Do you know RSI? It is, along with moving averages, MACD and Bollinger Bands, one of the best technical analysis indicators. Today you will learn about the Relative Strength Index formula along with possible applications of this great indicator.

What Does the Relative Strength Index (RSI) Measure?

The RSI indicator defines trend strength and probability of trend reversal.

How is the relative strength line calculated?

It is calculated in the following way: the sum of price growth for a given period is divided by the sum of the price decrease. The calculation of RSI values, fortunately, belongs to the platform. It is not a difficult process, but it does require several steps of calculation. In the end, they come down to a simple Relative Strength Index formula:

RSI = 100 – { 100 / [ 1 + ( Average Gain / Average Loss ) ] }

Relative Strength Index formula
Relative Strength Index formula

The indicator puts the resulting data on a scale from zero percent to 100 percent. Thus if all candlesticks on the given period are green then the indicator value is 100 percent. If red it equals 0 percent.

Period and overbought/oversold areas

The period is a candlestick quantity used for data collecting. It is set in the indicator settings and equals 14 by default.

Period is a number of candles
Period is a number of candles

Overbought and oversold values are also set there and equals 70 percent and 30 percent by default respectively. If the overbought value gets closer to 100 percent while the oversold value gets closer to 0 percent then the signals become more precise. Although their quantity decreases.

RSI settings
RSI settings on the IQ Option platform

How do you use Relative Strength Index formula?

If the RSI indicator intersects on a higher level it means an overbought case. When prices are increasing too high and fast and soon they are expected to decrease. If the indicator intersects on a lower border it means an oversold case where prices are getting too low too fast and they are expected to increase.

What Is an RSI Buy Signal?

The RSI can be used as a signal generator in its own right. A buy signal occurs when the indicator line crosses the 30 level upwards.
Is this the only possible signal? A change in the direction of the indicator line can also be taken as a signal. If the indicator changes direction from downwards to upwards in an oversold condition we get an early buy signal from the RSI.

RSI basics
RSI basics

What Is an RSI Sell Signal?

Similar 2 types of signals can be found for sales. The first is when the indicator crosses downwards the level of 70. This is a classic sell signal based on the RSI.
The second signal is when the indicator changes direction from upwards to downwards in the overbought zone, i.e. above level 70. Naturally, this signal will also occur as an early sign to sell.

We encourage you to read about divergences on RSI, because in divergences there is a huge potential for an interesting use of this tool. It's an interesting way of using the Relative Strength Index on the IQ Option platform.

Remember that you do not need to know the Relative Strength Index formula by heart, because the IQ Option platform counts the values itself and displays the finished RSI line chart in a separate window pinned below the price chart. Your task is only to read the indicator and skilfully interpret its behaviour. The RSI can also be an excellent confirmation of all price action techniques. How do you use the RSI? Share your ways with our readers in the comments below.

We wish you successful trading!

GENERAL RISK WARNING

IQ option products like CFDs and options are investments that can be risky. This means that if you invest in them, you could lose your money quickly. In fact, 83% of people who invest in CFDs with this provider "IQ Option" lose money. You should make sure you understand how CFDs work and if you can afford to risk losing your money. Remember, this article is not giving you any advice about investing. Any information about what happened in the past or what could happen in the future is just an opinion and not guaranteed to be true. Including examples given in the content displayed. Be warned!

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Bart Bregman

Author / IQ Option expert: "My name is Bart Bregman, I have 9 years of full-time professional trading experience. I've been trading with IQ Option for more than 7 years, mainly on the shorter time frames doing technical analyses, and have many experience with Binary Options, CFDs, Options, and Crypto trading. There is no such thing as a bad trade! As a digital nomad trader, I'm mostly traveling all over the world. Follow my journey on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bart_bregman/. "

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