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RSI indicator

The relative strength index (RSI) is an oscillating indicator that shows when an asset may be overbought or oversold.

The indicator does this by comparing the price action over a period of time – usually 14 periods – that enables the indicator to show if the price has become unusually high or low.

As such, it can be used to determine when a current trend may be coming to an end or when a new trend may be forming.

The RSI is useful for traders looking to time their entries and exits from the markets, in order to take maximum profit ahead of a rise or fall in price.

The chart below shows the RSI indicator on a chart:

As you can see, the indicator appears below the chart and is made up of a single line that moves between two levels – 0 and 100. In the middle of the chart is the 50 level.

The relative strength index (RSI) is an oscillating indicator that shows when the market may be overbought or oversold.

Using the 50 level to show buying and selling power

A movement above 50 indicates that more traders are buying the asset than selling, and are driving the price up. If the RSI moves below 50, it shows that more traders are selling than buying, and are driving the price down.

The following chart shows the RSI level above 50, indicating there are more buyers than sellers:

  1. RSI over the 50 level, indicating more buyers in the mark

Using the 30 and 70 level to see overbought and oversold conditions

It is only when the RSI begins to approach the 30 or 70 levels that traders pay attention. This marks the point where the asset is becoming overbought or oversold.

When the line is above 70, an uptrend is likely to come to an end.

This is shown on the chart below:

  1. RSI moves above 70 – the up trend comes to an end.

When the line is below 30, a downtrend is likely to come to an end.

This is shown on the chart below:

  1. RSI moves below 30.
When the RSI line begins to approach the 30 level, it is likely that the downtrend is ending. When the RSI line begins to approach the 70 level, it is likely that the uptrend is ending.

 

Using the RSI indicator for entries

When an asset has reached an extreme, you can use the RSI to confirm that a reversal may occur and you can enter into a counter trend trade.

  1. RSI reaches the 30 level
  2. Potential long opportunity

Using the RSI indicator for exits

You can use the RSI to also exit your position when it is indicating the end of a trend.

  1. Long entry
  2. RSI reaches 70 level indicating potentially overbought conditions
  3. Potential exit

Changing the RSI settings

You can change the setting of the RSI indicator to make it more (or less) sensitive to the change in price action.

Increasing the setting makes the RSI less sensitive and results in fewer instances of the asset being identified as overbought or oversold. This means that it is more difficult to identify shifts in trend direction.

The chart below shows the impact of increasing the setting to 28:

 

As you can see, the indicator almost never signals an overbought or oversold scenario, rendering the indicator largely ineffective.
When the setting is decreased, the RSI becomes more sensitive, as you can see on the chart below:

In this example, with the setting at half the standard rate, the indicator line switches between overbought and oversold more often.

Reducing the settings can allow you to identify overbought and oversold conditions much earlier, however, this will also result in more false signals.

Most traders do not change the standard setting from 14, as this is the level that gives them the most useful and reliable information.

Summary

In this lesson, you have learned ...

  • ... the RSI indicator is an oscillator that shows when the market may be overbought or oversold.
  • … you can use the RSI to time time entries and exits from the market.
  • … the RSI moves between two levels – 0 and 100, with the 50 line in the middle.
  • … the RSI shows there are more buyers in the market when it moves above the 50 line. It shows there are more sellers in the market when it moves below the 50 line.
  • … when the RSI goes below 30, this indicates that the asset is oversold and the downtrend is likely to end.
  • … when the RSI goes above 70, this indicates that the asset is overbought and the uptrend is likely to end.
  • … traders can change the settings to make the indicator more (or less) sensitive to price movement.
  • … increasing the setting makes the indicator less sensitive and shows less instances of overbought and oversold conditions.
  • … decreasing the setting makes the indicator more sensitive and shows more instances of overbought and oversold conditions, but provides more false signals.
  • ... the standard setting of 14 periods generally give the best results and so traders rarely change the settings of the RSI.
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