I think I understand the differences between Trending and Ranging trades/stocks OK, but find it difficult identifying or scanning for these ranging type stocks out of 2000 stocks.

Range trading is for Swing Traders [please correct me if I am wrong] and I am just trying to feel whether this type of trading would be suitable for me at 3-5 days or slightly longer ??

I do understand that I would be using oscillator indicators to help identify my entry and exit points once i have a selection of stocks.

so if anyone can help on what scans I could use to assist in finding these type stocks it would be a great help and much appreciated.

Swing Traders, of which I am one, will enter on any market.

In a ranging market I would enter close to bottom of the range, and typically I will hope for a breakout out and over the top of the range, I will exit if this range is not broken, close to resistance. If indeed the top of the range breaks, I may adopt a more Position Trading style of trade, and perhaps add to the position on a retracement. Its all about risk however, and I may simply decide to exit when the momentum is finished for that move.

Swing Traders will often trade each swing upward in a bullish environment where the instrument is making consistent higher lows, and will ignore going short on the downswings.

Position Traders adopt a similar strategy, except they do not exit the original position, instead they keep adding using the profit to buy more - in fact it is exactly this mentality, magnified by the heard with the big $$$, that creates a consistent uptrend over time.

In a bullish market, a stock that ranges for too long implies lack of strength.

For positions lasting 3 days to two weeks I would highly recommend trading in the direction of the trend, preferably at retracement levels.

Common patterns occuring at the bottom of ranges, and at retracement levels are doji's, hammers, and three bar reversals - scan on them, it may help

-SS