Institutional order flow trading has become an increasingly common element of the market in recent years.
This is because it is a strategy that is well-suited to the current trading environment, especially the prevalence of smart beta ETFs and other niche strategies like volatility.
Institutional order flow trading involves analysing information about large trades placed by institutions and taking positions accordingly.
This is different from retail order flow trading, which involves analysing information about small retail orders and taking positions accordingly.
Let’s take a look at what institutional order flow trading is and how you can use this strategy as part of your own trading approach.
Plus later in this article, watch a simple institutional order flow trading strategy you can apply today.
Institutional order flow traders, or IIF traders as they are commonly known, analyse the activity of institutional investors when they place very large orders on an exchange.
They then take positions based on what they see and wait for those same institutions to place another large trade in the same direction before closing out their position.
Institutional order flow trading is a trading strategy that analyses the order flow of large orders placed by institutional investors.
This is different from retail order flow trading, which involves analysing small retail orders and taking positions accordingly. (More on this later on)
Institutional order flow traders, or IIF traders as they are commonly known, will monitor the activity of institutional investors when they place very large orders on an exchange.
They then take positions based on what they see and wait for those same institutions to place another large trade in the same direction before closing out their position.
In addition, IIF traders also rely on economic data and other macro factors, such as geopolitical events, for trading signals.
Institutional order flow trading is important because it can help you identify the sentiment of large investors.
For example, if you see a large trade being placed in one direction, then you can assume that a lot of money managers are bullish on that particular asset.
When you combine this information with technical analysis, such as price charts, you can make good trading decisions.
If a large trade is placed in one direction, then you can assume that a lot of money managers are bullish on that particular asset.
This can help you make good decisions when it comes to trading. Furthermore, IIF trading can also help you predict where new ETFs will be listed.
This is because the exchanges where these ETFs are listed are often waiting for large investors to place a large trade in one direction.
There are a variety of strategies that can be used when institutional order flow trading.
Here are a few of the most common:
Rhythm and Pattern Trading
This strategy involves finding a pattern in the activity of large orders and then taking a position based on that pattern.
Top-Down Order Flow Analysis
This strategy involves looking at the activity of large orders from the top down, examining the largest orders first and then working down to smaller orders.
Bottom-Up Order Flow Analysis
This strategy involves looking at the activity of large orders from the bottom up, examining smaller orders first and then working up to larger orders.
Focusing on High-Frequency Trading
This strategy involves focusing on high-frequency trading, which is commonly observed among large orders that pass through third-party execution services.
Focusing on Volatility Trading
This strategy involves focusing on volatility trading, which is commonly observed among large orders that pass through third-party execution services.
(This is exactly how we as retail traders can find success in the markets)
Macro-based trading
Macro-based trading involves placing trades based on macro factors, such as economic data and geopolitical events.
For example, if there is a large amount of economic data that is favourable to the equity market, then you can assume that large institutions are bullish on the market.
This can help you make good trading decisions.
Technical-based trading
Technical-based trading involves placing trades based on technical factors, such as chart patterns and moving averages. This is perhaps a strategy you may already use.
For example, if the price of a particular asset is near a technical level of support, then you can assume that large institutions are bullish on that asset.
A better way of looking to trade this is with a supply and demand approach. Which you can learn much more about this reading this article by clicking here.
This can also help you make good trading decisions.
Trend-based trading
Trend-based trading involves placing trades based on the trend of a particular asset.
For example, if you see a large trade being placed in one direction, then you can assume that a lot of money managers are bullish on that asset.
Volume-based trading
Volume-based trading involves placing trades based on the volume of a particular asset.
For example, if you see a large trade being placed in one direction, then you can assume that a lot of money managers are bullish on that asset.
Price-based trading
Price-based trading involves placing trades based on the price of a particular asset.
For example, if you see a large trade being placed in one direction, this can be see by a candle such as a engulfing candlestick.
Then you can assume that a lot of money managers are bullish on that asset.
This can help you make good trading decisions.
As with any trading strategy, there are some limitations to IIF trading.
For one, you need to be able to recognise the large orders placed by large investors. (This is exactly what is taught inside the Forex Masterclass course.)
This means you need to be an excellent technical trader as well.
Furthermore, you need to be able to identify when the large orders are placed in.
You can’t just look at a large order and know what it is, which is why you need to be an excellent technical trader as well.
Last but not least, IIF trading can result in whipsaw situations, which is when your trade is open, it closes out, re-opens, and closes out again.
This can be stressful, but it can also be lucrative if you are trading the right assets.
The first step in implementing an IIF trading strategy is to select the assets you want to trade.
You should select assets that are widely traded, have enough liquidity for large institutions to trade, and have sufficient volume for you to make a profit.
The next step is to identify the large buy and sell orders placed by large institutions.
You can do this by setting up a Bloomberg IIF watchlist, which is a free tool that many traders use.
Or simply by reading the charts using supply and demand strategy.
The last step is to close out your position when you see another large buy or sell order in the same direction.
You can also combine IIF trading with other strategies, such as technical analysis and fundamentals, to increase the accuracy of your trading decisions.
Institutional order flow trading is a trading strategy that analyses the order flow of large orders placed by institutional investors.
This is different from retail order flow trading, which involves analysing small retail orders and taking positions accordingly.
Institutional order flow traders, or IIF traders as they are commonly known, will monitor the activity of institutional investors when they place very large orders on an exchange.
They then take positions based on what they see and wait for those same institutions to place another large trade in the same direction before closing out their position.
In addition, IIF traders also rely on economic data and other macro factors, such as geopolitical events, for trading signals.
Institutional order flow trading is a strategy that relies on the order flow of large institutional investors.
It is an effective strategy because it allows you to capitalise on the sentiment of large institutional investors.
In addition, it can help you predict where new ETFs will be listed, since large institutions often place large orders before they are listed.
However, IIF trading does have its limitations, such as the fact that you need to be able to recognise the large orders placed by large investors, identify what they are, and be an excellent technical trader.
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