Open

What is “Open”?

The term open refers to the price at which a financial instrument starts trading at the beginning of a trading session. It is the first traded price of the day when the market opens.

Why is Open important?

Market Sentiment and price discovery: The open price reflects the initial sentiment of market participants. It can indicate the level of enthusiasm or caution among traders at the beginning of the trading session. A higher open suggests positive sentiment, while a lower open indicates negative sentiment. The initial trades at the open also help establish the starting point for the day's trading range.

Gap Analysis: Gaps occur when there is a significant difference between the previous close and the open price. Traders analyze these gaps to identify potential trading opportunities and assess market momentum. For example, an upward gap (where the open is higher than the previous close) may suggest positive news or strong buying interest, while a downward gap (where the open is lower than the previous close) may indicate negative news or selling pressure.

Volatility Assessment: The difference between the previous close and the open price can provide insights into the level of volatility in the market. A significant difference suggests higher volatility, indicating potentially larger price movements and trading opportunities.

Trading Strategies: Some traders employ specific strategies based on the open price. For instance, there are strategies that aim to capitalize on the price momentum observed at the open, such as trading breakouts or fade strategies that bet on reversals after the open.