TUTORIAL 04 OF 04
Elite feature
HTF levels and confluence filtering
Higher timeframe support and resistance levels are one of the most powerful filters available in APEX Elite. This tutorial explains the five key levels, how to use them to find the highest probability setups, and how the automatic exclusion buffer protects you from entries at bad locations.
What are HTF levels
Higher timeframe levels are price points that institutional traders watch closely across multiple sessions. When a Silver Bullet signal fires near one of these levels — in the right direction — the confluence significantly increases the probability of a successful trade.
APEX Elite draws five levels automatically at the start of each day and week:
PDH
Previous Day High
Dashed red line
PDL
Previous Day Low
Dashed green line
PDC
Previous Day Close
Dotted grey line
WKH
Weekly High
Solid bright red
WKL
Weekly Low
Solid bright green
WKH
PDH
PDC
PDL
WKL
UK RANGE
confluence zone
▼
Signal fires near PDL — high confluence setup
Weekly levels = strongest S&R
How to use levels for confluence
The core principle is simple: a breakout signal that is also moving toward a key HTF level has extra institutional backing. A signal that is breaking into empty space has less.
The two strongest confluence scenarios are:
1
Bullish signal near PDL or WKL — price is bouncing from a known support level. The breakout above the session range is also a bounce off a higher timeframe floor. Two reasons for the move = stronger conviction.
2
Bearish signal near PDH or WKH — price is rejecting a known resistance level. The breakdown below the session range aligns with institutional selling at a daily or weekly high. This is one of the strongest setups the strategy produces.
PDC as a pivot: The Previous Day Close is where institutions settled their books the night before. Price often tests the PDC in the morning session before making a directional move. A signal that fires after a PDC test adds confluence — price has done its reversion and now the breakout has a clean run.
The exclusion buffer — signals suppressed at key levels
One of the most important protections in APEX Elite is the level exclusion buffer. When a signal fires with the close sitting too close to a PDH, PDL, PDC, WKH or WKL, the signal is automatically suppressed. Price closing right at a key level is likely to stall or reverse there rather than push through.
• Forex pairs — fixed pip buffer. Default 5 pips. Adjust under HTF S&R settings → Forex Exclusion Buffer.
• Indices, gold and crypto — ATR-based buffer. Default 30% of ATR(14). Scales automatically with the instrument’s volatility.
APEX detects the instrument type automatically using TradingView’s built-in data — you do not need to configure this manually.
If valid signals disappear: If you feel the exclusion buffer is filtering too aggressively on a specific instrument, increase the ATR fraction slightly to widen the suppressed zone, or reduce it to allow entries closer to levels.
The HTF confluence filter (optional)
Under HTF Support and Resistance settings there is an optional Filter Signals by HTF Levels toggle. When this is turned on, APEX only fires bull signals near PDL or WKL and bear signals near PDH or WKH. This significantly reduces signal count so only the highest-confluence setups pass through.
The HTF Zone Width setting controls how close to a level price needs to be for the filter to count it. Default is 20 pips. Adjust this to suit your instrument and style.
Practical checklist — before taking a signal
Use this quick checklist to evaluate any signal before executing:
1. Is the breakout candle strong and well-formed — a clear engulfing body with conviction?
2. Is there a relevant HTF level nearby in the direction of the trade?
3. Is price breaking toward the HTF level — not stalling at it?
4. Has the exclusion buffer cleared — is price not sitting right on a key level?
5. Is the signal within the 5-hour window and the same trading day as the session?
6. Is there any major economic news scheduled in the next hour that could disrupt the move?
A signal that passes all six checks is the strongest type of entry the APEX strategy produces. One that passes three or four is still valid — use your judgement on the ones in between.
Keep a trade journal: Log every signal you see — whether you took it or not — along with the HTF levels present and the outcome. After 30–50 sessions you will have a clear picture of which confluence combinations work best on your preferred instruments.