Relative strength index Wikipedia

But on a technical level, there is a momentum oscillator designed to do just that. Before getting too excited about divergences as great trading signals, it must be noted that divergences are misleading in a strong trend. A strong uptrend can show numerous bearish divergences before a top actually materializes.

The indicator may also remain in oversold territory for a long time when the stock is in a downtrend. This can be confusing for new analysts, but learning to use the indicator within the context of the prevailing trend will clarify these issues. The RSI can do more than point to overbought and oversold securities. It can also indicate securities that may be primed for a trend reversal or corrective pullback in price. Traditionally, an RSI reading of 70 or above indicates an overbought situation. The Relative Strength Index or RSI is one of the most common indicators in Technical Analysis, or TA for short.

RSI as a Standalone Tool

The RSI compares bullish and bearish price momentum and displays the results in an oscillator placed beneath a price chart. Like most technical indicators, its signals are most reliable when they conform to the long-term trend. Traders can also watch for a large divergence between price action and the Relative Strength Index reading. First, the asset must reach oversold or overbought conditions following a large move. Then the price makes a second peak or trough, while the RSI moves in the opposite direction of the price movement. Select RSI from the Indicator dropdown, select the Parameter and the position (above, below, or behind the underlying price plot).

The more extreme the values, the more “overbought” or “oversold” the currency pair is considered to be. It does this by keeping track of recent price gains and losses and comparing them to the current price. A rising centerline crossover occurs when the RSI value crosses ABOVE the 50 line on the scale, moving towards the 70 line. This indicates the market trend is increasing in strength, and is seen as a bullish signal until the RSI approaches the 70 line. A bearish failure swing forms when RSI moves above 70, pulls back, bounces, fails to exceed 70 and then breaks its prior low. It is basically a move to overbought levels, followed by a lower high beneath those levels.

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The moving average convergence divergence (MACD) is another trend-following momentum indicator that shows the relationship between two moving averages of a security’s price. The MACD is calculated by subtracting the 26-period exponential moving average (EMA) from the 12-period EMA. What this means is that as an oscillator, this indicator operates within a band or a set range of numbers or parameters.

RSI values above 70 typically indicate overbought conditions, suggesting that the asset may be overvalued and could potentially face a price correction. When combined with other technical indicators, the RSI can provide additional insights to improve trading strategies and enhance risk management. Calculating RSI is a multi-step process and involves measuring relative strength by comparing the average periodic gains and losses.

FAQs about the RSI indicator

According to a traditional relative strength index meaning, all values above 70 may indicate that an asset is being overbought and may be ready for a trend reversal or pullback. On the other hand, an RSI value below 30 may signal that the asset is being oversold and undervalued. RSI is a versatile momentum oscillator that has stood the test of time.

In simple terms, the RSI aims to indicate when a stock’s price may be too high and poised for a pullback, or too low and poised for a bounce. But note that the duration or scale of the reaction isn’t something the RSI was designed to predict. And even if a reversal does occur, it won’t necessarily happen in short order. On the flip side, RSI tends to fluctuate between 10 and 60 in a bear market (downtrend) with the zone acting as resistance. Chart 10 shows 14-day RSI for the US Dollar Index ($USD) during its 2009 downtrend. The zone subsequently marked resistance until a breakout in December.

What is the RSI indicator?

This chart features daily bars in gray with a 1-day SMA in pink to highlight closing prices (as RSI is based on closing prices). Working from left to right, the stock became oversold in late July and found support around 44 (1). Bottoming can be a process – this stock did not bottom as soon as the oversold reading appeared.

Thus, we should be careful and not expect that both the RSI and MACD will give the same signal at a particular point in time. To understand MACD and how to calculate it, you can refer to this article. It then rose again and continued to rise throughout the month of January and February which indicates a bullish run.

When combined with technical indicators, chart patterns become even more reliable and can lead to the foundation of a successful trading strategy. Among the most popularly used and relied on technical indicators, is the Relative Strength Index. For example, during an uptrend, the RSI is likely relative strength index definition to stay above 30 and should frequently hit 70. On the other hand, during a downtrend, it is rare to see the RSI exceed 70; instead, the indicator frequently hits 30 or below. The Relative Strength Index is presented as a graph, usually found along with a chart of the stock’s price over time.

Karl Montevirgen is a professional freelance writer who specializes in the fields of finance, cryptomarkets, content strategy, and the arts. Karl works with several organizations in the equities, futures, physical metals, and blockchain industries. He holds FINRA Series 3 and Series 34 licenses in addition to a dual MFA in critical studies/writing and music composition from the California Institute of the Arts. Wilder features RSI in his 1978 book, New Concepts in Technical Trading Systems. This book also includes the Parabolic SAR, Average True Range, and the Directional Movement Concept (ADX). Despite being developed before the computer age, Wilder’s indicators have stood the test of time and continue to be applied by chart analysts.