As you examine your trading range, you are looking for clues as to whether it is accumulation, distribution or nothing at all. Even though you have higher bottoms, and higher tops within the trading range, along will increased volume and spread on the rallies, and decreased spread and a falling off of volume on the reactions, nothing has been proven. You only have suggestive indications that the range is accumulation. You need to wait until you have a Sigh of Strength.

A Sign of Strength can be given by what a stock does, or what it fails to do. The purpose of a Sign of Strength is to show that Demand is in control. There is a general Sign of Strength (SOS) that occurs within the trading range. You should see a rally with good demand (volume) on the move up, with a widening of price spread. The rally should stand out as uniquely strong. It should call attention to itself. This is where you sit up and take notice. You then need to wait for the test which will come as the Last Point of Support. If the Last Point of Support shows less volume, holds at a higher level, with decreased spread. The indication is that it demand is now in control. It is likely that the stock will move out of the trading range from that point. The next rally is likely to be a Jump across the Creek.