Unlocking Market Insights: The Relative Strength Index (RSI) Indicator Demystified

Stephen Rouge
3 min readMar 19, 2024

In the world of technical analysis, few indicators command as much attention and respect as the Relative Strength Index (RSI). Developed by J. Welles Wilder Jr. in the late 1970s, the RSI has become a staple tool for traders seeking to gauge the strength and momentum of price movements in financial markets. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the RSI indicator, how it works, and how traders can use it to inform their trading decisions.

Understanding the RSI:
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements. It is calculated using the following formula:

RSI = 100 — [100 / (1 + RS)]

Where RS (Relative Strength) is calculated as the average of x days’ up closes divided by the average of x days’ down closes.

The RSI is typically plotted on a scale of 0 to 100, with readings above 70 considered overbought and readings below 30 considered oversold. Traders use these overbought and oversold conditions to identify potential reversal points in the market.

Using the RSI in Trading:

Identifying Overbought and Oversold Conditions: One of the most common uses of the RSI is to identify overbought…

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