DELAFIELD, Wis. (Stockpickr) -- Professional traders running mutual funds and hedge funds don't just look at a stock's price moves; they also track big changes in volume activity. Often when above-average volume moves into an equity, it precedes a large spike in volatility.

Major moves in volume can signal unusual activity, such as insider buying or selling -- or buying or selling by "superinvestors."

Unusual volume can also be a major signal that hedge funds and momentum traders are piling into a stock ahead of a catalyst. These types of traders like to get in well before a large spike, so it's always a smart move to monitor unusual volume. That said, remember to combine trend and price action with unusual volume. Put them all together to help you decipher the next big trend for any stock.

With that in mind, let's take a look at several stocks rising on unusual volume recently.

Mobileye

Mobileye (MBLY) , together with its subsidiaries, designs and develops software and related technologies for camera-based advanced driver assistance systems. This stock is trading up 2.6% to $38 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 2.72 million
Three-Month Average Volume: 2.55 million
Volume % Change: 191%

From a technical perspective, MBLY is trending notably higher here right above its previous gap-up-day high just above $35 with above-average volume. This spike to the upside on Friday has started to push shares of MBLY into breakout territory, since the stock has taken out or is flirting with some near-term overhead resistance levels at $37.85 to its 50-day moving average of $38.30. Market players should now look for a continuation move to the upside in the short-term if MBLY manages to take out Friday's intraday high of $38.68 and then above some more near-term resistance at $40 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in MBLY as long as it's trending above that recent gap-up-day high at just above $35 and then once it sustains a move or close above $38.68 to $40 with volume that registers near or above 2.55 million shares. If that breakout begins soon, then MBLY will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $42.50 to $44.50, or even $46.

PrivateBancorp

PrivateBancorp (PVTB) operates as the bank holding company for the PrivateBank and Trust Company that provides various business and personal financial services to middle market companies and business owners, executives, entrepreneurs and families in the U.S. stock is trading up 2.4% to $35.44 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 486,000
Three-Month Average Volume: 610,128
Volume % Change: 136%

From a technical perspective, PVTB is jumping notably higher here right above some near-term support levels at $33.81 to its 50-day moving average of $33.19 with above-average volume. This spike to the upside on Friday has briefly pushed shares of PVTB into breakout territory, since this stock has flirted with its previous 52-week high of $35.80. Market players should now look for a continuation move to the upside in the short-term if PVTB manages to take out its new 52-week high of $35.98 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in PVTB as long as it's trending above Friday's intraday low of $34.53 or above its 50-day moving average of $33.19 and then once it sustains a move or close above $35.98 with volume that hits near or above 610,128 shares. If that move kicks off soon, then PVTB will set up to enter new 52-week-high territory, which is bullish technical price action. Some possible upside targets off that move are $40 to $45.

Qihoo 360 Technology

Qihoo 360 Technology (QIHU) provides Internet and mobile security products and services in the People's Republic of China. This stock is trading up 5.1% to $49.81 in Friday's trading session.

Friday's Volume: 3.92 million
Three-Month Average Volume: 2.45 million
Volume % Change: 211%

From a technical perspective, QIHU is gapping sharply higher here right above its new 52-week low of $45.28 with heavy upside volume flows. This stock has been downtrending badly for the last month, with shares falling sharply lower from its high of $63.47 to that new 52-week low of $45.28. During that downtrend, shares of QIHU have been consistently making lower highs and lower lows, which is bearish technical price action. That said, shares of QIHU are now ripping to the upside right above that $45.28 low and it's now moving within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade. That trade will hit if QIHU manages to take out some key near-term overhead resistance just above $52.50 with high volume.

Traders should now look for long-biased trades in QIHU as long as it's trending above Friday's intraday low of $48.35 and then once it sustains a move or close above $52.50 with volume that hits near or above 2.45 million shares. If that breakout materializes soon, then QIHU will set up to re-test or possibly take out its next major overhead resistance levels at $55 to its 50-day moving average of $56.61, or even $60.

This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.