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Stacked Imbalance

A stacked imbalance occurs when multiple consecutive price levels in the footprint chart show a significant disparity between bid and ask volume, indicating strong aggressive pressure in one direction.

Marco BösingBy Marco Bösing1 min read

What Is a Stacked Imbalance?

A stacked imbalance occurs when three or more consecutive price levels in the footprint chart show an imbalance in the same direction. This means that on several ticks in a row, the volume on one side (bid or ask) exceeds the other side by a defined ratio (typically 300% or more).

Stacked imbalances signal concentrated aggressive pressure. For example, if five consecutive price levels show ask volume vastly exceeding bid volume, this indicates strong, coordinated buying pressure that frequently originates from institutional market participants.

The price levels where stacked imbalances occur can serve as future support or resistance zones.

Read the full article: Stacked Imbalances and Engulfing

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Related Terms

Absorption

An absorption occurs when aggressive market orders are absorbed by passive limit orders without price moving in the direction of the aggression — a sign of institutional counter-activity.

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Delta & CVD

Delta is the difference between volume traded at the ask and at the bid per candle, while the Cumulative Volume Delta (CVD) accumulates these values over time to reveal aggressive buying or selling pressure.

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Footprint Chart

A footprint chart displays the number of contracts traded at each price level, split into buys (trades at the ask) and sells (trades at the bid), making aggressive market activity visible.

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Imbalance

An imbalance is a significant disparity between buying and selling volume at a price level in the footprint chart, typically when one side exceeds the other by at least 300%.

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