- This article, written by Alan Collins is taken from the FX Trader Magazine (JAN/MARCH 2013 issue).
The Relative Strength Indicator, created by Welles Wilder, has long been used by many market participants in their analysis. For the most part this application has been applied via daily charts, or longer periods, primarily as a means to identify trend. But there are a number of methods that RSI can be used for;
- As a measure of an overbought/oversold situation.
- An indicator of the underlying trend & of trend breaks.
- A buy/sell signal when the 50% line is crossed.
- An indicator of possible Divergence
For the investor or proprietary trader these methods are without doubt tools that, taken in context with other technical indicators, will prove useful. But do they work, and can they be successfully employed, in shorter intraday time frames? In this article I will use the same hourly GBPUSD chart, and the same 8 period RSI, and apply the four methods above to illustrate how to use them and assess whether they’re likely to be beneficial. Lastly I’ll add a lesser known but powerful number of other situations were only warnings of what turns out to be minor profit taking rallies inside the more pronounced trend.
Editors’ Picks
EUR/USD remains offered below 1.0800 ahead of “Liberation Day”
EUR/USD came under extra downside pressure on Tuesday, returning to the sub-1.0800 region on the back of tepid gains in the US Dollar and rising caution prior to Trump’s announcements on Wednesday.
GBP/USD meets support around 1.2880, USD remains strong
After bottoming out around the 1.2880 region, GBP/USD now manages to attempt a bounce and flirt with the 1.2900 zone in the wake of weaker-than-expected US data releases.
USD/JPY tumbles to near 149.00 as Trump tariff fears improve Yen’s safe-haven appeal
USD/JPY slides to near 149.00 as the Japanese Yen strengthens due to multiple tailwinds. Investors expect Trump’s tariffs could weigh on the US economic outlook. The BoJ is expected to raise interest rates in the May policy meeting.
Editors’ Picks
AUD/USD: Further gains need more conviction
AUD/USD reversed two-daily pullbacks in a row on Tuesday, staging a decent comeback from Monday’s troughs near 0.6220 to the boundaries of the 0.6300 hurdle propped up by the RBA hawkish hold and firm data from Chinese business activity.
EUR/USD remains offered below 1.0800 ahead of “Liberation Day”
EUR/USD came under extra downside pressure on Tuesday, returning to the sub-1.0800 region on the back of tepid gains in the US Dollar and rising caution prior to Trump’s announcements on Wednesday.
Gold nears $3,100 as fears receded
Gold is easing from its fresh record high near $3,150 but remains well supported above the $3,100 mark. A generalised pullback in US yields is underpinning the yellow metal, as traders stay on the sidelines awaiting clarity on upcoming US tariff announcements.
Bitcoin just as vulnerable as major assets – Anthony Yeung, Global Head of Strategic Development at CoinCover
Bitcoin trades under the $85,000 mark, holding on to nearly 3% gains on Tuesday ahead of Donald Trump’s Liberation Day. Crypto traders remain fearful, the sentiment reads 34 on a scale of 0 to 100 on the Fear & Greed Index.
Is the US economy headed for a recession?
Leading economists say a recession is more likely than originally expected. With new tariffs set to be launched on April 2, investors and economists are growing more concerned about an economic slowdown or recession.
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