Learn · options market structure
How do I read a volume profile (POC, value area)?
A volume profile shows how many contracts or shares traded at each price during a session. The point of control (POC) is the price with the most volume, and the value area is the range around it that holds 70% of the session's volume. Traders use the POC and the value-area high and low as reference levels.
The three levels
POC: the most-traded price. VAH and VAL: the top and bottom of the value area. Prices outside the value area traded less, so moves there are often quicker.
Prior-session levels
Many traders carry the prior session's POC, VAH and VAL into the next day. A POC that price has not revisited since is called a naked POC and is often watched as a target.
Where GammaPulse shows it
The dashboard's Futures tab shows the ES and NQ session profile with prior-session levels.
Related
- What are gamma walls in options?
- What is the expected move and how is it calculated?
- Where is SPY's gamma wall today?
Education and market data, not investment advice. GammaPulse does not publish a track record or performance claims.