Relative Vigor Index: Trading Strategies for the RVI Indicator

Technical analysis is the process of using tools that have been developed using mathematical calculations to forecast the direction of an asset. There are hundreds of technical indicators that are found in most trading platforms like the MT4, PPro8, and TradingView.

These indicators are divided into leading and lagging indicators. Lagging indicators are the likes of moving averages and the Parabolic SAR while leading indicators are the likes of the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and MACD.

In this article, we will look at the Relative Vigor Index (RVI), and how you can use it to look for trends in the financial market.

What is the Relative Vigor Index?

The Relative Vigor Index (RVI) is a technical indicator that is categorized as an oscillator in most trading platforms. The indicator appears as three lines:

• The neutral level (dotted horizontal line)
• Relative Vigor Index (RVI) line
• The signal line.

Some popular trading platforms like TradingView show the indicator as two lines. It has a red and green line. The green line is the RVI line while the red line is the signal. Still, you can add the neutral line using the horizontal line. The chart below shows the RVI on the EUR/USD chart.

Traders use the indicator to identify when the price of an asset is oversold or overbought. Overbought levels are used to signal opportunities to short or sell while oversold levels are used to signal opportunities to buy.

As with all indicators with such lines, there are two main sections that traders watch. There is when the two lines cross the neutral line. The other period is when the RVI and signal lines cross one another.

→ How to master Technical Analysis

How to calculate the RVI

The process of calculating the relative vigor index is relatively complex compared to other indicators. This should not scare you because you are not requited to do the calculations yourself. Instead, it is recommended that you know the meaning of the indicator and how to use it when trading.

As with most indicators, the RVI was created with the commodities market in mind. Still, it can be used well in the other markets such as forex, stocks, and indices.

The first step for calculating the RVI is to identify the period to examine. The default period in most platforms is usually 10. Still, you can tweak this period to suit your trading strategy.

After this, you need to identify the Open, High, Low, and Close values for the current bar. Then, identify the same levels for the lookback period.

You should then calculate the simple moving averages for the numerator and denominator for the period. Finally, divide the numerator from the denominator. As you may have noted, this is a process similar to how the stochastics oscillator is calculated.

Best setting

There are not many settings for the RVI indicator. All you need to do is to enter the period and change the colours. The default period in most platforms is 10 while the default colors are red and green. You can change the period to suit your trading strategy.

How to Use the Relative Vigor Index (RVI)

Finding the open and closing prices for currencies is usually relatively difficult because the forex market is usually open 24 hours for five days. Getting the data for stocks is easy because there are actual opening and closing prices every day.

By the way, the first step is to look at a chart visually and seeing how it is trending. You should use the RVI when the market is trending, this will help you get the real signal. After applying the RVI, you need to look closely at when the two lines intersect. This is where the signal is used.

As shown on the chart above, something happens when the RVI and signal line of the RVI indicator make a crossover. The red arrows show how the pair moves upwards when the two indicators cross over. The blue lines, instead, shows how the price moves lower when the two lines make a crossover.

As you can see, not all crossovers lead to reversals. This is why you need to be very careful and use the indicator well and in combination with other indicators.

Using the RVI in trend following

In addition to looking at the crossovers, you can use the Relative Vigor Index (RVI) using the trend following strategy. This is a strategy where you look at an existing trend and follow it.

You can use it this way. When there is a bullish trend, continue holding the asset as long as the two lines are rising and vice versa. On the other hand, if the price is falling, continue shorting the asset as long as the two lines are declining. A good example of this is shown below.

However, the main disadvantage of this strategy is that at times, the price will be rising while the indicator is either falling or moving sideways.

Using RVI to trade divergences

Another relatively simple way of using the RVI indicator is to trade divergences. This refers to a situation where the price of an asset is rising while that of the indicator is falling.

When a divergence appears, it can be a sign that the bullish or bearish trend is about to end. However, the main challenge for this is that divergences take a substantial amount of time to form. As such, it is not ideal for day traders or scalpers. An example of this is shown in the chart below.

Final thoughts

The Relative Vigor Index (RVI) is a technical indicator that can be used to trade all types of assets like currencies and commodities. However, the indicator has some limitations such as sending the wrong signals and being relatively difficult to calculate.

Therefore, you should do your best to find out the best period to use, including combining it with other indicators like the RSI and MACD.

External Useful Resources

• Price Relative / Relative Strength – Stock Charts