The RSI Indicator: A popular tool in Technical Analysis.

The Relative Strength Indicator, or RSI for short, is a popular technical indicator used by traders to measure the strength of a trend and determine whether an asset is overbought or oversold in the market. It was developed by J. Welles Wilder in 1978 and is one of the oldest and most reliable indicators in technical analysis.

The RSI is graphically represented as an oscillator that varies between 0 and 100. RSI values close to 100 indicate that an asset is overbought, which means that the price has risen too fast and a downward correction could be near. On the other hand, RSI values close to 0 indicate that an asset is oversold, which means that the price has fallen too fast and an upward correction could be near.

The RSI calculation is based on the comparison between the average gains and average losses of an asset over a given period. Wilder recommended using a 14-day period for the RSI calculation, although this period may vary depending on the trading strategy used. The RSI can also be used to confirm the direction of the trend. When the RSI is above 50, this indicates that the trend is upward, while an RSI below 50 indicates a downward trend.

Source: Screenshot of iq option broker

In addition, the RSI can be used to identify divergences. If the price of an asset is rising while the RSI is falling, this may be a sign that the uptrend is losing strength and there could be a downward reversal in the near future. Similarly, if the price is falling while the RSI is rising, this may be a sign that the downtrend is losing strength and there could be a reversal to the upside in the near future.

It is important to note that the RSI is a useful tool, but it should not be used in isolation to make trading decisions. It is necessary to combine the RSI with other technical analysis tools and techniques to get a more complete view of the market.

In conclusion, the Relative Strength Indicator (RSI) is a popular tool in technical analysis that allows traders to measure the strength of a trend and determine whether an asset is overbought or oversold in the market. The RSI is widely used in trading currencies, stocks, commodities and other financial markets. Although the RSI is a useful tool, it is important to use it in combination with other tools and techniques to make informed and accurate trading decisions.