As a momentum indicator, the relative strength index compares a security’s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. Relating the result of this comparison to price action can give traders an idea of how a security may perform. The RSI, used in conjunction with other technical indicators, can help traders make better-informed trading decisions.
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Plotting RSI
After the RSI is calculated, the RSI indicator can be plotted beneath an asset’s price chart, as shown below. The RSI will rise as the number and size of up days increase. It will fall as the number and size of down days increase. As you can see in the above chart, the RSI indicator…
Interpretation of RSI and RSI Ranges
During trends, the RSI readings may fall into a band or range. During an uptrend, the RSI tends to stay above 30 and should frequently hit 70. During a downtrend, it is rare to see the RSI exceed 70. In fact, the indicator frequently hits 30 or below. These guidelines can help traders determine trend strength…
Example of RSI Swing Rejections
Another trading technique examines RSI behavior when it is reemerging from overbought or oversold territory. This signal is called a bullish swing rejection and has four parts: As you can see in the following chart, the RSI indicator was oversold, broke up through 30, and formed the rejection low that triggered the signal when it…
The Difference Between RSI and MACD
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. The result of that calculation is the MACD line. A nine-day EMA of the MACD, called the signal line, is then plotted on top…
Use Buy and Sell Signals That Fit Trends
A related concept focuses on trade signals and techniques that conform to the trend. In other words, using bullish signals primarily when the price is in a bullish trend and bearish signals primarily when a stock is in a bearish trend may help traders to avoid the false alarms that the RSI can generate in trending markets.
Example of RSI Divergences
An RSI divergence occurs when price moves in the opposite direction of the RSI. In other words, a chart might display a change in momentum before a corresponding change in price. A bullish divergence occurs when the RSI displays an oversold reading followed by a higher low that appears with lower lows in the price. This may…