Maya Chen
Quantitative Editor — Indicators & Systems
Maya writes about the indicators and systematic logic behind the StockSetups scanner — RSI, MACD, ADX, ATR, moving averages, relative strength, and the trend template — and how to combine them into rules without overfitting.
Articles by Maya Chen (33)
Opening Range Breakout (ORB): Day Trading Guide
The Opening Range Breakout (ORB) uses the first 15–30 minutes of the session to define a directional bias. Learn how to identify, enter, and manage this intraday setup.
The VWAP Fade Setup: Trading Overextended Moves Back to VWAP
The VWAP fade setup targets stocks that have spiked far above VWAP on weak volume, betting on a mean reversion back to the session's average price. Here's the full playbook.
The Gap-and-Go Setup: Trading a Bullish Earnings Gap
A gap-and-go after a bullish earnings surprise can deliver fast, powerful moves. Learn how to confirm gap quality, time your entry, and manage risk like a pro.
VWAP + Moving Average Confluence: High-Conviction Swing Trade Entries
When VWAP and a key moving average converge at the same price level, the result is a high-probability swing trade entry zone. Here's how to find and trade them.
Accumulation/Distribution Line: Confirm Trends & Spot Divergences
The Accumulation/Distribution Line combines price location and volume to reveal whether smart money is quietly buying or selling — often before price confirms the move.
Volume Profile Explained: HVN, LVN & Point of Control
Volume profile maps where the most trading actually happened at every price level. Learn to read HVNs, LVNs, the POC, and Value Area to find high-conviction trade setups.
MACD Histogram Strategy: Spot Momentum Shifts Before Price
The MACD histogram often telegraphs momentum shifts several bars before the MACD line crossover. Here's how to read it and trade it.
The Bollinger Band Squeeze: Spot and Trade a Volatility Breakout
A Bollinger Band squeeze signals a coiled-spring breakout is near. Learn how to spot it, confirm direction, and trade the volatility expansion like a pro.
Keltner Channels Explained: Breakouts & Trend Continuations
Keltner Channels use an EMA centerline and ATR-based bands to define trend and volatility. Learn two core setups and how to filter false signals with volume and RSI.
On-Balance Volume (OBV) Explained: Confirm Breakouts and Spot Divergences
On-Balance Volume (OBV) adds volume on up days and subtracts it on down days to reveal whether smart money is accumulating or distributing—often before price moves.
2-Period RSI Strategy (Connors): Mean-Reversion Swing Trades
The 2-period RSI strategy — popularized by Larry Connors — uses extreme short-term RSI readings to pinpoint high-probability mean-reversion entries in the direction of the dominant trend.
VWAP Standard Deviation Bands: Swing Trade Entries & Exits
VWAP standard deviation bands turn a single intraday reference line into a full mean-reversion and momentum framework. Learn the two core setups every swing trader needs.
The EMA Ribbon: How to Use Multiple Moving Averages as a Trend Filter
An EMA ribbon stacks multiple exponential moving averages to reveal trend direction, strength, and transitions at a glance. Learn how to read it and build a practical swing trading strategy around it.
The VWAP Reclaim Setup: Trade a Key Intraday Reversal Signal
The VWAP reclaim setup triggers when a stock drops below VWAP, then recaptures it on rising volume — a powerful intraday reversal signal for swing and momentum traders.
Anchored VWAP Explained: High-Probability Swing Entries
Anchored VWAP (AVWAP) pins the classic volume-weighted average price to a key price event, creating a dynamic support/resistance level that swing traders use to time high-probability entries.
Relative Volume (RVOL): How to Find Breakout Candidates
Relative volume (RVOL) measures how much trading activity a stock has compared to its normal pace — and it's one of the most reliable filters for spotting real breakouts versus noise.
Volume Dry-Up (VDU): Spot Low-Volume Consolidations Before a Breakout
A Volume Dry-Up (VDU) is a telltale contraction in trading volume during a price consolidation that often signals an imminent breakout. Learn how to spot and trade it.
Bullish Divergence Explained: Spot Early Reversals with RSI & MACD
Bullish divergence occurs when price makes lower lows but RSI or MACD makes higher lows — a classic sign that bearish momentum is fading before a potential reversal.
Bearish Divergence Explained: Spot Topping Signals with RSI & MACD
Bearish divergence occurs when price makes a higher high but RSI or MACD makes a lower high — a classic warning that momentum is fading before a reversal.
Fibonacci Retracement Levels Explained: Find High-Probability Entry Zones
Fibonacci retracement levels help traders pinpoint where a pullback is likely to pause or reverse. Learn how to draw them correctly and combine them with other signals for higher-probability entries.
Average True Range (ATR) Explained: Smarter Stops and Targets
ATR measures a stock's daily price noise so you can place stops beyond it, size every trade to the same dollar risk, and set profit targets that actually get hit.
The Stochastic Oscillator Explained: How to Spot Overbought and Oversold Swing Setups
The stochastic oscillator measures where a stock closes relative to its recent range — helping swing traders spot overbought and oversold turning points before they happen.
The Golden Cross & Death Cross: How to Trade Moving Average Crossover Signals
The golden cross and death cross are two of the most-watched moving average crossover signals in technical analysis. Here's how to identify them — and use them smartly.
Bollinger Bands Explained: How to Use Volatility to Time Better Entries
Bollinger Bands measure volatility around a moving average, helping traders spot breakout coils, mean-reversion opportunities, and trend strength. Here's how to use them.
VWAP Explained: How to Use Volume Weighted Average Price
VWAP (Volume Weighted Average Price) is one of the most widely watched intraday benchmarks used by retail and institutional traders alike. Here's how to read and trade it.
Swing Trading vs Day Trading: Which Style Fits You?
Trying to decide between swing trading and day trading? This honest head-to-head covers time, capital, stress, taxes, and the PDT rule so you can choose the right fit.
What Is Swing Trading? A Complete Beginner's Guide
Swing trading is a strategy where traders hold stocks for days to weeks, aiming to capture short-term price moves using chart patterns and technical analysis.
What Is Day Trading? How It Works, Risks, and How to Start
Day trading means buying and selling stocks within a single session. Here's how it works, what it costs, and whether it's right for you.
The RSI Indicator: How to Use Relative Strength Index
Learn how to use the RSI indicator to spot momentum shifts, overbought/oversold conditions, and divergence signals in your swing trading.
MACD Explained: Trading the Moving Average Convergence Divergence
MACD combines two moving averages to reveal momentum shifts. Learn how to read crossovers, histogram bars, and divergence signals.
Moving Averages: SMA vs EMA and How Traders Use Them
Moving averages smooth price noise into clear trend lines. Learn the difference between SMA and EMA, the key lengths traders watch, and how to use them.
Relative Strength: How to Find the Market's Leading Stocks
Learn how relative strength identifies leading stocks before they break out, and why the RS line is one of the most powerful stock-screening filters available.
Volume Analysis: Reading the Conviction Behind Price Moves
Volume is the market's lie detector. Learn how to read relative volume, spot accumulation, and use volume to confirm chart pattern breakouts.