WTI Crude Oil Technical Analysis and Short-Term Forecast
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WTI crude oil tested and held the 38 percent retracement of the decline from $86.16 at $80.1 on Monday. The subsequent pullback from $80.11 challenged the 62 percent retracement of the rise from $76.36 at $77.8 and 100- and 200-day moving averages today. This level also held on a closing basis. Even so, holding $80.1 and pulling back to test $77.8 warns that the move up from $76.36 is a completed correction.
Falling below $78.0 will invalidate the wave up from $77.65 which shows potential to test $79.4 early tomorrow. This will also open the way for a test of the $77.5 smaller than (0.618) target of the wave down from $80.11. Taking out $77.5 will clear the way for a move below the $77.1 intermediate (1.382) targets of the waves down from $86.16 and $84.86 to challenge $76.7 and then a long-term bearish decision point at $75.8.
This is still a tight call for the next few days though. This is because the wave up from $77.65 fulfilled its $78.9 smaller than target. Waves that meet the smaller than target typically extend to at least the equal to (1.00) target, in this case, $79.4. Therefore, there is a good chance for a test of $79.4 first. For the move down to extend as expected, $79.4 should hold. Overcoming $79.4 would call for a test of a highly confluent level and key resistance at $80.1. This is now the smaller than target of the wave up from $76.36, a close above which will shift the near-term odds in favor of WTI crude oil testing $80.9 and then this wave’s $81.4 equal to target in the coming days.
