The momentum indicator is used to identify overbought/oversold conditions.

If we could determine that the speed of rising or falling prices is declining, we would then be forewarned that a market top or bottom may be near. A market will tend to continue in the same direction in which it is moving until it meets support or resistance. If a market is moving with falling momentum, it will continue to move in the direction of the trend, but at slower and slower speeds until it just stops, similar to a tired long distance runner.

There are four basic events to follow on a momentum chart. The first is a crossing of the zero line. If momentum is negative and crosses the zero line to positive territory, it could be a buy signal. Note that this is only a valid signal when the line is crossed in the direction of the prevailing trend.

The second event is a divergence with price action. If prices make lower lows but momentum makes higher lows, down side market momentum is declining.

The third event is a very high or very low level of momentum, which may indicate an overbought or oversold condition. Since momentum is not indexed (constrained to move between 0 and 100) we must make a comparison to historical levels in that specific market to determine if it is overbought or oversold.

Trend line analysis can also be used on momentum (event number four). Trend breaks in indicators often precede trend changes in price.

Oasis Petroleum was is a steep decline and along the way momentum set lows that resulted in small bounces. However, in December 2014 momentum dipped well below prior levels to an extreme. That signaled a likely end of the trend.

Note that the ensuing bounce caused an extreme high in the indicator. This is often a condition at a major trend change and should not be used as an overbought reading prompting a sell.