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Studies · Volume

On-Balance Volume (OBV)

obv · Granville's running total of signed volume

Drawn in its own panelReads close, volume
Hover the chart to read values · practice data: a seeded random walk with no overnight gaps

What it measures

A running total of volume: a bar that closes up adds its whole volume, a bar that closes down subtracts it. The level itself means nothing; the direction of the line is the reading.

How traders use it

  • Confirmation: a price uptrend with OBV rising too is backed by volume.
  • Divergence: price making new highs while OBV does not suggests the rally lacks buyers.
  • Breakouts: OBV breaking out ahead of price is read as accumulation before the move.

Parameters

None — the study is fully defined by its formula.