Crude Weekly Chart

Crude Oil Price Chart - Weekly Timeframe

Technical Outlook: I highlighted this chart in last week’s Technical Perspective and the rally & subsequent close above the 53.94/54.75 resistance zone keeps the focus higher in crude. From here, the risk for near-term exhaustion surmounts on a rally into critical resistance at 59/60– a region defined by the 200-week moving average, the 38.2% retracement of the 2011 decline and the 61.8% extension of the 2016 advance. Weekly support now rests at 53.94 with broader bullish invalidation steady at the 50-handle where the 52-week moving average converges on the lower median-line parallel.

Crude Daily Chart

Crude Oil Price Chart - Daily Timeframe

A look at the daily chart sees prices trading within the confines of a near-term ascending pitchfork extending off the yearly lows- we’ve been tracking this formation since last month. The 50-line further highlights near-term support at 54.74-55 with the yearly open at 53.80 marking our near-term bullish invalidation level. Initial resistance eyed at the May low-week reversal close at 57.96 backed by 59.12 & the 60-handle- both areas of interest for possible near-term exhaustion / short-entries.

Crude 240min Chart

Crude Oil Price Chart - 240min Timeframe

Notes: Near-term price action has prices testing median-line support here and if we break lower, look for the pullback to offer favorable long-entries while above 55 targeting subsequent resistance objectives into the upper 50-line. Keep in mind that momentum remains in overbought territory on both the daily & intraday timeframes. Bottom line: the immediate risk is for exhaustion on a drift higher into the upper resistance targets but ultimately a lager pullback would offer more favorable long-entries while with in this formation.

Crude Oil IG Client Sentiment

  • A summary of IG Client Sentiment shows traders are net-short Crude- the ratio stands at -1.42 (41.3% of traders are long) – Weak bullishreading
  • Retail has remained net-short since Oct 25th; price has moved 9.6% higher since then
  • Long positions are 4.0% lower than yesterday but 10.8% higher from last week
  • Short positions are 6.9% higher than yesterday but 10.2% lower from last week
  • We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests Oil – US Crude prices may continue to rise. Positioning is more net-short than yesterday but less net-short from last week and the combination of current sentiment & recent changes gives us a further mixed Oil – US Crude trading bias.