Focus on highly liquid stocks with high average daily volume
Look for stocks with strong pre-market or opening volume spikes
Scan for large percentage gainers or losers from the prior close
Prioritize stocks with tight bid-ask spreads
Check for clear catalysts such as earnings, news, upgrades, or sector momentum
Use stocks with strong relative volume compared to their normal trading activity
Select stocks breaking key support or resistance levels
Watch for stocks with high volatility and enough price movement for profit potential
Avoid stocks with low liquidity or wide spreads
Filter for stocks trading above important moving averages if trending long
Filter for stocks trading below important moving averages if trending short
Use scanners to find unusual volume, gap ups, and gap downs
Track sector leaders and stocks moving with the market trend
Confirm that the stock has clean intraday chart patterns
Prefer stocks with consistent price action and minimal erratic swings
Check float size, with lower float stocks often moving faster
Review pre-market highs and lows for breakout levels
Monitor opening range breakout candidates
Avoid stocks with excessive halts or extreme manipulation risk
Build a watchlist before the market opens and update it during the session