Strategy library · Momentum oscillators
RSI 50 cross backtest on NQ and ES futures
RSI 14 crosses 50
Also called: RSI crossing 50, RSI midline strategy, RSI 14 50 level, RSI crosses 50, buy when RSI 14 crosses above 50, short when RSI 14 crosses below 50
What happens if you buy NQ every time RSI 14 crosses above 50?
What it is
The relative strength index (RSI, 14 periods) measures the speed of recent price changes on a 0 to 100 scale, with 50 as the midline. This strategy goes long when RSI crosses above 50, short when it crosses below, and exits on the opposite cross.
What it did
On NQ futures from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, the RSI 50 cross strategy took 1,376 trades on the 15-minute chart, won 29.0% of them and finished -2,261.50 points (-$45,230 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. From 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 on NQ, the 697 long trades on the 15-minute chart won 30.1% and made -1,544.25 points (-$30,885 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. On ES futures from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, the RSI 50 cross strategy took 1,422 trades on the 15-minute chart, won 30.0% of them and finished 376.75 points ($18,838 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. The 5-minute, 1-hour and daily results for both markets are in the table on this page.
How it was tested
CE Market Solutions tested the RSI 50 cross strategy on NQ (2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07) and ES (2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27) futures, before commission and slippage, with each signal filled at the next bar's open, intraday positions flat at 15:59 ET and textbook default indicator settings; the NQ trades are listed on this page and the ES trades under the ES tab.
See it tested with one change · $19
Tested by CE Market Solutions on 2026-10-26. The trades are listed below, one market at a time. Gross, no commission or slippage. Last 2 years.
Results
Rule as tested: Long when RSI crosses above 50; short below. Exit: Opposite cross.
| Timeframe | NQ · 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 | ES · 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trades | Win % | Avg pts | Profit factor | Net pts | Net $ (1 NQ) | Max DD pts | Trades | Win % | Avg pts | Profit factor | Net pts | Net $ (1 ES) | Max DD pts | |
| 5 minute | 4298 | 25.4% | −0.53 | 0.972 | −2,293.00 | −$45,860 | 6,183.25 | 4291 | 25.2% | −0.01 | 0.998 | −30.25 | −$1,512 | 794.25 |
| 5 minute · longs only | 2153 | 26.9% | — | — | 472.50 | $9,450 | 3,396.50 | 2142 | 26.5% | — | — | 211.50 | $10,575 | 471.50 |
| 5 minute · shorts only | 2145 | 23.9% | — | — | −2,765.50 | −$55,310 | 4,434.75 | 2149 | 24.0% | — | — | −241.75 | −$12,087 | 559.00 |
| 15 minute | 1376 | 29.0% | −1.64 | 0.946 | −2,261.50 | −$45,230 | 3,484.75 | 1422 | 30.0% | 0.26 | 1.043 | 376.75 | $18,838 | 585.50 |
| 15 minute · longs only | 697 | 30.1% | — | — | −1,544.25 | −$30,885 | 2,247.25 | 707 | 31.8% | — | — | 520.75 | $26,038 | 379.00 |
| 15 minute · shorts only | 679 | 27.8% | — | — | −717.25 | −$14,345 | 2,913.50 | 715 | 28.3% | — | — | −144.00 | −$7,200 | 479.25 |
| 1 hour | 410 | 43.4% | 4.17 | 1.086 | 1,711.00 | $34,220 | 2,833.25 | 450 | 40.0% | 1.18 | 1.123 | 531.50 | $26,575 | 377.00 |
| 1 hour · longs only | 199 | 45.7% | — | — | 682.75 | $13,655 | 1,768.75 | 212 | 41.5% | — | — | 336.75 | $16,838 | 290.00 |
| 1 hour · shorts only | 211 | 41.2% | — | — | 1,028.25 | $20,565 | 1,885.75 | 238 | 38.7% | — | — | 194.75 | $9,738 | 408.50 |
| Daily | 66 | 18.2% | −37.15 | 0.846 | −2,452.00 | −$49,040 | 7,512.25 | 46 | 26.1% | 10.91 | 1.244 | 502.00 | $25,100 | 811.00 |
| Daily · longs only | 33 | 27.3% | — | — | 3,416.00 | $68,320 | 3,349.50 | 23 | 43.5% | — | — | 1,110.25 | $55,513 | 311.50 |
| Daily · shorts only | 33 | 9.1% | — | — | −5,868.00 | −$117,360 | 6,544.75 | 23 | 8.7% | — | — | −608.25 | −$30,412 | 803.25 |
Free to use with credit to CE Market Solutions (CC BY 4.0).
ES 15 minute: the equity line
Long and short
| Side | Trades | Net pts |
|---|---|---|
| Long | 707 | 520.75 |
| Short | 715 | −144.00 |
By month
| Month | Trades | Net pts |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-08 | 4 | 50.25 |
| 2024-09 | 72 | 54.50 |
| 2024-10 | 68 | −37.25 |
| 2024-11 | 40 | −5.00 |
| 2024-12 | 56 | 222.25 |
| 2025-01 | 59 | −150.75 |
| 2025-02 | 50 | −50.75 |
| 2025-03 | 52 | 96.50 |
| 2025-04 | 67 | 348.50 |
| 2025-05 | 73 | −236.50 |
| 2025-06 | 59 | 26.75 |
| 2025-07 | 54 | 0.75 |
| 2025-08 | 57 | −92.50 |
| 2025-09 | 72 | −148.50 |
| 2025-10 | 51 | 241.00 |
| 2025-11 | 54 | 211.25 |
| 2025-12 | 69 | −146.25 |
| 2026-01 | 70 | −225.75 |
| 2026-02 | 40 | 145.50 |
| 2026-03 | 61 | 105.25 |
| 2026-04 | 57 | 85.50 |
| 2026-05 | 66 | −15.50 |
| 2026-06 | 56 | −165.50 |
| 2026-07 | 51 | 148.25 |
| 2026-08 | 64 | −85.25 |
Every trade, ES 15 minute1422 trades
Pick any of the 1422 charted trades with Previous, Next or a date, or click a row in the trades table below, to see it drawn on the real 1-minute bars. Drag the chart sideways to move through the sessions around it.
Chart unavailable. The trades are in the table below.
All trades (1422), newest first
Times are New York time; points are gross. Click a row to draw that trade in the chart above.
| Session date | Side | Entry (ET) | Entry price | Exit (ET) | Exit price | Exit reason | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-30 | short | 09:45 | 6438.75 | 11:00 | 6442.50 | opposite cross | −3.75 |
| 2026-03-26 | short | 10:45 | 6599.25 | 15:59 | 6523.00 | end of day 15:59 | 76.25 |
| 2026-03-26 | long | 09:45 | 6603.25 | 10:45 | 6599.25 | opposite cross | −4.00 |
| 2026-03-25 | short | 14:30 | 6650.25 | 15:59 | 6642.00 | end of day 15:59 | 8.25 |
| 2026-03-25 | long | 14:15 | 6655.25 | 14:30 | 6650.25 | opposite cross | −5.00 |
| 2026-03-25 | short | 14:00 | 6654.00 | 14:15 | 6655.25 | opposite cross | −1.25 |
| 2026-03-25 | long | 13:30 | 6655.75 | 14:00 | 6654.00 | opposite cross | −1.75 |
| 2026-03-25 | short | 13:00 | 6652.75 | 13:30 | 6655.75 | opposite cross | −3.00 |
| 2026-03-25 | long | 12:45 | 6655.00 | 13:00 | 6652.75 | opposite cross | −2.25 |
| 2026-03-25 | short | 11:15 | 6640.25 | 12:45 | 6655.00 | opposite cross | −14.75 |
| 2026-03-25 | long | 10:45 | 6659.50 | 11:15 | 6640.25 | opposite cross | −19.25 |
| 2026-03-25 | short | 10:00 | 6639.50 | 10:45 | 6659.50 | opposite cross | −20.00 |
| 2026-03-24 | short | 15:45 | 6613.25 | 15:59 | 6607.00 | end of day 15:59 | 6.25 |
| 2026-03-24 | long | 14:30 | 6621.25 | 15:45 | 6613.25 | opposite cross | −8.00 |
| 2026-03-24 | short | 14:15 | 6613.75 | 14:30 | 6621.25 | opposite cross | −7.50 |
| 2026-03-24 | long | 14:00 | 6618.25 | 14:15 | 6613.75 | opposite cross | −4.50 |
| 2026-03-24 | short | 13:15 | 6604.00 | 14:00 | 6618.25 | opposite cross | −14.25 |
| 2026-03-24 | long | 10:45 | 6612.75 | 13:15 | 6604.00 | opposite cross | −8.75 |
| 2026-03-23 | long | 13:45 | 6645.00 | 15:59 | 6631.50 | end of day 15:59 | −13.50 |
| 2026-03-23 | short | 12:30 | 6617.75 | 13:45 | 6645.00 | opposite cross | −27.25 |
| 2026-03-23 | long | 12:15 | 6648.00 | 12:30 | 6617.75 | opposite cross | −30.25 |
| 2026-03-23 | short | 12:00 | 6637.25 | 12:15 | 6648.00 | opposite cross | −10.75 |
| 2026-03-19 | long | 15:00 | 6645.75 | 15:59 | 6658.75 | end of day 15:59 | 13.00 |
| 2026-03-19 | short | 14:30 | 6632.75 | 15:00 | 6645.75 | opposite cross | −13.00 |
| 2026-03-19 | long | 14:15 | 6644.75 | 14:30 | 6632.75 | opposite cross | −12.00 |
| 2026-03-19 | short | 11:30 | 6638.00 | 14:15 | 6644.75 | opposite cross | −6.75 |
| 2026-03-19 | long | 11:15 | 6654.75 | 11:30 | 6638.00 | opposite cross | −16.75 |
| 2026-03-17 | short | 15:45 | 6772.75 | 15:59 | 6771.75 | end of day 15:59 | 1.00 |
| 2026-03-17 | long | 15:00 | 6775.25 | 15:45 | 6772.75 | opposite cross | −2.50 |
| 2026-03-17 | short | 14:30 | 6773.00 | 15:00 | 6775.25 | opposite cross | −2.25 |
| 2026-03-16 | short | 15:45 | 6699.00 | 15:59 | 6703.00 | end of day 15:59 | −4.00 |
| 2026-03-16 | long | 12:45 | 6699.75 | 15:45 | 6699.00 | opposite cross | −0.75 |
| 2026-03-16 | short | 12:30 | 6687.50 | 12:45 | 6699.75 | opposite cross | −12.25 |
| 2026-03-13 | short | 10:45 | 6686.75 | 15:59 | 6637.00 | end of day 15:59 | 49.75 |
| 2026-03-11 | long | 15:45 | 6777.50 | 15:59 | 6779.75 | end of day 15:59 | 2.25 |
| 2026-03-11 | short | 13:45 | 6762.00 | 15:45 | 6777.50 | opposite cross | −15.50 |
| 2026-03-11 | long | 13:30 | 6781.25 | 13:45 | 6762.00 | opposite cross | −19.25 |
| 2026-03-11 | short | 11:15 | 6774.75 | 13:30 | 6781.25 | opposite cross | −6.50 |
| 2026-03-11 | long | 10:45 | 6790.25 | 11:15 | 6774.75 | opposite cross | −15.50 |
| 2026-03-11 | short | 10:30 | 6778.25 | 10:45 | 6790.25 | opposite cross | −12.00 |
| 2026-03-10 | short | 14:15 | 6804.00 | 15:59 | 6788.00 | end of day 15:59 | 16.00 |
| 2026-03-10 | long | 10:30 | 6794.00 | 14:15 | 6804.00 | opposite cross | 10.00 |
| 2026-03-09 | long | 10:45 | 6686.75 | 15:59 | 6801.75 | end of day 15:59 | 115.00 |
| 2026-03-09 | short | 09:45 | 6661.25 | 10:45 | 6686.75 | opposite cross | −25.50 |
| 2026-03-06 | short | 14:30 | 6767.75 | 15:59 | 6742.50 | end of day 15:59 | 25.25 |
| 2026-03-06 | long | 14:15 | 6770.50 | 14:30 | 6767.75 | opposite cross | −2.75 |
| 2026-03-06 | short | 13:30 | 6765.50 | 14:15 | 6770.50 | opposite cross | −5.00 |
| 2026-03-06 | long | 13:15 | 6777.50 | 13:30 | 6765.50 | opposite cross | −12.00 |
| 2026-03-05 | long | 15:30 | 6816.25 | 15:59 | 6835.00 | end of day 15:59 | 18.75 |
| 2026-03-05 | short | 10:30 | 6829.75 | 15:30 | 6816.25 | opposite cross | 13.50 |
Questions and answers
What happens if you buy NQ every time RSI 14 crosses above 50?
From 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 on the NQ 15-minute chart, the RSI 50 cross strategy took 697 long trades, won 30.1% of them and made -1,544.25 points (-$30,885 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage. From 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 on NQ, its long trades also made 472.50 points on 2,153 trades on the 5-minute chart, 682.75 points on 199 trades on the 1-hour chart and 3,416.00 points on 33 trades on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
What happens if you short ES every time RSI 14 crosses below 50?
From 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27 on the ES 15-minute chart, the RSI 50 cross strategy took 715 short trades, won 28.3% of them and made -144.00 points (-$7,200 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. From 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27 on ES, its short trades also made -241.75 points on 2,149 trades on the 5-minute chart, 194.75 points on 238 trades on the 1-hour chart and -608.25 points on 23 trades on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
Does the RSI 50 cross strategy work on Nasdaq futures?
On NQ futures from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, the RSI 50 cross strategy on the 15-minute chart took 1,376 trades, won 29.0% of them and finished -2,261.50 points (-$45,230 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage.
What is the win rate of RSI 14 crosses 50 on ES futures?
The RSI 50 cross strategy won 30.0% of its 1,422 trades on the ES 15-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, before commission and slippage. On ES from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27 it also won 25.2% of 4,291 trades on the 5-minute chart, 40.0% of 450 trades on the 1-hour chart and 26.1% of 46 trades on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
Is the RSI 50 cross strategy better on the 5-minute, 15-minute, 1-hour or daily chart for NQ?
On NQ from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, the RSI 50 cross strategy made -2,293.00 points on 4,298 trades on the 5-minute chart, -2,261.50 points on 1,376 trades on the 15-minute chart, 1,711.00 points on 410 trades on the 1-hour chart and -2,452.00 points on 66 trades on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
Is it better to only buy or only sell RSI 50 cross signals on NQ?
On the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, the long trades made -1,544.25 points on 697 trades (30.1% won) and the short trades made -717.25 points on 679 trades (27.8% won), before commission and slippage.
How many trades does the RSI 50 cross strategy take on NQ in two years?
The RSI 50 cross strategy took 1,376 trades on the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, before commission and slippage. On NQ from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 it also took 4,298 on the 5-minute chart, 410 on the 1-hour chart and 66 on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
What is the max drawdown of the RSI 50 cross strategy on NQ?
The RSI 50 cross strategy had a max drawdown of 3,484.75 points ($69,695 on one NQ contract) on the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, before commission and slippage. On NQ from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07 its max drawdown was also 6,183.25 points on the 5-minute chart, 2,833.25 points on the 1-hour chart and 7,512.25 points on the daily chart, before commission and slippage.
How does the RSI 50 cross strategy do on ES compared with NQ?
On the ES 15-minute chart from 2024-08-28 to 2026-08-27, the RSI 50 cross strategy took 1,422 trades, won 30.0% of them and made 376.75 points ($18,838 on one ES contract), before commission and slippage. On the NQ 15-minute chart from 2024-10-08 to 2026-10-07, the RSI 50 cross strategy took 1,376 trades, won 29.0% of them and made -2,261.50 points (-$45,230 on one NQ contract), before commission and slippage.
How these were run
- Gross: no commission and no slippage.
- The last 2 years of each market, from the first to the last session of its window.
- A signal on a closed bar fills at the next bar’s open.
- A stop and a target touched in the same minute count as the stop.
- Intraday positions are flat at 15:59 ET.
- Textbook TradingView default settings for every indicator; nothing is tuned.
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