Write the selection question, read the exact rule and inspect both matching and excluded cases before saving the screen.
Write a selection question
Decide whether you want unusual activity or consistent liquidity. Relative volume compares the latest session with the same stock’s average; average volume measures the typical number of shares traded. Start with one question, then add the other as a distinct condition if your process needs both.
Read field units and lookback periods
Use volumeRatio as a unitless multiple and avgVol20 as shares per daily session. The 20-session average includes the current session. Two million shares today against an average of one million produces a ratio of 2.00; the absolute volume alone cannot establish whether trading is unusual.
Compare another question before combining rules
Use the default at-least-2 ratio for an activity question. Compare the average-volume preset for liquidity. If combining them, AND requires both conditions. Adding changePercent > 0 asks for rising closes on that activity; changePercent < 0 asks for falling closes. Keep those directions separate.
securityType = "Stock" and exchange in ("NYSE", "NASDAQ") and not (name contains "Preferred") and not (name contains " Notes") and not (name contains "Debentures") and not (name contains "Warrant") and not (name contains " Right") and not (name contains "Depositary Shares representing") and not (name contains "Acquisition Corp") and (avgVol20 >= 1M)Inspect a match and a boundary exclusion
Sort by relative volume to study activity, then inspect the daily candle and event context. A large ratio with a falling close is a different observation from a large ratio at a new high. Compare the same session rather than treating an earlier result as a live intraday list.
Change one condition at a time and compare a row just inside the threshold with one just outside it. A zero-match result means the selected population did not meet the whole rule for that session; it is not a reason to silently change the question.
Save a reproducible research definition
Save the expression through the editor’s Library workflow. Record the selected session, population and sort so a later run can be compared meaningfully. A saved scan preserves rules, while a watchlist preserves symbols; their results can change independently.
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Read our data and methodology notes for calculation context. This guide explains research tools and observations. It does not recommend a trade or investment.