Crude Oil: Bullish Now Or Reversal Coming?
Macro Perspective:
Oil went into free fall in mid-2014, experiencing a relentless bear move which saw oil price drop by over 70%. US shale producers turned out to be the tipping point in terms of the global supply glut. This, combined with a decrease in global demand, proved to be an unstoppable force that lasted for over a year.
The macro picture for oil seems relatively balanced for now, although there are violent swings in both directions. On one hand there is still abundant supply, especially since Iran production is back to normal and shale producers increase supply as they become profitable at higher prices. At low oil prices Saudi Arabia seem to be happy to keep supply at historically elevated levels, protecting market share while damaging other oil producers with higher extraction costs. On the other hand, geopolitical risks and decreasing rig counts provide solid price support when the price dips low. Oil bounced strongly from the sub-$30 lows, driven in part by a short squeeze. The market is well aware that oil prices in the $40s are not sustainable and that was clearly shown in 2016.
OPEC and non-OPEC countries have a clear interest in not allowing prices to dip too low for too long, and that’s been evident by their regular production cut agreements when conditions warrant them. This is a powerful message and it shows that they will not allow the market to be oversupplied for a prolonged period. US shale producers are offsetting this by increasing production as price rises and rig counts increase. The $40-$75 channel has held since mid-2016 and we are currently broadly in the middle of it.
Risks are now balanced on a macro level, with OPEC and non-OPEC countries always ready to cut production when supply seems to great; this, even despite US President Trump’s strong objection. However, the risk of a global economic downturn has increased dramatically since late 2018. Economic data from the Eurozone and the US have turned and the risk of a global recession is elevated. Equities and oil are usually well correlated with global economic performance, and market participants should always be aware of this important downward risk.
Stelios Kontogoulas
The Basic Technical Perspective:
The recent pullback in crude oil didn’t come without warning. The crude market was setup for a nice rally as we passed through the $55.50 level with a long term inverted head and shoulder’s pattern setting up. However, there are a few issues that may stand in the way for bulls moving forward:
- The DSI was at a balmy 93 when it peaked last week, but the DSI remains relatively high and near bullish extremes.
- Stocks and risk assets look exhausted near term which may weigh on crude and other commodities.
If you look at the daily crude oil chart below, you can see how the market managed to hold the neckline (or support zone) of the inverted head and shoulder’s pattern. And while above the $55 level, the risk remains higher. HOWEVER, one of the chart patterns which is most prone to failure is the head and shoulder’s (or inverted as well) and with the two points above, I think the risk of a failure is high.
In the event we do get a price failure in crude prices (a move back below the $55 level) there are some closely related currency pairs that I would be paying attention to:
First, the USDCAD is the obvious pair. If you look at the USDCAD, we are near a long term channel support, which loosely could be seen as 1.3000, the big figure number. We are within close proximity of the 200dma and dips below have not been sustained for long since early 2018.
Secondly, the USDNOK is also a candidate for longs if crude oil prices fall. Like the USDCAD, we also have a longer term up channel in the USDNOK that is a little better defined, which means dips below the 8.5000 level could offer longs for that pair as well.
In the event that the crude inverted head and shoulder’s does play out higher, a break in the USDCAD below the 1.3000 level or USDNOK below the 8.4200 level may offer longer term trend reversals lower as well.
Blake Morrow
Crude Oil Harmonic Perspective:
André Cardoso
Elliot Wave Perspective: Oil On The Rise, But Corrective One
Crude oil is on the rise since end of December and so far, it has made only on clear wave to the upside, that I recognize it as wave A, first leg of a corrective advance that I am tracking in a higher degree of wave B. As you know, correction are three wave patterns so more upside is expected to occur after minor wave B set-back which can be around the corner. But generally speaking, any weakness can be temporary and limited around 52-54, especially because of tensions between Pakistan and India. That been said, we think that current trend since January remains up for now, and it may continue towards 60-63 where longer-trend trendline, former swing lows and 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level may be a very important resistance for this year.
Trade well,
Grega
