What Is a Stopping Volume Pattern?

Can heavy volume signal that a move is slowing down?

Stopping volume is a term some traders use when unusually high volume appears near the end of a directional move and price stops making meaningful progress.

Imagine NQ sells off sharply into a significant support area. Volume increases, but the market struggles to continue lower.

This could indicate that opposing buying interest is entering the market.

However, high volume near a low can also occur during a continuing sell-off.

I would look for evidence of stabilization, a change in price behavior, and a clearly defined invalidation point.

The important distinction is between a market that is merely trading heavily and one that is actually showing signs of a directional change.