S&P 500 RSI

Neutral
CURRENT VALUE
RSI: 44.1 (Neutral)
Source: S&P 500 price data via market data feed
Data through: Sep 15, 2026 · updated Sep 15 · Updates: Daily, after market close
The three bars show the last 3 weeks for this indicator, oldest left to newest right. Bar height reflects each reading relative to the other two — the tallest is the highest of the three, the shortest the lowest.
Historical context: Currently in the 24th percentile — near historically low/favorable levels.
What this means right now: The S&P 500 RSI is in neutral territory — neither overbought nor oversold. Markets are balanced and momentum gives no strong directional signal. Watch other indicators for context.
S&P 500 RSI · Daily
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Grey areas = NBER recessions · Scroll to read · zoom and pan in Expand
Monthly values

S&P 500 RSI — the last 12 months

Every month's reading, with the band the heatmap gives it. The chart above shows the same series in full.

MonthValueBand
Sep 2026RSI: 44.1 (Neutral)Within normal range
Aug 2026RSI: 53.5 (Neutral)Within normal range
Jul 2026RSI: 52.8 (Neutral)Within normal range
Jun 2026RSI: 56.0 (Neutral)Within normal range
May 2026RSI: 73.5 (Overbought)Severe/critical reading
Apr 2026RSI: 70.2 (Overbought)Severe/critical reading

Month-end readings of the same series the chart shows, from sp500_rsi. Values are the current record, not point-in-time: a month that has since been revised shows its revised value.

What is the S&P 500 RSI?

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a momentum indicator that measures the speed and magnitude of price changes in the S&P 500. It oscillates between 0 and 100 — readings above 70 signal the market is overbought (potentially overextended), while readings below 30 signal oversold conditions (potentially a buying opportunity). The 14-day RSI is the standard setting used by most analysts and institutional investors.

The 200-day moving average (200MA) is the most widely watched long-term trend indicator on Wall Street. When the S&P 500 trades above its 200MA, it is in a long-term uptrend. When it trades below, it signals a potential bear market. Together, RSI and the 200MA give investors both a momentum reading and a trend context — two different lenses on the same market.

How We Color-Code the S&P 500 RSI

Our heatmap colors each indicator based on historically significant thresholds:

RSI below 30
Oversold — historically strong buying opportunity
RSI 30–40
Recovering — momentum building from low levels
RSI 40–60
Neutral momentum — market in balanced territory
RSI 60–70
Elevated — market extended but not extreme
RSI above 70
Overbought — historically elevated correction risk

Historical Extremes — What Happened Next?

When this indicator reaches extreme levels, history shows consistent patterns:

Mar 2020COVID Crash
RSI: 17.5 (Deeply Oversold)
S&P 500 returned +68% over the next 12 months. One of the most powerful buy signals in RSI history.
Jan 2018Late Cycle Peak
RSI: 87.2 (Extreme Overbought)
S&P 500 fell -10% within 2 weeks in the "Volmageddon" correction. A textbook overbought reversal.
Dec 2018Fed Tightening Panic
RSI: 22.3 (Oversold)
S&P 500 returned +29% over the next 12 months as the Fed pivoted to rate cuts.

Investor Checklist — Current Reading

Based on the current S&P 500 RSI reading of RSI: 44.1 (Neutral) (Neutral):

Neutral RSI — no strong momentum signal in either direction
Balanced positioning appropriate — maintain target allocation
Look to other indicators (VIX, yield curve, sentiment) for directional conviction

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean when the S&P 500 RSI is above 70?
An RSI above 70 means the market is "overbought" — it has risen faster than its historical average pace. This signals elevated short-term correction risk but does not guarantee a selloff. During strong bull markets, RSI can stay above 70 for weeks.
Is RSI below 30 always a good time to buy?
Historically yes for long-term investors — RSI below 30 on the S&P 500 has been followed by strong 12-month returns in most cases. However, it requires patience as prices can fall further before recovering. RSI 30 is a signal, not a guarantee.
What is the 200-day moving average and why does it matter?
The 200-day moving average is the average closing price of the S&P 500 over the past 200 trading days. It is the most widely watched long-term trend indicator. When the index trades above it, the long-term trend is up. Below it signals a bear market. Many institutional investors use the 200MA as a key buy/sell decision threshold.
Can RSI predict market crashes?
RSI can signal when markets are overextended but cannot predict the timing or severity of crashes. Major crashes (2008, 2020) often saw RSI fall to historic extremes quickly. However, markets can be "overbought" for months before a correction arrives, so RSI alone is not a crash predictor.
How is the 14-day RSI calculated?
RSI = 100 - (100 / (1 + RS)), where RS is the average gain divided by the average loss over the past 14 trading days. A period with mostly up days produces a high RS and a high RSI. A period with mostly down days produces a low RS and a low RSI.