Stocks & Commodities V.
8:2 (70-73): 2-bar NR and ORB by Toby Crabel
2-bar NR and ORB
by Toby Crabel
M arkets are in a constant state of flux; they are continuously shifting from movement to rest and back
to movement again. This interchange is never ending — from contraction to expansion to contraction —
with one phase directly responsible for the other's existence. A two-bar narrowing range (2-bar NR), a
price pattern that is the narrowest two-day range relative to any two-day range within the previous 20
market days (Figure 1), reflects that market activity and quantifies the market concept of contraction.
Thus, contraction is a relative condition that can occur even in a volatile market.
Once a market concept is formulated, it becomes tradeable. In this study, an opening range breakout
(ORB) trade was taken the day after the 2-bar NR was formed. An ORB is defined as a trade taken at a
predetermined amount above or below the opening range. My assumption is that with a contraction of
this kind, trending action would follow the direction of the breakout. Another assumption is that because
this pattern is such a well-defined contraction, trending would take place over the next several days.
Figures 2 through 9 confirm these assumptions and illustrate, in order:
• The amount above or below the open that the trade was initiated .
• The number of days in the trade (zero indicates an exit on the close the same day of entry, five
indicates an exit on the close five days after the entry).
• Whether the trade was a buy or a sell (determined by gross profits only).
• The percentage profitability on each trade (no stops were used on the tests).
• The number of trades.
• The average of all winning and losing trades.
• Gross profit exclusive of commission or slippage.
Figure 1 shows five 2-bar NR patterns. The tendency of the market to place the high or low of the day on
the open or close to the open is notable. The subsequent ability to expand the daily range is also
noteworthy and is a good example of this pattern's potential.
High probability patterns
Several observations can be made about the results on 2-bar NRs. Of 128 individual tests, there were 32
tests that lasted from the open to the close of the same day. Of those, 18 showed the highest probability of
success relative to others in the group. The open-to-close trades (zero in the "No. of days in trade"
column, Figures 2-9) were 25% of the total sample and accounted for 56% of the highest probability
trades.
Eurodollars, bonds and crude oil displayed reasonably high percentages on two- and five-day trades.
Coincidentally, these three markets have the highest open interest and volume.
Although these tests are presented in a rough system format, they should not be traded as such. The
purpose of my work is to determine the market's nature, in which the 2-bar NR concept assists me. When
Article Text Copyright (c) Technical Analysis Inc. 1
Stocks & Commodities V. 8:2 (70-73): 2-bar NR and ORB by Toby Crabel
FIGURE 1: A 2-bar NR pattern is the narrowest two-day range relative to any two-day range with the
previous 20 market days, and quantifies the market concept of contraction.
Stocks & Commodities V. 8:2 (70-73): 2-bar NR and ORB by Toby Crabel
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
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Stocks & Commodities V. 8:2 (70-73): 2-bar NR and ORB by Toby Crabel
FIGURE 4:
FIGURE 5:
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Stocks & Commodities V. 8:2 (70-73): 2-bar NR and ORB by Toby Crabel
FIGURE 8
FIGURE 9
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Stocks & Commodities V. 8:2 (70-73): 2-bar NR and ORB by Toby Crabel
applying the 2-bar NR (or any market concept), the full context of the market must be considered. Market
context is the integration of the trend, price action, price pattern studies and support/resistance; of those,
the trend overrides other particulars of market context.
It has been my observation that once the market has moved away
from the open in one direction after a 2-bar NR, it should not
return to the opening price.
The idea behind this pattern originated with Richard D. Wyckoff's last point of supply or last point of
support thesis. These were described by Wyckoff as periods of price action that displayed unusually
narrow ranges and low volume, which occurred just after a period of accumulation or distribution and
just before a markup/markdown phase. The 2-bar NR attempts to quantify this kind of take-off point prior
to a trend.
The pattern also resembles, to some degree, the ending distribution formulated by Peter Steidlmeyer, the
developer of the Chicago Board of Trade's Market Profile. An ending distribution is loosely defined as
the point at which the market is ready to begin a new movement and is indicated by a loss of movement
or no distribution.
It has been my observation that once the market has moved away from the open in one direction after a
2-bar NR, it should not return to the opening price. If it were to do so, that would disqualify the day as a
trend day. Trending action is ideal and is expected after the pattern. If a new phase is beginning, it should
also be obvious and unnecessary to question whether the trade was correct; it would be obvious by the
immediate .
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Stocks & Commodities V. 8:2 (70-73): 2-bar NR and ORB by Toby Crabel
The breakdown of the Elliott wave on a five minute chart is another means by which to determine a
successful breakout. After the initial move off the open, which most likely would be wave 1 of a five
wave sequence, the wave 2 correction should not retrace more than 61.8% of wave 1. If it does, the move
is suspect. Also, a clear five waves in the proposed wave 1 should be seen. This would imply that at least
one more five-wave sequence was upcoming.
In addition, it is advantageous if the 2-bar NR is holding at an important angle of support/resistance,
including trendlines, when it is formed. In fact, some of the best ORB trades occur after the market opens
at an important price angle.
By employing these theories as reference points, a trailing stop can also be used. For instance, after the
initial move off the open, a stop can be placed on the open. In addition, after a wave 1 is surpassed, a stop
can be placed at wave 2. If acceleration occurs, a stop can be placed on the opposite side of a low-volume
point left by the acceleration.
When considering a position for more than a day,the next day's price action is informative. A gap
favoring your position is ideal, with a move off the open in the direction of the gap still better, indicating
that an impulse wave is in progress. Given that the market has a natural tendency to move against the
previous day's closing direction, the ability of the market to buck this bias is indicative of market
conditions.
Toby Crabel is a CTA and AP with RB&H Commodities and a principal in Toby Crabel & Associates. A
former trader at the CME and CBOT, he now edits Market Analytics.
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Stocks & Commodities V. 8:2 (70-73): 2-bar NR and ORB by Toby Crabel
References
Crabel, Toby [1988], "Opening Range Breakout," Stocks & Commodities, Volume 6: Market Timing ,
pp. 337,366, 462.
Crabel, Toby [1989], "Opening Range Breakout," Stocks & Commodities, April-July.
Crabel, Toby [1989], "Price pattern studies," Stocks & Commodities, September.
Crabel, Toby [1989], "Trading close-to-close patterns," Stocks & Commodities, October.
Drinka, Thomas and Robert McNutt [1988], Market Profile series, Stocks & Commodities Volume 6:
Market Timing.
Weis, David [1987], Wyckoff in action, Stocks & Commodities Volume 5: Trading Strategies, p. 99.
MacDowell, C.R. [1990], Elliott Wave dilemma: Bull or bear market? Stocks & Commodities, January, p.
54.
Dimock, Dan [1990], Trading five-wave reversals, Stocks & Commodities January, p. 76.
Figures Copyright (c) Technical Analysis Inc. 4
