The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a very popular momentum based indicator that is specifically used within technical analysis by market technicians. It measures the speed and magnitude of an instruments most recent price changes to evaluate overbought or oversold conditions in the price. Developed by J.Welles Wilder Jr in the late 70s as a line graph based oscillator.

Why do traders use them?

Traders can use RSI to predict momentum and behaviour of a financial instrument. It helps traders validate trends and trend reversals. Easy to spot whether an instrument is overbought or oversold. It can in some cases support other indicators as well. Finally, we can measure whether momentum is running out of steam by price and the RSI diverging against each other.

RSI are usually plotted at the bottom of the chart so they can compare the line graph with the price action of the instrument it is measuring.

Divergences

One of the most common ways RSI are praised to be used are for spotting divergences. In a bullish trend, when price is extended and forming new higher highs – the intervals between each high may get smaller and shorter as price progresses. The RSI would measure this and start forming lower lows, therefore diverging against the main price action. This would give us an indication that the instrument’s trend is running out of momentum.

Most common settings used

RSI is set to measure the price to the last 14 days of price action with levels set between 30 and 70. RSI above or below this level is considered to be either overbought or oversold.

Here are EWF – we primarily use Elliott Wave to label our charts to provide context of the individual waves. However, we use indicators such as the RSI and the Stochastic indicator to measure momentum. Next week I will be covering the Stochastic indicators.


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Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD flat lines below 1.1900; divergent Fed-ECB expectations offer support

EUR/USD flat lines below 1.1900; divergent Fed-ECB expectations offer support

The EUR/USD pair struggles to capitalize on the overnight bounce from the 1.1835-1.1830 region and oscillates in a narrow band during the Asian session on Thursday. Spot prices currently trade around the 1.1875 area, remaining nearly unchanged for the day and staying within striking distance of an over one-week high, reached on Tuesday, amid mixed cues.

GBP/USD slips heading into the Thursday trading window

GBP/USD slips heading into the Thursday trading window

The Pound Sterling pulled back from four-year highs on Wednesday, weighed down by a combination of Bank of England dovishness and UK political uncertainty, even as the US Dollar weakened on soft labor market revisions. 

USD/JPY strengthens above 153.00 despite stronger US jobs data

USD/JPY strengthens above 153.00 despite stronger US jobs data

The USD/JPY pair attracts some sellers to around 153.20 during the early Asian session on Thursday. The Japanese Yen strengthens against the US Dollar in the aftermath of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's landslide election victory. The attention will shift to the US Consumer Price Index inflation report, which is due later on Friday. 


Editors’ Picks

AUD/USD bulls pause amid post-NFP USD rebound

AUD/USD bulls pause amid post-NFP USD rebound

AUD/USD is trading with a mild negative bias during the Asian session on Thursday, below a three-year high set the previous day. The US Dollar looks to build on Wednesday's upbeat US NFP-inspired bounce from an over one-week low, acting as a headwind for spot prices. However, the divergent Fed-RBA expectations, along with the underlying bullish sentiment, should help limit any meaningful corrective fall for the risk-sensitive Aussie.

USD/JPY strengthens above 153.00 despite stronger US jobs data

USD/JPY strengthens above 153.00 despite stronger US jobs data

The USD/JPY pair attracts some sellers to around 153.20 during the early Asian session on Thursday. The Japanese Yen strengthens against the US Dollar in the aftermath of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's landslide election victory. The attention will shift to the US Consumer Price Index inflation report, which is due later on Friday. 

Gold posts modest gains above $5,050 as US-Iran tensions persist despite strong labor data

Gold posts modest gains above $5,050 as US-Iran tensions persist despite strong labor data

Gold price trades in positive territory near $5,060 during the early Asian session on Thursday. The precious metal edges higher despite stronger-than-expected US employment data. The release of the US Consumer Price Index inflation report will take center stage later on Friday. 

Bitcoin holds steady despite strong US labour market

Bitcoin holds steady despite strong US labour market

Bitcoin briefly bounced from $66,000 to above $68,000 but slightly reversed those gains following Wednesday's US January jobs report. The top crypto is hovering around $67,000, down 2% over the past 24 hours as of writing on Wednesday.

The market trades the path not the past

The market trades the path not the past

The payroll number did not just beat. It reset the tone. 130,000 vs. 65,000 expected, with a 35,000 whisper. 79 of 80 economists leaning the wrong way. Unemployment and underemployment are edging lower. For all the statistical fog around birth-death adjustments and seasonal quirks, the core message was unmistakable. The labour market is not cracking.

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