Flat Base

Flat Base watches for the quietest of the growth-stock bases and manages it from shelf to breakout, the written flat base specification's first dedicated detector. A shelf qualifies once it spans the minimum length, corrects less than the depth cap and, by default, follows a meaningful advance; the build boxes it live, sets the buy point a margin over the range high, keeps the range low as the stop reference, grading it by tight closes and contracting volume.

How to Trade the Flat Base?

• Pivot cleared on volume: a break through the buy line at or above the volume multiple prints the volume-confirmed label, the textbook resolution.
• Weak-volume break: clearing the pivot without expansion is flagged and alerted separately.
• Invalidation: the correction exceeding the depth cap recolors and ends the base.
• Grade: the info label reads Tight, Average or Loose, downgrading wide-and-loose shelves that merely meet the depth rule.

Flat bases read best on weekly charts, home of the five-week convention.

Flat Base Settings

• Minimum Base Length (default 5): fewest bars of sideways trade.
• Maximum Base Depth % (default 15): the high-to-low correction cap.
• Require Prior Advance (on) with Prior Advance % (default 20) and Prior Advance Lookback (default 40): the second-stage requirement.
• Breakout Trigger (default Close above pivot); High above pivot fires intrabar.
• Pivot Margin % (default 0.1): the buy point's margin above the range high.
• Breakout Volume × Average (default 1.4) and Average Volume Length (default 10): the confirmation multiple and its baseline, also the in-base contraction reference.
• Tight Closes: Max Avg Close Change % (default 2.5): the bound feeding the grade.
• Display: Show Base Box, Show Pivot Line, Show Range Low Line (Stop Reference), Show Base Info Label, Show Breakout & Failure Markers (all on).

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a flat base differ from an ascending base?

Why did a forming base suddenly end?

What does the quality grade measure?