In financial markets, asset prices do not move randomly but are driven by clear forces. These are the balance between buyers and sellers. The term “supply” comes from basic economics, but its importance extends beyond the classroom because it explains why stock prices move the way they do.
Successful traders and investors often use the concept of “What is Supply” to understand market behavior and forecast price directions. Therefore, learning what supply is is not just about studying theory but about developing practical skills for making investment decisions.
What is Supply When Talking About Market Equilibrium
Demand ( is the primary driver of movement
Demand or buying interest is the most critical aspect. When prices fall, buyers want to buy more. Conversely, when prices rise, demand decreases. This is the simple yet effective “Law of Demand.”
Price changes impact in two ways:
Income Effect - When prices decrease, investors’ real purchasing power increases, allowing them to buy more.
Substitution Effect - When the asset’s price drops relative to alternatives, buyers switch to this asset instead.
Other factors influencing demand include:
Overall economic conditions and future outlooks
Investor confidence and political situations
Seasons and government policies
Technological developments
) What is Supply - The Seller’s Side
Conversely, Supply or selling interest behaves oppositely. When prices increase, sellers are willing to offer more because the value of their assets being divested is higher.
Factors affecting supply include:
Production and maintenance costs
Corporate policies on capital raising or share buybacks
New IPOs ###IPO( increasing supply
Regulations and compliance
Future price expectations
) Equilibrium - The Price Where Decisions Are Made
However, these two sides alone cannot determine the price. The actual price occurs at the Equilibrium Point, where demand and supply curves intersect.
At this point:
If the price rises, inventories build up, and sellers will lower prices.
If the price falls, shortages occur, and buyers are willing to pay higher prices.
Equilibrium is thus the “fair” price accepted by both buyers and sellers.
Green Candlestick )Close > Open( indicates buying pressure wins, demand is strong, and prices are likely to continue upward.
Red Candlestick )Close < Open( indicates selling pressure wins, supply is strong, and prices are likely to fall sharply.
Doji )Close ≈ Open( shows equal buying and selling pressure, market is in a wait-and-see phase.
) 2. Identifying Support and Resistance Levels ###Support & Resistance(
Support is the level where demand is strong. Buyers believe the price is low enough to buy, so when prices return here, buyers step in, causing prices to bounce back up.
Resistance is the level where supply is strong. Sellers believe the price is high enough to sell, so when prices approach this level, sellers are willing to lower prices, causing prices to reverse downward.
) 3. Following Trends ###Trend Following(
Uptrend - Prices make new highs consistently, indicating strong demand. Investors profit by following the trend.
Downtrend - Prices make new lows consistently, indicating dominance of supply. Prepare for a trend reversal.
Applying Demand Supply Zone to Capture Trading Opportunities
Demand Supply Zone technique combines the concept of “What is Supply” with technical analysis to pinpoint specific buy and sell opportunities.
) Reversal Trading ###Reversal Trading(
DBR )Demand Zone - Drop - Base - Rally( - Price drops sharply, then forms a base. When buying interest returns, prices surge from the base. Traders buy at breakout points of the base.
RBD )Supply Zone - Rally - Base - Drop( - Price rises, then forms a base. When selling interest returns, prices fall from the base. Traders sell at breakout points of the base.
New IPOs - Increase the number of securities in the market, adding to supply.
Regulations - Rules like Silent Periods or other policies.
Learning from Explaining What is Supply in the Real Market
The key point is understanding that Demand and Supply are the fundamental forces driving price movements.
When you see many buyers purchasing ###Strong Demand(, you will know prices are likely to rise.
When you see many sellers selling )Strong Supply(, you will know prices are likely to fall.
Summary
What is Supply as studied, is the willingness to sell. When combined with demand )Demand(, it determines the market’s equilibrium price.
For investors:
Understand the fundamentals of price movements
Use demand-supply data for market analysis
View companies from multiple perspectives
Make investment decisions based on principles, not emotions
Properly applying the concept of what is supply will help investors better catch market timing and reduce decision-making risks.
View Original
This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.
Understanding what supply is and how to use it in financial market analysis
Starting with What is Supply in the Real Market
In financial markets, asset prices do not move randomly but are driven by clear forces. These are the balance between buyers and sellers. The term “supply” comes from basic economics, but its importance extends beyond the classroom because it explains why stock prices move the way they do.
Successful traders and investors often use the concept of “What is Supply” to understand market behavior and forecast price directions. Therefore, learning what supply is is not just about studying theory but about developing practical skills for making investment decisions.
What is Supply When Talking About Market Equilibrium
Demand ( is the primary driver of movement
Demand or buying interest is the most critical aspect. When prices fall, buyers want to buy more. Conversely, when prices rise, demand decreases. This is the simple yet effective “Law of Demand.”
Price changes impact in two ways:
Income Effect - When prices decrease, investors’ real purchasing power increases, allowing them to buy more.
Substitution Effect - When the asset’s price drops relative to alternatives, buyers switch to this asset instead.
Other factors influencing demand include:
) What is Supply - The Seller’s Side
Conversely, Supply or selling interest behaves oppositely. When prices increase, sellers are willing to offer more because the value of their assets being divested is higher.
Factors affecting supply include:
) Equilibrium - The Price Where Decisions Are Made
However, these two sides alone cannot determine the price. The actual price occurs at the Equilibrium Point, where demand and supply curves intersect.
At this point:
Equilibrium is thus the “fair” price accepted by both buyers and sellers.
How to Use What is Supply in Technical Analysis
1. Reading Candlestick Charts ###Candlestick Analysis(
Green Candlestick )Close > Open( indicates buying pressure wins, demand is strong, and prices are likely to continue upward.
Red Candlestick )Close < Open( indicates selling pressure wins, supply is strong, and prices are likely to fall sharply.
Doji )Close ≈ Open( shows equal buying and selling pressure, market is in a wait-and-see phase.
) 2. Identifying Support and Resistance Levels ###Support & Resistance(
Support is the level where demand is strong. Buyers believe the price is low enough to buy, so when prices return here, buyers step in, causing prices to bounce back up.
Resistance is the level where supply is strong. Sellers believe the price is high enough to sell, so when prices approach this level, sellers are willing to lower prices, causing prices to reverse downward.
) 3. Following Trends ###Trend Following(
Applying Demand Supply Zone to Capture Trading Opportunities
Demand Supply Zone technique combines the concept of “What is Supply” with technical analysis to pinpoint specific buy and sell opportunities.
) Reversal Trading ###Reversal Trading(
DBR )Demand Zone - Drop - Base - Rally( - Price drops sharply, then forms a base. When buying interest returns, prices surge from the base. Traders buy at breakout points of the base.
RBD )Supply Zone - Rally - Base - Drop( - Price rises, then forms a base. When selling interest returns, prices fall from the base. Traders sell at breakout points of the base.
) Trend Continuation Trading ###Continuation Trading(
RBR )Demand Zone - Rally - Base - Rally( - Price rises, forms a base, then continues upward. Demand remains strong.
DBD )Supply Zone - Drop - Base - Drop( - Price falls, forms a base, then continues downward. Supply remains strong.
Deep Factors Influencing What is Supply in the Financial Market
) Demand Side
Investors decide to buy based on:
Supply Side
Sellers decide to sell based on:
Learning from Explaining What is Supply in the Real Market
The key point is understanding that Demand and Supply are the fundamental forces driving price movements.
When you see many buyers purchasing ###Strong Demand(, you will know prices are likely to rise. When you see many sellers selling )Strong Supply(, you will know prices are likely to fall.
Summary
What is Supply as studied, is the willingness to sell. When combined with demand )Demand(, it determines the market’s equilibrium price.
For investors:
Properly applying the concept of what is supply will help investors better catch market timing and reduce decision-making risks.