The Commodity Channel Index (CCI) was designed to identify cyclical turns in commodities. The assumption behind the indicator is that commodities (or stocks or bonds) move in cycles, with highs and lows coming at periodic intervals.
The Commodity Channel Index (CCI) is a timing tool that works best with seasonal or cyclical contracts. It keeps trades neutral in a sideways moving market, and helps get in the market when a breakout occurs.
Usage:
The CCI is a versatile indicator capable of producing a wide array of buy and sell signals. CCI can be used to identify overbought and oversold levels. A security would be deemed oversold when the CCI dips below -100 and overbought when it exceeds +100. From oversold levels, a buy signal might be given when the CCI moves back above -100. From overbought levels, a sell signal might be given when the CCI moved back below +100.
CCI also help identify price reversals, price extremes and trend strength. CCI fits into the momentum category of oscillators.