing high before the displacement and the subsequent point at the new swing low. Traders often look to the 61.8% to 78.6% retracement level for entries. Balanced Price Range A balanced price range is observed when two opposing displacements create FVGs in a short timeframe, indicating a broad zone of price consolidation. During this period, prices typically test both extremes, attempting to fill the gaps. This scenario offers traders potential zones for trend reversals as the price seeks to establish a new equilibrium, as well as key levels to watch for a breakout. The Bottom Line Understanding ICT concepts gives traders the tools to decode complex market signals and align their strategies with the influential trends shaped by the largest market participants. For those looking to apply these sophisticated trading techniques practically, opening an FXOpen account can be a great step towards engaging with the markets through a robust platform designed to support advanced trading strategies. FAQs What Are ICT Concepts in Trading? ICT (Inner Circle Trading) concepts encompass a series of advanced trading principles that focus on replicating the strategies of large institutional players. These concepts include liquidity zones, order blocks, market structure shifts, and optimal trade entries, all aimed at understanding and anticipating significant market movements. What Is ICT in Trading? ICT in trading refers to the Inner Circle Trading methodology, a strategy developed to align smaller traders’ actions with those of more influential market participants. It utilises specific market phenomena, such as order blocks and liquidity patterns, to analyse price movements and improve trading outcomes. What Is ICT Trading? ICT trading is the application of concepts that seek to identify patterns and structures that indicate potential price changes driven by institutional activities, aiming to capitalise on these movements. What Is ICT Strategy? An ICT strategy combines market analysis techniques to identify where significant market players are likely to influence prices. This includes analysing price levels where large volumes of buy or sell orders are anticipated to occur and identifying key times when market moves are most likely. Is ICT Better Than SMC? Comparing ICT and SMC (Smart Money Concept) is challenging as ICT is essentially a subset of SMC. While SMC provides a broader overview of how institutional money influences the markets, ICT offers more specific techniques and terms like inducements and displacements. Whether one is better depends on the trader’s specific needs and alignment with these methodologies’ intricacies. This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
Education
by FXOpen
1
Fair Value Gaps vs Liquidity Voids in TradingFair Value Gaps vs Liquidity Voids in Trading Understanding fair value gaps and liquidity voids is essential for traders seeking to navigate the complexities of the financial markets. These concepts, deeply rooted in the Smart Money Concept (SMC), provide valuable insights into the dynamics of supply and demand, helping to identify potential price movements. In this article, we’ll delve into both ideas, exploring their characteristics, differences, and use in trading. Fair Value Gap (FVG) Meaning in Trading A fair value gap, also known as an imbalance or FVG, is a crucial idea in Smart Money Concept that sheds light on the dynamics of supply and demand for a particular asset. This phenomenon occurs when there is a significant disparity between the number of buy and sell orders for an asset. They occur across all asset types, from forex and commodities to stocks and crypto*. Essentially, a fair value gap in trading highlights a moment where the market consensus leans heavily towards either buying or selling but finds insufficient counter orders to match this enthusiasm. On a chart, this typically looks like a large candle that hasn’t yet been traded back through. Specifically, a fair value gap is a three-candle pattern; the middle candle, or second candle, features a strong move in a given direction and is the most important, while the first and third candles represent the boundaries of the pattern. Once the third candle closes, the fair value gap is formed. There should be a distance between the wicks of the first and third candles. Fair value gaps, like gaps in stocks, are often “filled” or traded back through at some point in the future. They represent areas of minimal resistance; there is little trading activity in these areas (compared to a horizontal range). Therefore, they are likely to be traded through with relative ease as price gravitates towards an area of support or resistance. Liquidity Void Meaning in Trading Liquidity voids in trading represent significant, abrupt price movements between two levels on a chart without the usual gradual trading activity in between. These are essentially larger and more substantial versions of fair value gaps, often encompassing multiple candles and FVGs, indicating a more pronounced imbalance between buy and sell orders. While FVGs occur frequently and reflect the day-to-day shifts in market sentiment, liquidity voids signal a rapid repricing of an asset, typically following significant market events (though not always). These voids are visual representations of moments when the market experiences a temporary absence of balance between buyers and sellers. This imbalance leads to a sharp move as the market seeks a new equilibrium price level. Such occurrences are not limited to specific times; they can happen after major news releases, during off-market hours, or following large institutional trades that significantly move the market with a single order. Liquidity voids are especially noteworthy on trading charts due to their appearance as particularly sharp moves. Though they appear across all timeframes, they’re most obvious following major news events when the market rapidly adjusts to new information, creating opportunities and challenges for traders navigating these shifts. Fair Value Gap vs Liquidity Void Fair value gaps and liquidity voids are effectively the same thing in practice; a fair value gap is simply a shorter-term liquidity void. Both indicate moments of significant imbalance between supply and demand. At the heart of both phenomena is a situation where one significantly outweighs the other, leading to strong market movements with minimal consolidation. The distinction between them often comes down to scale and timeframe. An FVG is typically identified by a specific three-candle pattern on a chart, signalling a discrete imbalance in order volume that prompts a quick price adjustment. These gaps reflect moments where the market sentiment strongly leans towards buying or selling yet lacks the opposite orders to maintain price stability. Liquidity voids, on the other hand, represent more pronounced movements in a given direction, often visible as substantial price jumps or drops. They can encompass multiple FVGs and extend over larger portions of the chart, showcasing a significant repricing of an asset. This distinction becomes particularly relevant when considering the timeframe of analysis; what appears as a series of FVGs on a lower timeframe can be interpreted as a liquidity void. On a higher timeframe, this liquidity void may appear as a singular fair value gap. This can be seen in the fair value gap example above. For traders, it’s more practical to realise that both FVGs and liquidity voids highlight a key market phenomenon: when a notable supply and demand imbalance occurs, it tends to create a vacuum that the market is likely to fill at some future point. Therefore, it’s important to recognise that both these types of imbalances can act as potential indicators of future price movement back towards these unfilled spaces. Trading Fair Value Gaps and Liquidity Voids Trading strategies that leverage fair value gaps and liquidity voids require a nuanced approach, as these concepts alone may not suffice for a robust trading strategy. However, when integrated with other aspects of the Smart Money Concept, such as order blocks and breaks of structure, they can contribute significantly to a comprehensive market analysis framework. Primarily, both FVGs and liquidity voids signal potential areas through which the price is likely to move rapidly to reach more significant zones of trading activity, such as order blocks or key levels of support and resistance. This insight suggests that initiating positions directly within an FVG or a liquidity void may not be effective due to the high likelihood of the price moving swiftly through these areas. Instead, traders might find it more strategic to wait for the price to reach areas where historical trading activity reflects stronger levels of buy or sell interest. Additionally, these market phenomena can inform the setting of price targets. If there is an FVG or liquidity void situated before a key area of interest, targeting the zone beyond the gap—where substantial trading activity is expected—could prove more effective than aiming for a point within the gap itself. It's also useful to note the relative significance of these features when they appear on the same timeframe. An FVG, being generally smaller and indicating a discrete order imbalance, is more likely to be filled before a liquidity void. This is because liquidity voids represent more considerable and pronounced market movements that can set market direction, marking them as less likely to be filled within a short space of time. Limitations of Fair Value Gaps and Liquidity Voids While fair value gap trading strategies and the analysis of liquidity voids offer insightful approaches to understanding market dynamics, they come with inherent limitations that traders need to consider: - Market Volatility: High volatility can unpredictably affect the filling of fair value gaps and liquidity voids, sometimes leading to incorrect analysis or false signals. - Timeframe Relativity: The significance and potential impact of gaps and voids can vary greatly across different timeframes, complicating analysis. - Incomplete Picture: Relying solely on these phenomena for trading decisions may result in an incomplete market analysis, as they do not account for all influencing factors. - Expectations: There is no guarantee that a FVG/void will be filled soon or at any point in the near future. The Bottom Line As we conclude, it's essential to remember that while fair value gap and liquidity void strategies provide valuable insights, they’re part of a broader spectrum of SMC tools available to traders. They’re best combined with other analytical techniques to form a comprehensive approach to trading. For those looking to delve deeper into trading strategies and enhance their market understanding, opening an FXOpen account can be a step toward accessing a wide array of resources and tools designed to support your trading journey. FAQs What Is a Fair Value Gap? A fair value gap occurs when there's a significant difference between the buy and sell orders for an asset, indicating an imbalance that can influence market prices. What Are Fair Value Gaps in Trading? In trading, fair value gaps reflect moments where market sentiment strongly favours either buying or selling, creating potential price movement opportunities. What Is the Difference Between a Fair Value Gap and a Liquidity Void? The main difference lies in their scale: a fair value gap is typically a smaller, discrete occurrence, while a liquidity void represents a larger, more pronounced price movement. How to Find Fair Value Gaps? Traders identify fair value gaps by analysing trading charts for areas where rapid price movements have occurred. A FVG consists of three candles, where the second one is the largest and the first and third serve as barriers. The idea of the FVG is that it leads to a potential retracement to fill the gap in the future. Is a Fair Value Gap the Same as an Imbalance? Yes, a fair value gap is the same as an imbalance in the Smart Money Concept. *Important: At FXOpen UK, Cryptocurrency trading via CFDs is only available to our Professional clients. They are not available for trading by Retail clients. To find out more information about how this may affect you, please get in touch with our team. This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
Education
by FXOpen
1
Fair Value Gaps (FVGs) – A Complete GuideWhat Are Fair Value Gaps (FVGs)? A Fair Value Gap (FVG) is a price imbalance on a chart that occurs when the market moves aggressively in one direction, leaving an area where price did not trade efficiently. These gaps are often created by institutional traders (banks, hedge funds, and large market participants) executing big orders. Key Characteristics of a FVG: ✅ Occurs when price moves impulsively, creating an imbalance ✅ Appears in a three-candle formation ✅ The gap forms between the wicks of the first and third candles How to Identify a FVG: 1️⃣ Look for a strong price move (bullish or bearish). 2️⃣ Find a three-candle sequence where the middle candle has a large body and a gap between the first and third candle wicks. 3️⃣ Mark the area between the first and third candle wicks—this is your Fair Value Gap. Example: Imagine price explodes upward with a big green candle, skipping multiple price levels without much resistance. This creates an inefficiency because price hasn’t traded fairly in that area, making it likely that price will revisit it later to fill the imbalance. Here you can see that price completely filled up that gap and moved higher. Same here: How to Use Fair Value Gaps in Trading FVGs can serve as key zones where price is likely to react. Here’s how you can use them to improve your trading: 1️⃣ Fair Value Gaps as Support & Resistance Bullish FVG (Support Zone): If price retraces into a bullish FVG (gap formed in an uptrend), it can act as support and push price higher. This is a good area to look for buying opportunities. Bearish FVG (Resistance Zone): If price retraces into a bearish FVG (gap formed in a downtrend), it can act as resistance and push price lower. This is a good area to look for selling opportunities. 2️⃣ Using FVGs for Trade Entries & Exits Price often revisits a Fair Value Gap before continuing its original trend. A trader can wait for price to fill the gap and then look for confirmations like candlestick patterns or volume spikes before entering a trade. Stop-loss placement: Put your stop-loss below/above the FVG zone to reduce risk. 3️⃣ Liquidity & Institutional Activity Institutional traders often target these inefficiencies to fill their orders. When price returns to an FVG, it may be because institutions are executing trades at those levels. Why Are Fair Value Gaps Useful? They act as magnets for price – Price tends to revisit these gaps before continuing its move. They provide high-probability trade setups – FVGs help traders find potential reversal or continuation zones. They improve risk management – You can use them for better stop-loss placement. They align with Smart Money Concepts (SMC) – Institutions often use these levels for liquidity. Tips & Tricks: How to Combine Fair Value Gaps with Other Strategies 1️⃣ FVG + Order Blocks = Strong Confirmation If a Fair Value Gap aligns with an Order Block, it becomes a powerful area of interest. This increases the chances of a successful trade. 2️⃣ FVG + Fibonacci Retracements If an FVG aligns with a key Fibonacci level (like 61.8% or 50%), the chances of a price reaction increase significantly. 3️⃣ FVG + RSI or Divergence If price revisits a FVG while RSI is overbought or oversold, it signals a high-probability reversal. 4️⃣ Higher Timeframe FVGs Are More Reliable FVGs on the 1-hour, 4-hour, or daily charts are more effective than those on smaller timeframes. 5️⃣ Monitor News Events If an FVG is formed due to a major news event (e.g., Fed announcement, CPI data, earnings report), be cautious, as price may act differently than expected. Final Thoughts Fair Value Gaps are a powerful tool that help traders identify key levels of liquidity and institutional price action. They work best when combined with other strategies like Order Blocks, Fibonacci, and RSI to increase accuracy. By understanding how and why price moves back into these gaps, traders can anticipate potential high-probability trade setups and trade alongside smart money. __________________________________________ Thanks for your support! If you found this idea helpful or learned something new, drop a like 👍 and leave a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🚀 Make sure to follow me for more price action insights, free indicators, and trading strategies. Let’s grow and trade smarter together! 📈✨
KRAKEN:BTCUSDEducation
by TehThomas
35
The Fair Value Gap (FVG)The term "fair value gap" is known by various names among price action traders, including imbalance, inefficiency, and liquidity void. But what do these imbalances mean? They arise when the forces of buying and selling exert considerable pressure, resulting in sharp and rapid price movements. On a chart, a Fair Value Gap appears as a three-candlestick pattern. In a bullish context, an FVG forms when the top wick of the first candlestick does not connect with the bottom wick of the third candlestick. Conversely, in a bearish scenario, the FVG is created when the bottom wick of the first candlestick fails to connect with the top wick of the third candlestick. The gap on the middle candlestick, created by the wicks of the first and third candlesticks, represents the Fair Value Gap. The concept of FVG trading is based on the idea that the market has a natural tendency to self-correct. These price discrepancies or inefficiencies are generally not sustainable over time, and the market often returns to these gaps before continuing in the same direction as the original impulsive move. What are the Types of Fair Value Gaps? 1. Bearish Fair Value Gap A bearish Fair Value Gap occurs when there is a space between the bottom wick of the first candlestick and the top wick of the third candlestick. This gap typically appears on the body of the middle candlestick, and the individual characteristics of each candlestick are not particularly important. What’s crucial in a bearish scenario is that the gap on the middle candlestick results from the wicks of the surrounding candlesticks not connecting. 2. Bullish Fair Value Gap A bullish Fair Value Gap occurs when the top wick of the first candlestick does not connect with the bottom wick of the third candlestick. In this case, the specific direction of each candlestick is not as important. What really matters is that there is a gap in the middle candlestick, where the wicks of the first and third candlesticks have not linked. 3. Inverse Fair Value Gap An Inverse Fair Value Gap is an FVG that has lost its validity in one direction but remains significant enough to influence price movement in the opposite direction. For example, a bullish FVG is deemed invalid if it fails to act as a demand zone. However, it then transforms into an inverse bearish FVG, which may serve as a supply zone capable of holding the price. 4. Implied Fair Value Gap The Implied Fair Value Gap is also a three-candlestick pattern, but it does not feature a gap on the middle candlestick, which is why it’s called an “implied FVG.” Instead, it consists of a larger middle candle flanked by two relatively long wicks from the first and third candles. The “gap” is defined by marking the midpoint of the wick of the first candlestick that touches the middle candle and the midpoint of the wick of the third candle that also touches the middle candle. These two midpoints create the gap. Here are some factors that can lead to the formation of fair value gaps: 1. Economic Data Releases Key economic data releases, such as changes in interest rates or unemployment statistics, can similarly create imbalances. If the data surprises the market, it can trigger a swift price movement in one direction, resulting in a gap. 2. Sudden News Events Unexpected news that significantly affects market sentiment can lead to a rapid increase in buying or selling activity, resulting in a gap as prices adjust to the new information. For instance, if a company unexpectedly reports strong earnings, its stock price may surge, creating a gap on the chart. 3. Market Openings or Closings Gaps may form during periods of low liquidity, such as at market openings or closings. With fewer market participants, even a small amount of buying or selling can cause a noticeable price jump that isn’t quickly countered. 4. Large Institutional Trades Significant trades by institutional investors can also lead to fair value gaps (FVGs). When a hedge fund or financial institution executes a large buy or sell order, it can overwhelm the existing order book, causing a rapid price shift and leaving a gap behind. 5. Weekend Gaps FVG's are often observed between the close on Friday and the open on Monday, reflecting news or events that occurred over the weekend. KEY POINTS TO KNOW - Fair Value Gaps (FVGs) are powerful tools traders use to identify market imbalances and inefficiencies. - FVGs occur when buying or selling pressure leads to significant price movements, leaving behind gaps on price charts. - FVGs can be identified through technical analysis involving the analysis of candlestick patterns and price chart patterns. - Traders can categorize FVGs into two types: Undervalued FVGs, where prices are lower than fair value, and Overrated FVGs, where prices are higher.
Education
by TaylorDeMario
4
Trading EURUSD | Judas Swing Strategy 30/07/2024Risk management ought to be a trader's closest ally, as the previous week demonstrated the practical significance of incorporating risk management into every trader's toolkit. Last week, we executed four trades; despite having only one win and three losses, we concluded the week with a mere 1% loss on our trading account. This has heightened our excitement for the opportunities that this week may present. As is customary, at 8:25 AM EST, we commenced the day by reviewing the essential items on our Judas Swing strategy checklist, which comprises: - Setting the timezone to New York time - Confirming we're on the 5-minute timeframe - Marking the trading period from 00:00 - 08:30 - Identifying the high and low of the zone The next 5 minute candle swept liquidity resting at the low of the zone, which meant our focus would be on identifying potential buying opportunities for the trading session. To increase the likelihood of success of our trades, we wait for a break of structure (BOS) towards the buy side. Once the BOS occurs, we anticipate price to retrace to the initial Fair Value Gap (FVG) created during the formation of the leg that broke the structure. We patiently waited for price to retrace into the created Fair Value Gap (FVG), and executed our trade upon the closing of the first candle that entered the FVG, as all the conditions on our checklist for trade execution were satisfied. Please note that our stop loss is set at the low of the price leg that broke structure, and we implement a minimum stop loss of 10 pips. The minimum stop loss value was not chosen randomly; it was determined through extensive backtesting. This allows trades sufficient space to fluctuate, avoiding premature stop-outs and trades later moving in our anticipated direction. After 15 minutes, a large bearish marubozu candle formed, which could have exited us from the trade if we had set our stop loss solely based on the low of the price leg that broke structure, without including a minimal stop loss in our checklist. By using that price leg, our stop loss would have been around 6 pips, whereas a 10 pip stop loss provides the trade with sufficient breathing room. We are aware that our strategy does not guarantee a 100% win rate but rather hovers around 50% on EURUSD, indicating that some losses were inevitable. To avoid becoming emotional over the position, we used only 1% of our trading account with the goal of achieving a 2% gain. Upon checking our position later, we observed that the position was a few pips away from hitting SL. We remained calm despite the drawdown we were experiencing and were prepared for any outcome of the trade. All that was left was to wait for either our stop loss or take profit to be triggered to determine the result of our trade. A few hours later, the trade began to move in our favor. After 13 hours, our Take Profit was triggered, and our patience paid off as we hit our target on EURUSD, resulting in a 2% gain from a 1% risk on the trade.
Education
by CleoFinance
ORDER BLOCK AND FAIR VALUE GAP SMART MONEY CONCEPT**Order Block**: An order block is a specific price area on a financial chart where institutional traders have placed large buy or sell orders. These areas often lead to significant price movements and are used by traders to identify potential zones of support or resistance. Order blocks represent clusters of orders from big players like banks or hedge funds, signaling where major buying or selling interest lies. When price revisits these zones, it often reacts strongly, making them valuable for predicting price reversals or continuations. **Fair Value Gap**: A fair value gap (FVG) is a price range on a chart where there is an imbalance between buyers and sellers, often created during periods of high volatility or news events. This gap typically occurs when the market moves so quickly that trades do not fully fill, leaving a visible gap on the chart. Traders use fair value gaps to anticipate potential price retracements to these levels, as the market tends to revisit and fill these gaps over time, aligning price with its perceived fair value. Both concepts are crucial in technical analysis for identifying key price levels where significant market activity is likely to occur.
Education
by FrankFx14
2
FAIR VALUE GAP OR ORDER BLOCK ENTRYA fair value gap (FVG) and an order block entry are concepts used in technical analysis within financial markets to identify potential trading opportunities. ### Fair Value Gap (FVG) A fair value gap refers to a price range on a chart where there is an imbalance between buyers and sellers, often resulting in a quick movement through this area without much trading activity. This gap can create a zone of interest where price may return to fill the gap, presenting a potential trading opportunity. Traders look for these gaps to predict price movements, expecting that the market will revisit these areas to achieve a fair value. ### Order Block Entry An order block is a consolidation area where significant buying or selling has taken place, often by institutional traders. These blocks are typically identified by a cluster of orders that create a strong support or resistance level. When price returns to this level, it often reacts due to the presence of unfilled orders, providing a strategic entry point for traders. Order blocks are used to predict where the price might reverse or continue its trend, offering a high-probability entry signal based on historical price action. Both concepts are used by traders to make informed decisions based on the past behavior of price and volume, aiming to identify areas where significant trading activity is likely to influence future price movements.
Education
by FrankFx14
How to trade Smart Money Concepts (SMC)This trading strategy was initially popularized by an infamous trader who is also the founder of the Inner Circle Trading (ICT) method which is claimed to be the evolved version of the SMC. Let’s first take a look at the building blocks of this trading strategy and compare it with the well-known trading concepts by industrial titans (Dow, Wyckoff, Elliott). Essentially, SMC puts forth the notion that market makers, including institutions like banks and hedge funds, play a deliberate role in complicating trading endeavours for retail traders. Under the Smart Money Concepts framework, retail traders are advised to construct their strategies around the activities of the "smart money," denoting the capital controlled by these market makers. The core concept involves replicating the trading behaviour of these influential entities, with a specific focus on variables such as supply, demand dynamics, and the structural aspects of the market. Therefore, as an SMC trader, you'll meticulously examine these elements when making trading decisions, aligning your approach with the sophisticated techniques of prominent market figures. By embracing this perspective and closely monitoring the actions of market makers, SMC traders endeavour to establish an advantageous position in their trading activities, aiming to capitalise on market movements driven by smart money. When you initially dive into the Smart Money Concepts (SMC), the technical vocabulary can be a bit overwhelming. To help demystify it, here's an overview of some common terms used by SMC traders. 1. Order Blocks These are used to discuss supply and demand. Some SMC traders consider order blocks as a more refined concept than standard supply and demand, although not everyone agrees on this. An order block signifies a concentrated area of limit orders awaiting execution, identified on a chart by analysing past price movements for significant shifts. These zones serve as pivotal points in price action trading, influencing the market's future direction. When a multitude of buy or sell orders cluster at a specific price level, it establishes a robust support or resistance, capable of absorbing pressure and triggering price reversals or consolidation. 2.Fair Value Gap You should clarify whether your current trading style suits you. If you don't have time to look at charts during the day, you should not focus your strategy on intraday trading using 1 5-minute or 30-minute charts. It is definitely better to develop an approach that works on a 4-hour or daily chart so that you have enough time to analyze the charts before or after work. Ideal time and timeframe This phrase describes an imbalance in the market. It occurs when the price departs from a specific level with limited trading activity, resulting in one-directional price movement. In the case of a bearish trend, the Fair Value Gap represents the price range between the low of the previous candle and the high of the following candle. This area reveals a discrepancy in the market, which may indicate a potential trading opportunity. The same principle applies to a bullish trend but with the opposite conditions. 3.Liquidity Liquidity plays a pivotal role in SMC. It pertains to price levels where orders accumulate, rendering an asset class "liquid." Essentially, these are price points with available orders ready for transactions. Liquidity can manifest in various forms, such as highs and lows or trend line liquidity. How liquidity is handled varies depending on the trader. One of the most common approaches is to use a pivot high or pivot low. For better understanding, a pivot high or low is formed when several adjacent candlesticks have a higher low or lower high. In the picture, we can see the pivot low. The candlestick has the lowest low compared to its three neighbours to the right and left. 4.Break of Structure (BOS) Once you become familiar with this terminology, you'll realize that many SMC concepts are consistent with traditional trading ideas. A fundamental element of SMC market analysis is the emphasis on the "break of structure" (BOS) in the market. 5.Change of Character (ChoCH) For instance, in a chart illustrating breaks of structure, each time the price surpasses the previous high, a break of structure occurs. Conversely, when the price drops below previously established lows, it signals a change of character (ChoCH). SMC traders leverage their understanding of these patterns to make informed decisions based on the market's behaviour.
Education
by Golden_Star1994
2
What is ICT Power of 3?Power of 3 at work on Gold producing a 8.6RR move on 30/06/2023 FOREXCOM:XAUUSD Ict power of 3 is a strategy that reveal the market maker algorithm model for price delivery. Power of 3 simply means there are 3 things market makers algorithm do with price in ever trading days. Those 3 things are; Accumulation, Manipulation and Distribution. AMD: A: Accumulation M: Manipulation D: Distribution 1. Accumulation: They accumulate liquidity through the delivery of a ranging market. The purpose for delivering a ranging market is to induce both buyers and sellers to enter the market thinking that price will go in their direction. 2. Manipulation: After accumulating both buying and sell orders, they then manipulate the market to further induce another set of traders which are breakout traders. But, that particular manipulation move is not their intended direction for the day. They only use it to gather liquidity, Which will then lead them to the next action which is to move and distribute price in their real direction for the day. 3. Distribution: After manipulating price to a particular direction different from their plan, they then distribute price to their original intended direction. e.g to buy, they will first sell the market and then buy at the discount price level. Example of Power of 3 on Gold AMD: A: Accumulation M: Manipulation D: Distribution Accumulation : Price range during Asian session, accumulating liquidity on both sides of long and shorts. Manipulation : Price broke the low of the accumulation during London session to take out sell side liquidity and then fill the previous day imbalance. Distribution : Price move away from the FVG leading to a shift in market structure on 5m time frame, plus a short pull back, follow by a massive move to the upside during the New York session to take out buy side liquidity above.
FOREXCOM:XAUUSDEducation
by Elijahenoch7
2
Fair Value Gap Strategy (FVG): GBPUSD 7.32x Reward TradeCheck out this 7.32RR trade I took today on GBPUSD. OANDA:GBPUSD Trade Process: Daily is bullish with FVG serving as draw on liquidity. 1HR: Took out Sellside liquidity left with BuySide liquidity to take out. 15M: London Session open took out 15M sellside liquidity with high probability of taking out Buyside liquidity. Entry: I used my fib to locate OTE at the FVG which is where i placed my buy limit. Price retraced to pick my order and fly high to take out the buyide liquidity and the daily FVG.
Education
by Elijahenoch7
2
Trade so easy with FAIR VALUE GAPS!Hello trader, you look great today! I have a useful trading tool to offer you. If you are experiencing positive feelings towards me, please consider following me and helping to increase my exposure. FAIR VOLUE GAP First, go to tradingview and search up Fair Volue Gap . Now, you can see your chart dashed lines, to see levels based on these pages. FVG and to make this set up a lot better though we want to clean this up and only show significant Fair Volue Gaps by going into the settings and selecting the auto threshold. What this does is allows the indicator to detect the average best size of each Fair Value Gap to filter out insignificant ones.
OANDA:XAUUSDEducation
by Sphyn-Trader
5
A loss for me a lesson for you- Trading a bearish FVGReview this first to see the fair value gap: (1)Trades inside the -FVG (2) Rejects -FVG(MT) (3) Holds -FVG(L) Note: This is a high probability sign for moves higher, price trades inside the 4H-FVG. Once price is inside, the price trades to the 4H-FVG(MT) and trades back down to the 4H-FVG(L) and price holds for a continuation inside. (4) Prices trades through -FVG(MT) (5) Trades and rejects the -FVG(H) and -OB Note: This is where, and only where I should have entered for the sells that I attempted near the midpoint. We had already traded pass 4H-FVG(MT). After the failed entry, you should wait for price to reach the 4H-FVG(H) and in this case the -OB as well.
BLACKBULL:SPX500Education
by Cory4rex
Retail vs. Smart Money - Truth vs. Manipulation tutorial - *SMT* SMT= Smart Money Theory. Look at the related idea for a previous tutorial on this. This will be a continuation of that tutorial, how we're taught to trade is manipulation tactics by the institutions, and how to realize whats actually happening. When I first started, I started to learn how to trade under a an MLM company called iMarkets Live. Some instructors were good and were starting to catch on to what was happening to price action. Others just marked levels,. or tried to use way too many jndicators to find a trade. I ended up losing a lot of money that year because there was no cohesion. I find myself asking "why?" a lot. And if this "Trade the trend is supposed to work so well, why was I getting screwed so bad everytime I went to trade off that trend line. Until I fdinally found the one person who dug deep into the charts and found the truth and I've never seen any other trade get more accurate while trading live. 1. Price is manipulated on every chart. That is their commodity to protect and they'll go down in flames protecting their commodity. Whether that commodity is currency or stocks, there's someone or groups that own enough to control the chart. And that algorithm re-starts everydsay at midnight NY Time. Just before the London session starts 2. The charts above represent what a smart Money Technical Analyst would create for his chart, the second is the retail theory, how your "Taught" to think what tedhnical analysis is supposed to be. Fore example, you would normally out a trendline going down atop the downtrend, and when the price breaks that down trend then you'll told wait for the "Retest" of the price to hit that trend line. But sometimes it doesn't and you've missed your opportunity at a breakaway right? No, you just followed the wrong path on how to read price action. And could've caught that breakaway knowingt that it's not "retesting" the top trendline, instead it's finding the last price that the institutions sold off hard to try and make the retail traders sell as well. Evidently they were successful because the institution then come in and buy it up and a huge discount. And they buy up so much at the start of the run, it breaks the structures previous swing high In fact they probabloy are still holding a short position near that swing high so aftyer it breaks the high and closes above it, it retraces slightly back to the price area of the the previous high. Why? So they can then breakeven on the trade of holding that short while also capitalizing on the long they are taking because of how much of a discount they were able to buy up. Lets take the current chart for example. When you see the price formation of a low / high / lower low, The last bullish candle in the high formation is now Resistance that will turn Support. I have the Low / High / Lower Low Color Coordinated with it's Breaker Blocks Border or just "Breaker." As you can see it, each time it breaks the previous structures high (Where I write Break of structure with a line at the top of previous DAILY body that was broke and closed abnove, thje price then slighjtly retreats, back into that High candle's price range, doesn't close below it and then makes another large move to the upside. Its retreating down to a place where they could still be hold a short from the previous quarter (yes, you read that right, they have deep pockets, they can be in the red forever and ity weon't matter, they;'ll manipulate it until they get what's theirs, this is why Larry Williams has 90 day lookbacks in his analysis) Here's the scary part. Now that you have read that and it seems so obvious and your going "Why was I taught to think about it like this?" (See Next Chart) I was taught to think of analysis this way, I'm sure you have at one point. When the trendline breaks then we should see a retest and more bullish trend / channel. However, after it breaks the trendline, it didn't retest, neither is it really following the "Channel" it created. It's inside the channel but Following the trend as you would like to see, correct? even if we look a little closer on the 4 hour it looks further off Why is it not doing exactly as we were taught it should? Because we were taught wrong. Price doesn't know if it's following a channel, it doersn't know if it's creating a Triangle, it doesn't know if it's making a flag. What does it remember? Price levels. Therefore, the way we were taught was wrong and the correct way to look at support and resistance is actually an area within a price range. Why? As mentioned before, it's the institutions ,manipulating the charts to retreat back to an are to where it may have been holding a short and is now looking to break even while cranking up the long earnings. This is all by design. Now look at the chart again with how I just explained it, look for the break of structure, check for the close above the previous swing high close, then see where the price falls to, check to see if it is within a high of a previous swing high candle. If it breaks lower and closes lower, then we have 1 of 2 things 1) Price could have run into a Bearish Breaker (Where you have a High / Low / Higher High and the Low of that formation is a breaker that reject the price and we could see the price start to retrace lower. or 2) Also Look to see if the Break of structure that was broken has a string of balanced bullish candles to form one large Breaker. If so, the price may look like it is lower than what it should, but still within the breraker. i.e. CURRENT PRICE (see chart) We have a large breaker if you consider the two balanced bullish candles on the far left. If the are balanced, they act as one candle (Meaning their wicks touch, there's no fair value gap) See Chart - So I see this as still being within the Bullish vain, and we'll have to see if it's going to keep reaching for the break of structure. Why is it going tio the break of Structure? That is where the Liquidity is sitting by the retail user and the institutions want to take that liquidity for their own pockets. Howevever, We'll Save Liquidity for Next "Smart Money Knowledge Tutorial" If you have any questions please shoot them below. I'll do my best to answer. If it doesn't make sense to you and you see a flaw in my analysis, a flaw in my reasoning as to why it would be manipulated, please let me know. Personally, I like having an answer as to why price does what it does, which is why I am behind the Smart Money theory of Manipulation. It makes way more sense than the previous explanation of "It just breaks trend and will continue in that direction." ..... where I feel "This is the area price was before on a short and the institutions need to break even after blowing past it making profit up to that point" I hope I was able to break this "Smart Money" theory down a bit further and was able to help make sense of thewe things.l This was inspired by a meme I had seen on LinkedIn of the price running up pasty the break of structure and there's a trendline on top of the rear down slope and the price retests and starts moving up. The meme was based off this with a person almost in tears of joy. My point? Don't see the price action as a result above. Understand it as this I went to write my explanation that was a different interpretation and by the time I finished I couldn't find the Meme again. So I felt it was my calling to continue writing a major Smart Money Analysis points that many people need to see and hear. If you enjoy these explainations of Smart Money, please let me know and I'll continue on a series of these with a point behind each one. Thank you! - Bodies X Wix OANDA:GBPUSD FX:GBPUSD CAPITALCOM:GBPUSD
Education
by BodiesXWix
7
London Open Killzone Liquidity Build and FVG Hello Traders! What I shared with you happens on most days of the week and is a super easy way to get trdaes that are highly probable.. London Open Killzone time is: from 3:00 AM to 5:00 AM New York Time.. (though it could extend a bit further).. What we should be looking for is this scenario: We have a clear liquidity area..(single or double lows/relative equal lows) and time is London Open Killzone and we have reached liquidity area.. on this case we expect price to reverse and we look for a confirmation (in this case a "Fair Valie Gab").. Note that: I recommend using 15-min chart to spot liquidity area and for looking at how price is performing.. And once we get into a liquid area, we should go lower (5-min_1-min) charts to look for FVG.. Hope you find this helpful 😃 Let me know your thoughts in comments I would be happy.. Be Well All!
Education
by MST_Trader
1
What is FVG and why is it important?FVG = FAIR VALUE GAP An area that offers price inefficiencies Simply put, when there are more sellers than buyers it sometimes causes a void in the price action that we call it FVG or Fair Value Gap. You can simply identify these areas on the chart just by finding deserted candles that have no trading history around them. These value gaps are like errors in the market, price always tends to back to those areas and fill the gap with some more trades. So if you see a sell-off/bullish impulse on the market, try to find The FVG and mark it as the potential target for the price to jump back there whenever the trend starts to shift. leave a like or comment if you find this information useful ;)
FTX:ETHUSDEducation
by CryptoSep
29
ICT IMBALANCE / FVG / LIQUIDITY VOIDLiquidity void, Fair Value Gap, Imbalance... These terms are interchangeable. As a Charter Member ill tell you what I've shown here, is a basic depiction, as I got asked a question on what is an imbalance? An imbalance, is an imbalance in price, where price has NOT efficiently delivered orders in the market, price will like to revisit these areas, of imbalance, as seen here. The diagram on the left depicts the ideal model of what an imbalance is, the chart on the right is an in time example. if you notice one of these getting filled, at a place where you are bearish/bullish... well.... there is your trade!
FOREXCOM:XAUUSDEducation
by UnknownUnicorn37378565
3
EDUCATIONAL POST (FVG - Fair Value Gap)EDUCATIONAL POST: (FVG - Fair value Gap) 📊📈 Let's take some time to explain a trading term I often use in my TA. 🤓 FVG - or Fair Value Gap (= inefficiency, void...) 👉 What they mean by that is an area of the chart where the price moved past in just 1 single candle, meaning the candle before + after haven't touched this area. 👉 This is how such a gap is formed. 👉 This gap frequently works as a magnet for the future price, indicating a CONTINUATION (bullish —> bounce, bearish —> drop) NOTE: this is the strongest on the first touch it does, after that it's power deminishes and price often moves back through it. EXAMPLE: (bullish) price moves up fast and creates a FVG. This area will act as a bounce area for when the price drops back down to this, before continuing higher. I've added a theoretical + $BTC example. (scroll back to see it on the chart) Hope you learned something. 👌 Oli 🤙
Education
by theGOATofCrypto
2