Relative Strength Index (RSI) – Everything You Need to Know
You might have seen stock pricing charts displayed at trading terminals. These charts help traders in analysing the market and predicting future price movements of stocks. They consist of colourful lines plotted in smaller panels in between a graph-like structure. These lines are technical indicators that reflect various market parameters related to stocks.
Published on 07 March 2023
OPEN A FREE* DEMAT AND TRADING ACCOUNT
IN 15 MINS*
Some of the most common technical indicators used by traders include moving average, volume, open interest, Bollinger bands, and relative strength index. In this article, we will learn about the relative strength index or RSI, which is one of the most popular momentum indicators used for market analysis.
Let’s start by knowing what is a momentum indicator before understanding what is relative strength index.
What is a Momentum Indicator?
A momentum indicator reflects the velocity of a stock’s price trend. In other words, it indicates the speed at which the price of stock changes at a given point in time. For example, let’s suppose the price of a stock was ₹400 on Monday. Then, on Tuesday, it surged to ₹420 and to ₹440 on Wednesday. Now, the momentum indicators will show a high momentum as the price of this stock has moved by 10% in just two trading days.
Similarly, if a stock takes two months to move by 10%, the momentum indicators will show a low momentum. They help in analysing how quickly the price of a stock or security is changing.
There are several momentum indicators, with the Rate of Change (ROC) and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) being the two most common ones. First, let’s learn about the RSI indicator in detail.
What is the Relative Strength Index (RSI)?
The Relative Strength Index or RSI is one of the most commonly used momentum indicators for stock market analysis. It measures the speed at which the price of a particular stock or index changes on a scale from 0 to 100. Traditionally, a stock is said to be overbought if its RSI is above 70 and oversold if its RSI is below 30.
The RSI indicator was originally developed by J. Welles Wilder in 1978. It is displayed like an oscillator, i.e., a line graph that moves between the two extremes. It can be used to spot the current market trend, failure swings, reversals, divergences, and centerline crossovers.
Relative Strength Index (RSI)
You can calculate the RSI for a stock by using a fairly simple formula. The basic formula for the calculation of the RSI is:
RSI = 100 - 100 / (1 + (Average of Upward Price Change / Average of Downward Price Change))]
The average of the upward price change and the average of the downward price change used for the calculation of the RSI as per the above-mentioned formula is the average percentage gain or loss in a stock’s price during a look-back period.
How Does RSI Work?
The RSI indicator can be a powerful tool to measure the strength of a stock or index at a given point in time.
During an uptrend or bullish market, the average of upside price movements increases, and hence, the RSI value tends to be between 40 to 90. The 40 to 50 zone is usually considered as the support zone for a stock. So, if a stock is showing an RSI value between 40 to 50, it can show a surge in pricing in the short term.
However, if the RSI value of stock ranges above 70, it is considered overbought, which can be a signal of price reversal. So, traders usually take short positions in such instances.
Similarly, if there is a downtrend or bearish market, the average downward price change goes up, and hence, the RSI value tends to remain between 10 to 40. Therefore, the 30 to 40 zone is considered as the resistance zone for a stock, whereas an RSI value of below 30 indicates that a stock has been oversold, which again can be a sign of reversal.
Now, if the underlying stock makes a new high or new low against the RSI rules, it forms a divergence. If the RSI forms a lower high or a higher low and then follows it with a downside or upside move, a swing failure occurs.
Limitations of the RSI
The RSI indicator has some limitations as well. For example, it compares the upward and downward moving average and is displayed as an oscillator between the two extremes of the price chart. Therefore, the RSI signals are most reliable only when the price movements are as per the long-term trends. Sometimes, it can become difficult to distinguish between a reversal signal and a false alarm.
For example, a bullish crossover followed by a sudden decline in a stock’s price can result in a false positive, and a bearish crossover followed by sudden acceleration can result in a false negative.
To Conclude
The relative strength index is a powerful technical indicator that can help you determine entry and exit points for your trades. You can also watch it for divergence signals and changes in market trends. That being said, the RSI indicator has some limitations as well. So, it’s prudent to confirm your speculations with a few more technical indicators before initiating a trade.
Team Espresso
We care that you succeed
Bringing readers the latest happenings from the world of Trading and Investments specifically and Finance in general.
Difference Between Large Cap and Medium Cap in Stock Market
Choosing the right stocks for trading and investment purposes can be a little difficult and tricky, especially when you are only starting your journey in the stock market. But is it all that difficult? Not if you know what parameters you need to select your stocks.
Employees play an important role in the growth and development of a company. They are a driving force that keeps the company going. The efforts and diligence of employees is the key component for the expansion and success of a business.
If you plan to step into financial markets to invest long-term, you have to strengthen the basics! And, if you are wondering where to start, you can understand the difference between the primary and the secondary market. It helps you make the right choices based on your income and financial objectives in life. So, let us get started.
Difference Between Large Cap and Medium Cap in Stock Market
Choosing the right stocks for trading and investment purposes can be a little difficult and tricky, especially when you are only starting your journey in the stock market. But is it all that difficult? Not if you know what parameters you need to select your stocks.
Employees play an important role in the growth and development of a company. They are a driving force that keeps the company going. The efforts and diligence of employees is the key component for the expansion and success of a business.
If you plan to step into financial markets to invest long-term, you have to strengthen the basics! And, if you are wondering where to start, you can understand the difference between the primary and the secondary market. It helps you make the right choices based on your income and financial objectives in life. So, let us get started.
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited (TM) operates the web site accessible from the URL www.myespresso.com (the “web site”').
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited is committed to protecting your privacy and utilising technology that gives you the most powerful, safe, online experience that you can get anywhere else.
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited does, however, gather certain information that is provided by you to the Web Site. Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited believes that by collecting this information Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited is able to provide you with a personalised web experience, and to assist its own sales team and advertisers in efficiently reaching an appropriate audience.Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited does, however, gather certain information that is provided by you to the Web Site. Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited believes that by collecting this information Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited is able to provide you with a personalised web experience, and to assist its own sales team and advertisers in efficiently reaching an appropriate audience.
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited requests the minimum information it believes necessary to achieve this goal.
The following discloses Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited's information gathering and dissemination practices for the Web Site:
System Data:
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited uses your IP address to help diagnose problems with our server and to administer the web site. Your IP address is used to identify you and your shopping cart and to gather broad demographic information.
Registration Data:
The Web Site's registration form may require users to give us contact information (like their name, phone number and e-mail address), unique identifiers (like their PAN Number) and demographic information (like their pin code, age or income level). The Web Site uses customer contact information from the registration form to send the users information about Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited and promotional material from some of Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited's partners. The customer's contact information is also used to contact the visitor when necessary. Unique identifiers (such as PAN numbers) are collected to verify the user's identity. Demographic and profile data is also collected at the Web Site. We use this data to tailor the visitor's experience at the Web Site, showing them contents that we think they might be interested in, and displaying the contents according to their preferences. This information is shared with advertisers on an aggregate basis.
Links and Co-Branded Sites:
This site contains links to other Web Sites which are not necessarily been screened or reviewed by www.myespresso.com. Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited is neither responsible for the privacy practices or the contents of such Web Sites nor shall be held answerable for the inaccurate, inappropriate or offensive data, material, information, products and services that may be viewed on those sites.
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited may operate a number of co-branded sites. Policies regarding information collection and sharing may differ on some of these co-branded sites. If you have any particular questions, you should check the privacy statement that appears on each co-branded site.
Order Forms:
The Web Site uses an order form for customers to request information, products and services. The Web Site collects visitors' contact information (like their mobile number or e-mail address), unique identifiers (like their PAN number) financial information (like their account or credit card numbers) and demographic information (like their pin code, age or income level). Contact information from the order form is used to send orders, information about Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited, and promotional material from some of Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited's partners to the visitors of the Web Site. The visitor's contact information is also used to get in touch with the visitor when necessary. Financial information that is collected is used to check the users' qualifications and bill the user for products and services. Unique identifiers (such as PAN numbers) are collected from Web Site visitors to verify the user's identity.
Surveys and Contests:
The Web Site's online surveys ask visitors for contact information (like their mobile number or e-mail address) and demographic information (like their pin code, gender, age or income level). The Web Site uses contact data from its surveys to send the user information about Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited and promotional material from some of Sharekhan Ltd.'s partners. The customer's contact information is also used to contact the visitor when necessary. Users may opt-out of receiving future mailings; see the choice/opt-out section below. Demographic and profile data is also collected at the Web Site. The Web Site use this data to tailor its visitor's experience at the Web Site, showing them content that it thinks they might be interested in, and displaying the content according to their preferences. This information is shared with advertisers on an aggregate basis.
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Ltd run contests on the Web Site in which we ask visitors for contact information (like their e-mail address). Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited uses contact data from its contests to send users information about Sharekhan Comtrade Private Ltd. and promotional material from some of our partners. The customer's contact information is also used to contact the visitor when necessary. Users may opt-out of receiving future mailings; see the choice/opt-out section below.
Third-Party Advertisement Servers:
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited engages the services of an outside advertisement company to display advertisement on the Web Site. These advertisements may contain cookies. While Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited uses cookies in other parts of the Web Site, cookies received with banner advertisements are collected by the Advertisement company, and Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited does not have access to this information.
Protection of your Data and Information:
The privacy and protection of your data and information provided to us is of vital importance. Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited shall ensure to safeguard the security and confidentiality of any information you share with us. Any personally identifiable information of the customers obtained by us shall not be used or shared other than for the purposes to which the customers consents. However security and confidentiality of information cannot be guaranteed cent percent. Hence despite our utmost efforts to protect your personal information, Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited and www.myespresso.com cannot warrant the security of any information you transmit to us through our online services. Such transmission of your personal information is done at your own risk.
Disclosure of Customer Information :
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited and www.myespresso.com shall not deliberately disclose customer's personally identifiable information to any unauthorized third person, save and except where such information shall be disclosed in good faith and for the purpose of law for the time being in force or to protect the rights and property of Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited and www.myespresso.com.
Public Forums :
The Web Sites makes chat rooms, forums, message boards and/or news groups available to its users. Please remember that any information that is disclosed in these areas becomes public information and you should exercise caution when deciding to disclose your personal information.
Supplemental Information :
The Web Site supplements the information that you provide with information that is received from third parties.
The Web Site DOES NOT entice by the prospect of a special game, prize or other activity, to divulge more information than is needed to participate in the activity.
Further to the above, in light of the recently notified Information Technology (Reasonable security practices and procedures and sensitive personal data or information) Rules, 2011. (Hereinafter referred to as the Rules)
The following shall be deemed to be sensitive information :
Password;
Financial information such as Bank account or credit card or debit card or other payment instrument details;
Physical, physiological and mental health condition;
Sexual orientation;
Medical records and history;
Biometric information;
Any detail relating to the above clauses as provided to body corporate for providing service; and
Any of the information received under above clauses by body corporate for processing, stored or processed under lawful contract or otherwise:
provided that, any information that is freely available or accessible in public domain or furnished under the Right to Information Act, 2005 or any other law for the time being in force shall not be regarded as sensitive personal data or information for the purposes of Rules.
Collection of Information:
Compliance with KYC guidelines as per SEBI / Exchanges / Or any other Act, law or regulation requiring the same and any internal KYC guidelines formulated by Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited.
In order to provide enhanced trading experience to the client.
In order to provide any further information to be provided to regulators.
Such information may be collected in a manner that the client is always aware of the collection and purported usage of the same. The client shall have an option to withdraw consent to share the information. However such intimation shall be required in writing. Such intimation shall only be taken into account from the date on which the same is received. Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited may choose to stop services to such a client in case such intimation is received. Such information shall only be used for the purpose it is collected.
Clients would be allowed an option not to disclose any information to be collected, provided the same is in compliance with regulatory requirements.
Disclosure of information:
Disclosure of sensitive information would be as per the terms agreed by the clients. For any change in such terms, the clients would be informed.
Provided no consent may be required in case the same is being shared as per compliance guidelines or as required by regulators.
Any information being disclosed to third parties would be in accordance with the Rules and would be done provided such third party has the same level of compliance guidelines as Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited.
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited shall allow clients to review their personal information and the same shall be allowed to be edited provided exchange guidelines relevant to the same are followed.
Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited shall maintain reasonable security practices and procedures and maintain a comprehensive documented information security programme. In the event of an information security breach, Sharekhan Comtrade Private Limited or a person on its behalf shall be required to demonstrate as and when called upon to do so by the agency mandated under the law, that there have implemented security control measures as per their documented information security programme and information security policies and information security policies that contain managerial, technical, operational and physical security control measures that are commensurate with the information assets being protected with the nature of business.
KYC Languages
Download Client Registration Documents (Rights & Obligations, Risk Disclosure Document, Do's & Don't's) in Vernacular Language :
Note: "This document is a translated version of the client registration documents in English and is being provided in vernacular language to facilitate better understanding by the investors. In case of any ambiguity, the contents of the English version would prevail."
NDNCR Terms & Conditions
By accepting the Terms & Conditions, you authorise Espresso, its representatives and agents to provide information about various products, offers and services provided by Espresso through any mode, including telephone calls, SMSes, emails, letters and any other mode of communication. You also confirm that laws in relation to unsolicited communication referred in "National Do Not Call Registry" as laid down by "Telecom Regulatory Authority of India" will not be applicable for such information/communication.
Filing Complaints on SEBI Complaint Redress System (SCORES) - Easy and Quick
Register on the SCORES portal
Mandatory details for filing complaints on SCORES:
Name
PAN
Address
Mobile Number
Email ID
Benefits:
Effective communication
Speedy redressal of grievances
You can file complaints on SCORES through https://scores.gov.in/scores/Welcome.html
