A normal chart shows volume per bar. Volume profile turns it sideways and shows volume per price. That simple change makes it much easier to see where the market actually did business.

The key parts

• Point of control (POC): the single price with the most volume. The fairest price for that period.

• Value area: the range where about 70% of the volume traded. Its top is the VAH and its bottom is the VAL.

• High volume nodes: thick areas where price spent time. They tend to slow price down.

• Low volume nodes: thin areas price moved through quickly. They tend to get crossed fast again.

How traders use it

When price opens inside yesterday's value area, a rotation back toward the POC is common. When price opens outside value and is accepted there, the market is often looking for a new area of value and can trend.

Low volume nodes make good targets because price rarely stays in them for long. High volume nodes make good places to expect a pause.

Session vs visible range

A session profile builds one profile per day. A visible range profile builds one profile from everything on screen. Both are useful. Session profiles are great for day-to-day value, and visible range is great for the bigger picture.

In HOC Charts

HOC Charts includes the Session Volume Profile, the Visible Range Volume Profile and TPO charts. You can show the POC, value area and naked POCs from earlier days, which are often revisited.