The 3 signals that catch momentum early
1. Tick Velocity at First Touch The first 3–5 seconds at a C2 level tell you everything. If volume rate in the first 5 seconds is already 2× the benchmark — that’s institutional, not retail. Retail builds slowly. Smart money hits fast and hard. A “5-second rate” comparison vs the candle average would catch entries before T2 even forms.
2. Candle Momentum Bias (CMB) Before price even reaches the C2 level, the current candle’s close position (CPR) + body direction tells you which way momentum is pointing. CPR > 65% + body growing = bull momentum carrying into the level. Add this as a live “momentum arrow” — ▲▲ ▲ ─ ▼ ▼▼ — updated every tick.
3. Rate Acceleration Curve Right now the dashboard shows current rate. What it doesn’t show is whether that rate is still accelerating or already peaked. Peak rate timing matters enormously for scalping — if rate peaked 8 seconds ago and is now at 60% of peak, the move is exhausting. Show → ACCEL vs → PEAK vs → DECAY.
Signal 1 — Tick Velocity (col per TF):
⚡FAST= 5-sec rate ≥ 2× benchmark → institutional hit, act nowMOD= 5-sec rate ≥ 1× benchmark → normal participationslow= below benchmark → retail drift, wait3s..= countdown while snapshot pending (fires at exactly 5 seconds from touch)
Signal 2 — Candle Momentum Bias (col 0, one value for all TFs):
▲▲ BULL= CPR ≥ 65% + strong body + lower wick rejection▲ BULL= CPR ≥ 50% with mild bull structure▼▼ BEAR/▼ BEAR= opposite─ NEUT= doji / indecision — don’t trade direction
Signal 3 — Rate Acceleration Curve (alongside TV in each TF col):
ACCEL= current rate > rate 5 seconds ago × 1.1 → still building, enterPEAK= current rate ≥ 80% of all-time peak rate → at maximum, exit soonDECAY= current rate < 60% of peak → exhausting, don’t enter
Scan Alert — when all 3 conditions align: When TV:⚡FAST + ACCEL or PEAK + CMB aligned with direction all fire on the same TF, that cell flashes ⚡ MOMENTUM ⚡ in white at 250ms. This is the scalp entry signal — typically fires within the first 8–12 seconds of a genuine institutional touch.