WTI Crude Technicals – Seeking More Bearish Targets With 107.0 Broken

Hourly Chart

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Crude Oil continued the downtrend of early Monday morning after yet more QE Taper fears emerged during yesterday’s US session. Prices managed to break the 107.0 support, but the bearish impetus wasn’t continued during the Asian session, with prices actually trading slightly higher during early European trade. However, bulls hopping for a stronger correction towards 107.0 may be disappointed, as prices does not seem to be able to break above the soft 106.7 level. Hence, do not be surprised to see prices heading lower from here before 107.0 is properly tested. Stochastic readings which is still pointing strongly higher may also be able to turn sharply lower since the latest peak has been lower than the on seen on Monday’s opening gap.

Nonetheless, the prudent trader may want to wait for further confirmation as there is no evidence that a bearish move is happening right now. Bears should preferably trade below today’s swing low of 106.15 to which will likely coincide with a Stoch curve reversal for a stronger bearish conviction. This may lead us closer towards 103.0, but it is reasonable to think that prices will most likely experience another stronger bullish pullback en route consider that there isn’t much space for a continuous bearish cycle based on current stoch levels.

Wednesday’s FOMC monetary policy announcement may throw yet another spanner in the works. Considering that Crude Oil has been bearish even when risk appetite is strong, an evaporation of risk appetite should Fed announce a tapering move will most likely send Crude down even further. Even if Fed doesn’t announce a tapering measure this time round, any pop higher may be only temporary, and that will be an even damning bearish verdict for price outlook, similar to Gold. This pullback will provide good recovery space to prevent any sharp bullish retracement due to the over-extension from bears and at the same time present better prices for current underlying bears to short into. As such, the subsequent bearish thrust may be stronger and longer lasting as compared to a direct move to 103.0 from here, with the latter having a higher chance to break the 103.0 mark and send price back below the 100.0 region.

More Links:
GBP/USD – Takes Another Breather away from 1.5950
AUD/USD – Retreats from Resistance Level at 0.94
EUR/USD – Long Term Resistance Level at 1.34 Stands Tall

This article is for general information purposes only. It is not investment advice or a solution to buy or sell securities. Opinions are the authors; not necessarily that of OANDA Corporation or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. Leveraged trading is high risk and not suitable for all. You could lose all of your deposited funds.

Mingze Wu

Mingze Wu

Currency Analyst at Market Pulse
Based in Singapore, Mingze Wu focuses on trading strategies and technical and fundamental analysis of major currency pairs. He has extensive trading experience across different asset classes and is well-versed in global market fundamentals. In addition to contributing articles to MarketPulseFX, Mingze centers on forex and macro-economic trends impacting the Asia Pacific region.
Mingze Wu