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Value area (VA, VAH, VAL)

Trader's Glossary · Profile and auction

Value area (VA, VAH, VAL)

Definition. The price range in which about 70% of the volume (or time) traded in a given period. The upper edge is the VAH, the lower edge the VAL.

How it works

The value area is built outward from the POC, up and down, adding the next highest-volume levels until about 70% of the total is reached. It's the range the market considered fair.

Example

The session opens above the previous day's VAH. The key question: will the market accept higher prices or return to yesterday's value?

What to watch out for

The result depends on whether the profile is built from the regular session or the full 24 hours, and over what period.

This is the session volume profile with VWAP in the Hetman Terminal (Battle Map of the Day). Screenshot from the Hetman Index (IHA) – a training instrument, simulated data.
This is the session volume profile with VWAP in the Hetman Terminal (Battle Map of the Day). Screenshot from the Hetman Index (IHA) – a training instrument, simulated data. See all the Hetman Terminal tools →

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See also

POC (Point of Control), Acceptance and rejection, Volume profile.

More in Hetman Capital Club

You'll find the full explanation with graphics, examples and exercises in the 📖 Order flow encyclopedia space, and its use in the live market in the 🔴 Live Room. Both are available to Club members (in Polish).

Educational content, not investment advice.