- Growing odds of a Gaza ceasefire has seen Crude Oil tumble.
- A surge in US NFP figures sent Crude Oil even lower on Friday.
- OPEC has a long road ahead of it to overcome non-OPEC production growth.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) US Crude Oil fell into familiar lows on Friday, driven down by geopolitical fears washing out on hostage negotiations and sparks of doubt that OPEC will successfully under-produce pumping growth in the non-OPEC sphere.
Qatar is heading up efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza, if at least temporarily to allow the exchange of hostages, and Qatar’s steady success in talking down both sides of the conflict is seeing Crude oil flounder as geopolitical tensions ease.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is set to see a long-term challenge in 2024 and 2025 as OPEC tries desperately to undercut global non-OPEC production, imposing stiff production quotas on member nations as non-OPEC producers such as the US outstrip OPEC pumping caps. Analysts are increasingly concerned that the US and other non-OPEC producers could entirely oversupply global markets, and investors will be keeping a close eye on inventories in 2024.
US Nonfarm Payrolls: surge 353,000 in January
US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) surged to a twelve-month high of 353,000 in January, well over the market’s median forecast of 180K. With the US economy continuing to show stubborn resilience and the US labor market remaining at record highs, odds of a market-support rate cut from the US Federal Reserve (Fed) continue to decline.
WTI Crude Oil technical outlook
WTI has extended declines and fallen even further away from the 200-hour Simple Moving Average (SMA) at $76.00 per barrel, and US Crude Oil has shed nearly 10% from its last swing high into $79.19.
WTI has declined for a third straight day and closed in the red for four of the last five trading days, facing a daily candlestick rejection from the 200-day SMA near the $78.00 handle.
WTI hourly chart
WTI daily chart
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
Editors’ Picks
Australian Dollar appreciates despite stronger US Dollar, PMI awaited
The Australian Dollar (AUD) continues to strengthen against the US Dollar (USD) following the release of mixed Judo Bank Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) data from Australia on Friday. The AUD also benefits from a hawkish outlook by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) regarding future interest rate decisions.
Japanese Yen remains on the front foot against USD, bulls seem non-committed
The Japanese Yen (JPY) attracts some buyers for the second straight day on Friday amid reviving bets for more interest rate hikes by the Bank of Japan (BoJ), though it lacks any follow-through.
Gold advances to near two-week high, eyes $2,700 on geopolitical tensions
Gold price (XAU/USD) prolongs its uptrend for the fifth consecutive day on Friday and climbs to a nearly two-week top, around the $2,690-2,691 area during the Asian session. Intensifying Russia-Ukraine tensions force investors to take refuge in traditional safe-haven assets and turn out to be a key factor underpinning the precious metal.
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.
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.
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.