Oil Market Continues on the Upside
Oil prices are rising for the fourth consecutive week as Brent crude benchmark prices rose to $83.77 per barrel. The technical picture suggests a further climb of prices which may be pushed by the following factors:
1. Brent crude prices returned to the upward trend that began in April 2020. Prices were below the support level of the trend during the last days of November 2021, but they managed to return above the trend line.
2. Commercial crude stocks in the United States are declining for the seventh consecutive week. According to the American Petroleum Institute (API) crude stocks were down by 1.077 million barrels last week after plummeting by 6.432 million a week before. Official information from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) that will be published on Wednesday may suggest that crude inventories will decline by 1.904 million barrels. Analysts surveyed by Global Platts on average expect crude inventories down by 1.6 million barrels.
3. Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell said that the Fed could tame inflation without undermining economic growth.
The closest resistance for Brent crude prices is at $85-85.30 per barrel with the stronger resistance at $86.70 that was recorded in October 2021. The upside which started on December 20, 2021, is strong, and we may expect Brent crude prices to move to this level. But the overall picture may change if prices slide below the trend line at $81.70-82.00.
So, long positions in crude could be seen to be justified if prices go above $81.70 per barrel. Several large investment banks share the “bullish” perspective for crude. Morgan Stanley expects Brent crude prices to reach $90 per barrel by the Q3 2022.
1. Brent crude prices returned to the upward trend that began in April 2020. Prices were below the support level of the trend during the last days of November 2021, but they managed to return above the trend line.
2. Commercial crude stocks in the United States are declining for the seventh consecutive week. According to the American Petroleum Institute (API) crude stocks were down by 1.077 million barrels last week after plummeting by 6.432 million a week before. Official information from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) that will be published on Wednesday may suggest that crude inventories will decline by 1.904 million barrels. Analysts surveyed by Global Platts on average expect crude inventories down by 1.6 million barrels.
3. Federal Reserve (Fed) Chair Jerome Powell said that the Fed could tame inflation without undermining economic growth.
The closest resistance for Brent crude prices is at $85-85.30 per barrel with the stronger resistance at $86.70 that was recorded in October 2021. The upside which started on December 20, 2021, is strong, and we may expect Brent crude prices to move to this level. But the overall picture may change if prices slide below the trend line at $81.70-82.00.
So, long positions in crude could be seen to be justified if prices go above $81.70 per barrel. Several large investment banks share the “bullish” perspective for crude. Morgan Stanley expects Brent crude prices to reach $90 per barrel by the Q3 2022.
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