Screen stocks. Study the context. Keep the ideas you want to revisit.
Unusual activity is a question to investigate, not an explanation on its own.
Know what the bar represents
Daily volume records the number of shares traded during the covered session. Check the date and the data status before comparing bars. A partial observation is different from a completed daily record, even when both are displayed as a volume number.
Compare with a relevant baseline
A volume figure becomes more useful when compared with the same stock’s usual activity over a defined window. The baseline matters. A short window can reflect recent changes while a longer one includes more history. Review the field definition before comparing unusual-volume rankings.
Read price and activity together
Open the chart around the session that stands out. Notice whether the activity accompanies a large range, a gap, or relatively little price change. These are observations to record. They do not establish who traded or why, so use verified information when investigating a cause.
Keep the follow-up focused
Use Market Movers to find activity worth reviewing, then open the symbol summary or chart. If the company remains relevant to your research, add it to a watchlist. A separate volume condition in the screener can help you repeat the same search later.
Calculate relative volume with a named average
Relative volume is session volume divided by a named average. With hypothetical volume of 2.4 million and a 20-session average of 1.2 million, the ratio is 2.00. avgVol20 describes typical shares traded; volumeRatio describes today’s multiple. The current daily screen average includes today’s session, which differs from using only the preceding twenty sessions.
Relative volume = 2,400,000 ÷ 1,200,000 = 2.00Read price direction beside activity
Rising price on light volume, falling price on heavy volume and an activity spike inside a range are distinct observations. Heavy volume does not identify the traders or establish the reason for the move. A quiet consolidation may precede either direction; a low-volume breakout can fail or persist. Retain the close, range and event context when describing activity.
Read our data and methodology notes for calculation context. This guide explains research tools and observations. It does not recommend a trade or investment.