Price Gaps

Price Gaps are areas on a price chart where no trading occurs between two consecutive periods, causing the price to “jump” up or down instead of moving smoothly.

A gap appears when the market opens significantly higher or lower than the previous close.

How Price Gaps Form

Price gaps usually happen because of:

  • 📰 News or economic announcements
  • 📊 Earnings reports
  • 🌍 Geopolitical events
  • ⏱️ After-hours or weekend trading (stocks & crypto)

Gap Fill (Important Concept)

  • A gap fill happens when price returns to trade within the gap area
  • Common gaps usually fill
  • Breakaway & runaway gaps may not fill immediately

📌 Rule of thumb:

The faster a gap fills, the weaker the signal


How Traders Use Price Gaps

  • 📍 Identify trend direction
  • 🎯 Set entry & exit points
  • 🛑 Place stop-loss levels
  • 📊 Combine with volume, support & resistance, candlestick patterns

Markets Where Gaps Are Common

  • 📈 Stocks (very common)
  • 💱 Forex (mainly weekend gaps)
  • 🪙 Crypto (less frequent but possible)