Imbalance Levels

A volume-based order flow indicator. It analyzes bid and ask volume at each price level (footprint data), detects stacked imbalances, and displays them as support and resistance levels.

Imbalance Levels are not a standalone buy or sell signal. The indicator visualizes order flow patterns — the trader interprets them and makes decisions as part of their own analysis.

Key Features

Strength-weighted shading. The stronger the imbalance ratio, the darker the zone's shading — creating an instant visual hierarchy between levels.

On-chart data. Each zone displays its actual data as text: the imbalance ratio (e.g., 6.7x) and traded volume (e.g., 1.2k).

Smart filtering. Buy-imbalance zones only plot below price, sell-imbalance zones only above; levels that are instantly retested are discarded as noise.

Extension until touch. Levels persist until price returns to the zone, with optional real-time touch alerts.

How It Works

The indicator scans each closed bar's footprint data using a diagonal bid/ask comparison: when the aggressive side exceeds the opposite side by the minimum ratio (default 5x) across enough consecutive price levels (default 3), a level is formed.

Buy-side stacks register only as support below the close; sell-side stacks as resistance above it. Each level shows its strongest ratio and stack volume (e.g., 6.7x | 350), with opacity scaling from 5x to 15x+ — the stronger the imbalance, the darker the shading.

Levels touched by the very next candle are discarded as noise. Surviving levels extend until price trades back into the zone, with an optional real-time touch alert.

Settings

• minimum imbalance ratio (sensitivity threshold);
• minimum stack range (consecutive ticks required);
• minimum volume filter;
• zero-value handling;
• separate colors for support and resistance zones;
• touch alerts on/off.

The indicator works on any timeframe and automatically adapts to the chart's period.

Example Use Cases

Refining entry location. A trader with a long bias waits for price to pull back into an untested 8x+ support imbalance level rather than entering at market — using the zone as one possible entry area with a stop below it.

Comparing level strength. With multiple levels on the chart, the shading instantly shows which zones are associated with the most pronounced aggressive activity. A trader may prioritize a dark 12x level over a light 5x one when choosing which pullback to trade.

Alert-driven monitoring. A trader monitoring multiple instruments enables touch alerts and is notified the moment price returns to any active imbalance zone — with the ratio and volume included in the message for a quick strength assessment without watching the chart.