Pivot Points are pre-calculated support and resistance levels based on the previous session's high, low, and close. They are widely watched by institutional traders, market makers, and professional NSE traders — making them self-fulfilling at key levels. Pivot Points reset daily.
Standard Pivot Point Calculation
Pivot (P) = (Previous High + Previous Low + Previous Close) ÷ 3
R1 = (2 × P) − Previous Low
R2 = P + (Previous High − Previous Low)
R3 = Previous High + 2 × (P − Previous Low)
S1 = (2 × P) − Previous High
S2 = P − (Previous High − Previous Low)
S3 = Previous Low − 2 × (Previous High − P)
Understanding Pivot Levels
| Level | Name | Role |
|---|---|---|
| R3 | Resistance 3 | Extreme resistance — rarely reached on normal days |
| R2 | Resistance 2 | Strong resistance — target for strong trending days |
| R1 | Resistance 1 | First resistance — common intraday target |
| P | Pivot Point | Key equilibrium — bullish above, bearish below |
| S1 | Support 1 | First support — common intraday bounce zone |
| S2 | Support 2 | Strong support — target on weak days |
| S3 | Support 3 | Extreme support — rarely reached on normal days |
NSE Intraday Pivot Strategy
Opening Direction Rule:
If NIFTY opens and stays above Pivot (P) → Bullish bias, look for longs at S1/S2
If NIFTY opens and stays below Pivot (P) → Bearish bias, look for shorts at R1/R2
The pivot point is the most important level of the day.
If NIFTY opens and stays above Pivot (P) → Bullish bias, look for longs at S1/S2
If NIFTY opens and stays below Pivot (P) → Bearish bias, look for shorts at R1/R2
The pivot point is the most important level of the day.
Pivot Bounce Trade:
Price pulls back to S1 in an overall uptrend (NIFTY above Pivot)
Entry: When price bounces from S1 with positive candle
Target: Pivot Point or R1
Stop Loss: Below S2
Works best: In the first 2 hours of NSE trading session
Price pulls back to S1 in an overall uptrend (NIFTY above Pivot)
Entry: When price bounces from S1 with positive candle
Target: Pivot Point or R1
Stop Loss: Below S2
Works best: In the first 2 hours of NSE trading session
Camarilla Pivot Points
Camarilla pivots use a different formula and generate tighter levels, making them more popular for intraday scalping on BANK NIFTY:
Camarilla Key Levels
H4 = Close + 1.1 × (High − Low) ÷ 2 ← Sell zone (short entry)
H3 = Close + 1.1 × (High − Low) ÷ 4 ← Resistance (target)
L3 = Close − 1.1 × (High − Low) ÷ 4 ← Support (target)
L4 = Close − 1.1 × (High − Low) ÷ 2 ← Buy zone (long entry)
Weekly and Monthly Pivots
- Weekly pivots — calculated from previous week's H/L/C. Work well for swing trades on NSE stocks
- Monthly pivots — calculated from previous month's H/L/C. Used by positional traders and fund managers
NIFTY 50 monthly pivot points are watched by institutional traders and FIIs. A NIFTY close above the monthly pivot is often a strong signal for continued upside for the rest of the month.