Intraday Intensity

What is Intraday Intensity?

Intraday Intensity is a volume-pressure gauge developed by David Bostian and popularized by John Bollinger. Each bar's volume is weighted by where the close sits in the range: the multiplier is (2 × close - high - low) / (high - low), which is +1 for a close at the high, -1 at the low, and 0 at mid-range. The premise is that institutions completing large orders push price toward one extreme of the bar by the close, so close location times volume approximates their footprint.

The weighted values are used two ways. Summed cumulatively they form a running line with the same per-bar formula as the Accumulation/Distribution Line, so the two coincide. Normalized, a rolling sum of Intraday Intensity is divided by the rolling sum of volume (commonly 21 bars) to give a bounded percentage oscillator, the form Bollinger favors. Rising readings suggest accumulation, falling readings distribution, and neither is a standalone signal.

How traders use it

• As confirmation at Bollinger Bands tags: a lower-band touch while normalized intensity is positive or rising flags a reversion candidate, while a tag confirmed by heavy negative intensity argues the move has real supply behind it.
• As a trend audit: a cumulative line rising with price supports the advance, while a flat or falling line during a rally warns that closes keep drifting away from the highs on volume.
• As an accumulation screen in ranges: persistently positive intensity while price goes sideways is read as quiet buying, the same job OBV does but weighted by close location within the bar rather than by close-to-close direction.