Why volume is not as crucial as in the past:
1. Algorithmic Trading: With the increasing prevalence of algorithmic and high-frequency trading, market dynamics have changed. Algorithms can execute numerous trades within fractions of a second, potentially influencing price movements without substantial volume changes.
2. Market Liquidity:In highly liquid markets, price movements can occur with less significant volume. This is especially true for major stocks and indices, where large institutional trades might not cause substantial volume spikes.
3. Market Fragmentation: Trading now occurs across multiple exchanges and platforms, leading to fragmented volume data. Traders may need to consider total market volume rather than focusing on a single exchange.
4. Alternative Data: Traders today often use a variety of alternative data sources, such as social media sentiment, news analytics, and macroeconomic indicators, in addition to volume analysis. These factors can provide additional insights into market movements.