Initial Balance

[Dollardogs]

Anybody here use initial balance as a main part of their trading? I was just introduced to this IB+VWAP trade idea where you fade the first attempt to break out of IB after 10:30 and then wait to see if it pulls back to VWAP and holds or not. That one seems pretty straightforward. I'm planning to backtest it with the stocks I like to trade this month, but I was curious if there are any other well-known IB strategies besides that one. Thanks in advance for any input. Basic setup I referred to is in the attached screenshot, gray box is the first hour of trading and VWAP is in purple. I'm mainly curious if there's other IB setups I should be looking for, or any IB rules of thumb a newer trader should be aware of?

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[maxinger]

It seems more like Garbage Zone GZ
where the price moves messily in a range.

GZ rules of thumb - keep a distance from it.
Don't trade / touch it.

 

[Dollardogs]

That's really helpful, thanks! I'm writing all this down ASAP as new rules for my new trading plan.

 

[easymon1]

I was just introduced to this initial balance (IB)+VWAP trade idea where you fade the first attempt to break out of IB after 10:30 and then wait to see if it pulls back to VWAP and holds or not.

What have you learned so far that you can pass along to us about your introduction to this idea?
Have you got any rules to generate a quick and dirty dozen stats on?

There seems to be little returned by search engine...
trading initial balance
https://www.dogpile.com/serp?q=trading+initial+balance

 

[Dollardogs]

Haven't learned much beyond that yet. I only heard about it on a youtube video a few days ago. They also included a strategy where you get a breach of IB high followed by retest and hold of IB high, then treat that as support and go long. I still really struggle with entries near the open, so it seemed like a way to develop plans from 10:30 to noon.

 

[easymon1]

Sounds good. What products are trading these days?

 

[Dollardogs]

Mostly training wheels tickers like SPY these days, still learning.

 

[easymon1]

Mostly training wheels tickers like SPY these days, still learning.

According to what you have heard/seen, what purpose is served by the IB in relation to the VWAP?

 

[Dollardogs]

Just what I said above: it seems to work pretty well as a price target for fade scalps after the first breach of IB.

 

[easymon1]

_Is the play based on a reversion back to the 'initial balance' first 60 min price range in this case?
_What could trigger an entry?