A well-traded stock, which means it has a good trading volume, typically indicates that many people have invested in it during a specific time period. On the other hand, a low trading volume suggests that fewer people are investing in the stock, which should serve as a warning for investors to proceed with caution. Monitoring trading volume in the share market is crucial for making informed investment decisions.
Read on to understand the meaning of volume in the share market, why this information is important to investors and what it tells you about the potential of a stock.
Understanding Volume Indicators in the Share Market
Volume is a technical indicator that measures the total number of units of an asset traded within a specific period, commonly a single trading day. This metric encompasses both the number of units purchased and sold during that time frame. For example, if a thousand shares of a particular company are bought and then sold on the stock exchange in a single trading day, then the trading volume for that particular stock would be two thousand shares.
Volume in the share market is recorded for all kinds of assets be it stocks, futures, options, bonds and the ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds). It is a key indicator that is often used by both traders and long-term investors to assess opportunities in an asset.
What Do High and Low Volumes Indicate?
Trading volume indicates the number of times a share has been traded in the share market. There can be broadly two types of volume indicators, high and low. Depending on the number of times a share is traded, it is termed as high or low volume. On the one hand, high volume often indicates an increase in price while low volume trade often indicates a bearish market and even breakouts.
The market trend can be determined by looking at the trading volume of a share. So, as a trader, it can be an effective tool for share market trading. Below we have discussed the two types of volume indicators:
High Volume
High volume means a share has been traded many times. It includes both the number of purchases and sales of a share. So, remember that high-volume trade does not only mean an increase in the purchase of shares. It may also include high-selling volumes! Here are the two indications that a high volume trade may have:
Bullish sign
A trade with high volume may indicate a bullish market. The high interest of traders in a stock may also lead to a stock price increase.
Bearish sign
High-volume shares may also sometimes indicate a bearish market. A share may be traded in high volume due to panic selling.
Low Volume
When a share is not traded often, it indicates low volume. Low volume indicator also includes both the purchase and sale of shares. The two essential indication of a low volume trade are:
Caution sign
Traders may be cautious of low-volume shares as it indicates a lack of interest in a stock among traders. It may also lead to high volatility of that stock.
Breakout chances
There are high chances of breakouts in low-volume trade. Thus, the sustainability of such trades is low!
What Does the Trading Volume in the Stock Market Tell You?
The trading volume of an asset reflects its liquidity and the level of interest it garners. When the trading volume for a stock is high, it indicates abundant liquidity and widespread interest. Conversely, a low trading volume suggests limited liquidity and lacklustre interest. Traders and investors typically favour assets with high volumes as they provide greater ease in buying and selling without significant price concessions.
Also Read: What is a Positive Volume Index?
Where Can You Find the Trading Volume of a Stock?
One of the advantages of trading volume is that it is publicly available for free. You can find the trading volume of stocks on your stockbroker’s trading portal or app, the website of stock exchanges and financial portals. Out of the various sources of trading volume for a stock, trading platforms are often the most reliable since they offer updates in real time.
Additionally, most stockbroking platforms also provide volume charts on hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, 50-day, 100-day and 200-day time frames. These charts help you visualise the change in trading volumes and can make formulating investment decisions easier and more effective.
Understanding Volume's Role in Momentum Trading
The strength of price movement can be understood by analysing the volume indicators. It can play a crucial role in momentum trading. If the price increases with high volume, it can be a sign of increasing interest of traders in a share.
On the other hand, if the share experiences low volume and the price increases, it can suggest a lack of confidence among traders. Here we have discussed two key elements in understanding the role of volume in momentum trading:
Identifying Volume Spikes
Usually, the price of a stock increases as the trading volume increases. So, such trends can be insightful for traders to understand the potential of a stock and trade accordingly. A sudden increase in the stock price usually also includes increased trading volume and vice-versa.
Recognizing Climax Volume Patterns
An impending reversal can be expected if the price of a stock increases with great speed after it nearly touches the peak price or trough. It can provide insightful analysis to the traders.
Key Volume Indicators for Momentum Analysis
Traders may use various volume indicators to understand the price movement and execute momentum trading. These indicators tell a lot about the market trend, whether the market is going bullish or bearish for a stock. Based on price movement and the volume at which a stock is being traded, the indicators indicate the increase or fall in price movement. Below we have discussed some of the most common and essential key volume indicators for momentum analysis:
On Balance Volume (OBV)
On-Balance Volume or OBV is a technical tool that is used to analyse the market trend and financial pressure on a stock. If the OBV increases, it suggests that the buying pressure is more on a stock. However, if the OBV falls down, it suggests strong selling pressure on a stock.
As discussed before, high volume often indicates an interest of traders in a stock. However, the volume may increase with both buying and selling of a stock. So, when you combine it with an OBV indicator, it helps you understand if the stock has more buying or selling pressure.
The ones with high selling pressure may indicate a bearish market. Sudden selling pressure may also indicate a panic selling trend. However, if the purchase pressure is high, it may indicate an increase in the price of a stock and bullish market.
Chaikin Money Flow (CMF)
CMF or Chaikin Money Flow uses two Indicators, price and the trading volume to understand if the market is going towards or outside the stock. Simply put, in order to understand if the stock market is attracting buying or selling trend, traders may use Chaikin Money Flow indicator.
The CMF or Chaikin Money Flow indicates below and above 0 trend. In case it shows a trend below zero, it is a sign of bearish market which means the selling pressure is high. Thus, the price of stock is also expected to fall. However, if the CMF indicates a trend above 0, it is a sign of a bullish market where the stock price may increase.
Klinger Oscillator
By taking into account two moving averages of volume, the strength of the volume and share price is determined. It is an indicator of the share market that can help determine long-term market trends by taking into consideration small price movements.
The upward movement of the Klinger Oscillator indicates a bullish market where the stock price is expected to rise. However, if the Klinger Oscillator moves down, it indicates a bearish market where the stock price will highly likely fall down!
Why are Trading Volume Indicators Important?
Indicates Market Interest: High trading volume shows increased investor interest in a stock or the overall market, often driven by news, trends, or earnings reports.
Confirms Price Trends: Trading volume helps confirm trends in price movement. A rising price with high trading volume typically signals strength in the upward trend.
Enhances Liquidity: A stock with higher trading volume generally offers better liquidity, making it easier for investors to buy and sell shares without significant price changes.
Stock Market Trade Volume in Technical Analysis
Volume Confirms Price Trends: In technical analysis, trading volume is a key indicator for confirming price movements. For instance, a rising price along with an increase in trading volume typically suggests a strong upward trend, while a drop in volume during price changes may indicate a weakening trend.
Identifying Trend Reversals: Analysts observe volume patterns to detect potential trend reversals. If a price drop is accompanied by unusually high trading volume, it may signal a reversal or an exit point for short-term traders.
Support and Resistance Levels: Trading volume helps identify support and resistance levels in stock prices. When a stock approaches these levels, high trading volume can indicate the likelihood of a breakthrough, while low volume may suggest the stock will bounce back without breaking the barrier.
Momentum Analysis: High trading volume typically aligns with high momentum, suggesting strong interest in the stock. Traders use this relationship to gauge the potential for further price changes in the short term.
Volume Indicators: Technical analysts use indicators like On-Balance Volume (OBV) and Volume Moving Average to interpret trading volume data, helping them to assess stock strength and potential price movements.
The Relationship Between Volume and Price
Traders often use price and volume to gauge liquidity, interest in an asset and overall market sentiment. Both of these metrics share an intricate relationship. Analysing the trading volume in the stock market can provide context to the price movement. The price-volume relationship can be an important indicator for investors to preempt future trends.
If the price of a stock is going in a particular way and its trading volume is increasing, it is an indicator of a strong demand for the stock. However, if its price is going in a particular direction and its volume is decreasing, it indicates a slowdown in the demand of this particular stock.
Also Read: What is a Negative Volume Index in Stock Market?
Conclusion
Volume in the share market is an important concept that lets you know about the liquidity of a stock and the interest generated by it among other investors. Understanding this concept and being able to identify and interpret it can greatly enhance your trading or investment decisions. By considering the price and the volume of a stock, you will make more well-rounded and informed choices regarding the stocks you are interested in.
You can make informed investments in the market by assessing the volume of stocks. To do this, you also need a demat and trading account. A demat account holds your shares in a dematerialised format while a trading account helps you buy and sell in the stock market. You can open both these accounts with a reliable stock broker and registered Depository Participant (DP) like Bajaj Broking.