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Sunday, November 2, 2025
Knowledge BaseGlossary

Glossary

Algorithmic Trading can be a complex subject. Keep your knowledge current with this glossary of key concepts, terminology, and technical indicators.

Blow-Off Top

DEFINITION

 

A chart pattern that indicates a steep and rapid increase in a security's price and trading volume followed by a steep and rapid drop in price and volume. The rapid changes indicated by a blow-off top, also called a blow-off move or exhaustion move, can be the result of actual news or pure speculation.

EXPLANATION 

A blow-off top usually indicates that a security's price is about to fall, while a blow-off bottom usually indicates that a security's price is about to rise. A security can enter a blow-off period during which its value remains inflated for weeks or months. Day traders who want to try to profit from blow-off periods, while limiting their losses from the price drops that inevitably follow a blow-off top, can use trailing stop techniques. Day traders also use blow-off tops to identify potential gap-n-go trades.


Blow-Off Top

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TRADING FUTURES AND OPTIONS INVOLVES SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF LOSS AND IS NOT SUITABLE FOR ALL INVESTORS
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