Crude Oil continues to whip on Friday, but higher on the week as WTI inches towards $75


  • Crude Oil markets pushed into a new high for the week before settling back on Friday.
  • WTI roils between $74.50 and $73.00 on Friday.
  • Freezing temperatures and geopolitical tensions weigh on supply concerns.

Crude Oil bids broadly rose over the week in jittery trading that saw frequent peaks and dips into highs and lows, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) US Crude Oil settling the week near $73.60 with a 5.6% or $3 spread between the week’s late peak set late on Friday at $74.60 and Wednesday’s weekly low at $70.62.

Broad-market concerns about production caps from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that plagued energy markets for much of the third quarter of 2023 have all but evaporated, being replaced by broad-market concerns that Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacking civilian ships in the Red Sea will hamper critical global supply lines between Europe and Asia.

Bullish Crude Oil prices on supply concerns have seen significant downside pressure crimp topside momentum, with the US hitting record levels of Crude Oil production in 2023 and on pace to continue ramping up barrel output looking forward.

Canada is also set to hit new production highs as Crude Oil producers in Alberta ramp up production as the Trans Mountain pipeline nears completion, which will make it easier for the oil-exporting country to add their raw light sweet crude oil supplies to the US’ logistics chain. As the fourth-largest global producer of Crude Oil, Canada stands poised to launch the US even further to the top of the leaderboard as a global net producer and exporter of downstream oil products.

Despite a historic overhang in partially-refined Crude Oil products, declines in near-term raw barrel supplies is drawing a line underneath barrel prices as energy markets await a more solidified outlook on global supply balances in Crude Oil.

WTI Technical Outlook

Choppy trading as markets get pulled in both directions leave Crude Oil traders strung along the midrange, with WTI testing familiar territory near the $74.00 handle. WTI has cycled the key price handle in a tightening pattern since descending into the neighborhood in early November, and a sideways grind in the WTI chart has the 50-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) descending into intraday territory.

The 200-day SMA is accelerating a downturn from the $78.00 handle, which will add bearish pressure to near-term price action to the low side if bulls can’t push WTI back over medium-term technical resistance at the $76.00 handle.

WTI Daily Chart

WTI US OIL

Overview
Today last price 73.6
Today Daily Change -0.29
Today Daily Change % -0.39
Today daily open 73.89
 
Trends
Daily SMA20 72.62
Daily SMA50 73.63
Daily SMA100 79.65
Daily SMA200 77.38
 
Levels
Previous Daily High 74.18
Previous Daily Low 72.12
Previous Weekly High 75.28
Previous Weekly Low 70.21
Previous Monthly High 76.79
Previous Monthly Low 67.97
Daily Fibonacci 38.2% 73.39
Daily Fibonacci 61.8% 72.91
Daily Pivot Point S1 72.61
Daily Pivot Point S2 71.33
Daily Pivot Point S3 70.54
Daily Pivot Point R1 74.67
Daily Pivot Point R2 75.46
Daily Pivot Point R3 76.74

 

 

Share: Feed news

Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Recommended content


Recommended content

Editors’ Picks

AUD/USD: Next upside target comes at 0.6550

AUD/USD: Next upside target comes at 0.6550

AUD/USD managed well to shrug off the marked advance in the Greenback as well as geopolitical tensions, regaining the area above the 0.6500 hurdle ahead of preliminary PMIs in Australia.

AUD/USD News
EUR/USD: Further losses now look at 1.0450

EUR/USD: Further losses now look at 1.0450

Further strength in the US Dollar kept the price action in the risk-associated assets depressed, sending EUR/USD back to the 1.0460 region for the first time since early October 2023 prior to key releases in the real economy.

EUR/USD News
Gold faces extra upside near term

Gold faces extra upside near term

Gold extends its bullish momentum further above $2,660 on Thursday. XAU/USD rises for the fourth straight day, sponsored by geopolitical risks stemming from the worsening Russia-Ukraine war. Markets await comments from Fed policymakers.

Gold News
Ethereum Price Forecast: ETH open interest surge to all-time high after recent price rally

Ethereum Price Forecast: ETH open interest surge to all-time high after recent price rally

Ethereum (ETH) is trading near $3,350, experiencing an 10% increase on Thursday. This price surge is attributed to strong bullish sentiment among derivatives traders, driving its open interest above $20 billion for the first time. 

Read more
A new horizon: The economic outlook in a new leadership and policy era

A new horizon: The economic outlook in a new leadership and policy era

The economic aftershocks of the COVID pandemic, which have dominated the economic landscape over the past few years, are steadily dissipating. These pandemic-induced economic effects are set to be largely supplanted by economic policy changes that are on the horizon in the United States.

Read more
Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

Best Forex Brokers with Low Spreads

VERIFIED Low spreads are crucial for reducing trading costs. Explore top Forex brokers offering competitive spreads and high leverage. Compare options for EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and Gold.

Read More

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures