Money Flow Index (MFI)

Returns the Money Flow Index, a volume-weighted momentum indicator similar to RSI but incorporating volume data. MFI is sometimes called "volume-weighted RSI."

How MFI Works

MFI oscillates between 0 and 100:

  • MFI > 80: Generally considered overbought (selling pressure may increase)
  • MFI < 20: Generally considered oversold (buying pressure may increase)
  • MFI = 50: Neutral

MFI vs RSI

Feature MFI RSI
Volume Uses volume Price only
Focus Money flow Price momentum
Signals Earlier signals Standard timing

Parameters

Parameter Description Default
Symbol Stock ticker symbol Required
Days Number of periods for calculation 14
StartDate Calculate MFI as of this date Today

Examples

=MoneyFlowIndex("AAPL")
14-day MFI for Apple
=MoneyFlowIndex("AAPL", "14")
Explicitly 14-day MFI
=MoneyFlowIndex("MSFT", "10")
10-day MFI for Microsoft
=MoneyFlowIndex("SPY", "20")
20-day MFI for SPY
=MoneyFlowIndex("AAPL", "14", DATE(2024,1,15))
Historical MFI
Symbol from cell reference

When to Use

  • Identify overbought/oversold with volume confirmation
  • Detect divergences between price and money flow
  • Confirm price trends with volume analysis
  • Volume-based technical analysis
  • Generate trading signals incorporating volume

When NOT to Use

Scenario Use Instead
Price-only momentum RelativeStrengthIndex()
Average trading volume AverageDailyVolume()
Trend direction SimpleMovingAverage() or ExponentialMovingAverage()
Basic momentum Momentum()

Common Issues & FAQ

Q: Why is MFI returning "NA"? A: Check that:

  • The symbol is valid and has volume data
  • There is sufficient historical data for the period
  • The stock is actively traded (low-volume stocks may have issues)

Q: How does MFI differ from RSI? A: MFI incorporates trading volume, making it sensitive to both price changes and trading activity. High-volume days have more impact on MFI than on RSI.

Q: What thresholds should I use? A: Standard thresholds are 80 (overbought) and 20 (oversold). Some traders use 70/30 for more signals.

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MarketXLS Excel Add-in Tutorial - How to Use Money Flow Index (MFI) and Other Financial Formulas
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