What Is the RSI Indicator & RSI Divergence

RSI - Relative Strength Index Indicator:
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a momentum indicator used in technical analysis that measures the magnitude of recent price changes to evaluate overbought or oversold conditions in the price of a stock or other asset. The RSI is displayed as an oscillator (a line graph that moves between two extremes) and can have a reading from 0 to 100. It is important to note that the RSI does not indicate whether a stock is a buy or a sell; rather, it provides insight into the current trend of the stock.

The RSI is a versatile indicator that can be used by traders of all levels and can be adapted for any style of trading. For example, a trader may use the RSI to identify support or resistance levels, or to spot divergences that can be used to predict future price movements. The RSI can also be used to locate potential trading opportunities by looking for overbought or oversold conditions. Furthermore, the RSI can be used in combination with other indicators, such as moving averages, to gain a better understanding of the market’s overall trend.

Formula of RSI:
The RSI is calculated using a formula that compares the magnitude of recent gains against recent losses over a specified period. The formula for the RSI is:
RSI = 100 - (100 / (1 + (Average of Upward Price Movements / Average of Downward Price Movements)))

What is periods in RSI:
Periods in RSI (Relative Strength Index) are the number of time periods used to calculate the RSI. The most commonly used period for RSI is 14, but other periods such as 7, 9, and 25 are also used. This number represents the number of time periods that are used to calculate the RSI, so a period of 14 would mean the RSI is being calculated using the last 14 time periods.

RSI divergence:
RSI divergences are a type of technical analysis used to identify potential trend reversals in the markets. They are based on the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and are used to spot potential trend reversals before they occur.
A divergence occurs when the price of an asset makes a higher high, but the RSI makes a lower high. This suggests that the current rally is losing momentum and may reverse course. Similarly, a lower low in the price and a higher low in the RSI may signal an impending rally.
Divergences are best used in conjunction with other technical indicators and analysis to confirm price action. It is also important to keep in mind that divergences do not always lead to reversals and may simply signal a period of consolidation before the price continues its current trend.

Divergence Cheat Sheet / Types of Divergence: