Price Alerts 4 min read

Using Percentage Change Alerts for Unusual Move Detection

The change_pct alert type fires based on a stock's daily percentage move rather than an absolute price level. Here is when to use it and how to configure it correctly.

How change_pct Alerts Work

A change_pct_above alert fires when a stock's intraday gain exceeds a percentage you specify relative to the previous session's close. A change_pct_below alert fires when the intraday loss exceeds your threshold. These are calculated against the prior close, not an arbitrary reference price.

Typical Thresholds for CSE Stocks

When to Use change_pct Instead of price_above

Use change_pct alerts when you care about the magnitude of the move relative to normal behaviour, not just crossing a price level. A stock trading at 250 LKR moving to 262 LKR is a 4.8 percent gain — more meaningful than simply crossing 262 LKR if that level has no particular chart significance. Percentage-based alerts are also easier to apply uniformly across stocks at different price levels.

Set change_pct_below alerts on all your portfolio holdings at negative 4 to 5 percent as an early warning system. A move of that magnitude in a single session usually means something is happening that warrants your attention, regardless of whether it hits an absolute price threshold.

Combining with the AI Brief

When a change_pct alert fires mid-session, open the Investography AI morning brief or the stock's nano insight if available. A sharp percentage move with no announced catalyst is more concerning than a move with a clear earnings or dividend announcement attached. The context shapes your response significantly.

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