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Why is StochRSI so Volatile and What does it Measure?

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StochRSI is volatile because it is an indicator of an indicator. Most indicators are derived directly from price. StochRSI is derived directly from RSI values, which are derived from price. This means StochRSI is two steps removed from the actual price. This is also known as the second derivative. Using the Nasdaq 100 ETF (QQQ) as an example, 14-day StochRSI would be 14-day Slow Stochastics applied to 14-day RSI for QQQ.

110729stochrsi
Click this image for a live chart.

Developed by Tushard Chande and Stanley Kroll, StochRSI was designed to increase sensitivity and signals from RSI. And it does. The chart above shows RSI fluctuating between 30 and 70 the last five months. There was one brief blip above 70 in mid February. StochRSI, on the other hand, gyrates between zero and one on a regular basis. A move to 1 indicates that RSI is at a 14-day high, while a move to 0 indicates that RSI is at a 14-day low. StochRSI is used to anticipate breakouts and surges in RSI, which in turn is used to anticipate turns in QQQ. You can read more on StochRSI in our ChartSchool.

Arthur Hill
About the author: , CMT, is a Senior Technical Analyst at StockCharts.com. He has written articles for numerous financial publications including Barrons and Stocks & Commodities magazine. Focusing predominantly on US equities and ETFs, his systematic approach of identifying trend, finding signals within the trend, and setting key price levels has made him an esteemed technician. In addition to his CMT designation, Arthur holds an MBA from the Cass Business School at City University in London. Learn More
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