Accumulation/Distribution Line
The Accumulation/Distribution (A/D) Line is a cumulative volume-flow line that, unlike OBV, weights each bar by where price closed within its range. This article explains how it is built, how its direction reveals accumulation versus distribution, how it differs from OBV (close-within-range vs up/down) and from Chaikin Money Flow (cumulative line vs windowed oscillator), and how A/D divergence warns when volume flow disagrees with price.
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Volume Profile
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On-Balance Volume (OBV)
On-Balance Volume (OBV) is a cumulative running total of volume that adds volume on up-close days and subtracts it on down-close days, turning volume into a single trend line. This article explains how OBV is built, why its direction (not its absolute value) is what matters, how a rising OBV confirms accumulation and a falling OBV distribution, how OBV divergence warns that a price move lacks volume support, and the idea that volume can lead price.
Chaikin Money Flow (CMF)
Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) measures buying versus selling pressure over a period by combining where each bar closes within its range with its volume. This article explains the money-flow multiplier, why a close near the high signals accumulation and near the low distribution, how CMF oscillates around zero (above = buying pressure, below = selling), how it differs from OBV, and how to read zero-line crosses and divergence.
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