AnchorApproach.
Price is nearing the GEX Anchor, the strike the dealer gamma structure is organized around. In Discovery it only appears for names rated 4-5, where positive gamma gives the Anchor its pull.
What triggers it
Named setup
- Price comes near the GEX Anchor. For alerts, you set how near in your GEX alert settings.
- On the Discovery GEX Setups tab, a name inside the band is labeled Anchor Approach, and a name that is close but not yet inside it is labeled Approaching Anchor.
- Discovery only shows either label for names with a GEX Rating of 4 or 5.
Regime context
- The GEX Rating is a 1-5 volatility regime score, not a directional one. The Discovery version is gated to Rating 4-5; the GEX alert version is not, so check the rating when an alert fires.
- At Rating 4-5 (positive gamma, more stable), dealer hedging leans against moves, so price tends to gravitate toward the Anchor. That is why proximity to the Anchor means something in this regime.
- At Rating 1-2 (negative gamma, more volatile), hedging amplifies moves instead, and the Anchor is just a price the structure no longer defends. Discovery does not show an anchor setup there; a Rating 1-2 name is judged against its Flip instead (see Flip Reclaim).
New to the rating? Read The GEX Rating System.
When it stops
- Price moves away from the Anchor. A GEX alert that has fired stays quiet while price lingers near the level and only re-arms after price has moved clearly away and returns.
- The GEX Rating drops below 4. The name leaves the anchor setups on the Discovery GEX Setups tab, and a different setup definition applies.
- A per-ticker cooldown you control in alert settings keeps a busy name from repeating.
Recent examples
Recent examples of Anchor Approach will appear here once occurrences are recorded. They are added after each market close, covering the last 30 days.
Every occurrence in the window is shown, not only the ones that worked. Past behavior is not a prediction. Not financial advice.
Where it shows up
- DealerEdge GEX alertsPush on iOS and Android, optional DiscordOne of the three GEX alert triggers that are on by default. The alert shows the distance to the Anchor and the Flip for context.
- Discovery: GEX Setups tabWeb and mobileRows labeled Anchor Approach or Approaching Anchor, for Rating 4-5 names only. Opt-in Discovery alerts can also cover this tab.
- PulseWeb and mobileThe Anchor and Flip are drawn on the chart as levels.
How to use it
- Find it. Open the GEX Setups tab in Discovery and look for Anchor Approach or Approaching Anchor rows, or keep the Anchor Approach trigger on in your DealerEdge GEX alert settings.
- Confirm the regime. Check that the GEX Rating is 4 or 5. The Anchor's pull comes from positive gamma, so the rating is the reason the setup exists.
- Read the map. Open DealerEdge to see where the Anchor sits relative to the Flip and the Defense Lines around it.
- Make your own plan. Use the Anchor as a reference level and decide entry, size and exit with your own confirmation. The setup is context, not a trade instruction.
Related reading
Common questions
Why does Discovery only show Anchor Approach for Rating 4-5 names?
The Anchor only has pull in a positive-gamma regime, where dealer hedging leans against moves. At Rating 1-2 the same hedging amplifies moves, so price near the Anchor is a coincidence rather than a mechanism, and Discovery does not show it.
Is a Rating 5 Anchor Approach bullish?
No. The GEX Rating is a volatility regime score. Rating 5 means moves tend to be damped, whether the day is up or down. Anchor Approach says where price is relative to a level, not which way it will go.
What is the difference between Anchor Approach and Approaching Anchor?
Both rows belong to the Anchor Approach setup on the Discovery GEX Setups tab. A row labeled Anchor Approach means price is already inside the proximity band; a row labeled Approaching Anchor means price is close but not yet inside it.
See it on live data.
Browse every named setup in the Setups Library, or see what is included in Trade Echo.
Not financial advice. Setups describe dealer positioning and market structure, not predictions, and a setup appearing does not mean price will move in any direction.