Crude Oil Short-Term Forecast – May 22, 2018

Category: Oil Price Forecast

WTI Crude Oil

WTI crude oil’s trend remains bullish but is still showing signs of exhaustion. Daily and weekly momentum indicators are overbought and setup for bearish divergence, the weekly candlesticks continue to form long upper shadows, and before yesterday’s rise to a new high the daily chart formed a series of spinning tops, a shooting star, and an evening star. The challenge is that reversal patterns like these have been set up for the past few weeks or continue to form, but there has been no follow-through to confirm the patterns.

Today’s pullback and test of yesterday’s $71.9 midpoint provides another opportunity for WTI crude oil prices to follow-through on a much-needed correction. The small waves down from $72.9 call for a test of Monday’s $71.5 open, a close below which would call for $70.9 and possibly lower.

Even so, relative odds (based on the number of times a target is found within our analysis) indicate $70.9 will probably hold and that the move up should extend to $73.2 soon. A move above $72.6 before $71.5 is met would shift near-term odds back in favor of $73.2. This target has the highest relative odds, and due to its confluence is another potential stalling point for WTI. Settling above $73.2 would open the way for $74.4 and higher.

With all factors considered, look for a test of at least $71.5 and possibly $70.9 tomorrow. Support at $70.9 should hold and until proven otherwise the move up will likely extend to $73.2. Therefore, at this point, any pullback will likely be corrective and could provide a buying opportunity for traders that have recently taken profit or missed the opportunity to add to long positions Monday.

Brent Crude Oil

Brent crude oil formed a double top at $80.5 and today’s shooting star reversal pattern setup calls for a test of at least $78.9 tomorrow. A close below this would confirm the shooting and open the way for a test of the double top’s $78.1 confirmation point. This is key support for the near-term, a close below which would call for an extended downward correction to $77.2 and possibly lower (the double top’s target is $75.7).

Brent Crude Oil - Double Top
Brent Crude Oil – Double Top

That said, reversal patterns like the double top and shooting star have been set up repeatedly and failed during the past few weeks. In addition, relative odds indicate that any move down right now will most likely be corrective and that eventually, prices should rise to $81.6. For now, though, $80.0 should hold and key resistance is $80.5. A close above $80.5 would shift near-term odds back in favor of a continued rise to $81.6.

This is a brief analysis for the next day or so. Our weekly Crude Oil Forecast and daily updates are much more detailed and thorough energy price forecasts that cover WTI, Brent, RBOB Gasoline, Diesel, and spreads. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

The overall outlook for WTI crude oil is positive. However, a double top around $71.9, daily spinning top candlestick reversal pattern, and intra-day bearish momentum divergence indicate the pullback from $71.92 should extend to at least $70.4 tomorrow. This target is split between a projection of the wave down from $71.93 and the double top’s $70.26 confirmation point.

WTI Crude Oil - Double Top
WTI Crude Oil – Double Top

An early move below $70.4 will open the way for $69.9, $69.3, and possibly $68.8. Of these targets, $69.3 is the most likely stalling point because it is near a confluent wave projection and key retracement of the move up from $67.63. Even so, $68.8 has reasonable odds because it is split between the double top’s target and the most important projection of the wave down from $71.92.

Should prices turn higher and overcome $71.4, look for another attempt at $72.0, a close above which would wipe out the double top, spinning top, and bearish divergence signals. This would also open the way for the move up to extend to the next major target at $72.8. This is the most confluent objective as discussed in our weekly Commentary and another likely stalling point for WTI.

This is a brief analysis for the next day or so. Our weekly Crude Oil Forecast and daily updates are much more detailed and thorough energy price forecasts that cover WTI, Brent, RBOB Gasoline, Diesel, and spreads. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

WTI Crude Oil Forecast

Late last week, June WTI crude oil broke higher out of a daily bullish flag. This week’s crude oil price forecast indicated there was still a crucial target at $70.1, but this objective was overcome with relative ease Monday. Today’s corrective pullback stalled at $67.63 before settling the day at $69.06. This was just above the upper trend line of the bullish daily flag, and this afternoon prices are already nearly $1.00 higher and have overcome the key 62 percent retracement of the decline from $70.84. Therefore, the outlook remains bullish and the move up is still poised to extend.

The wave formations up from $67.63 indicate WTI should challenge at least $70.6 and likely $71.1 tomorrow. This afternoon’s bullish sentiment (which is purportedly based on external factors) could also drive prices to $71.7 and even $72.8, especially if prices rise above $71.1 early.

WTI Crude Oil - Daily Bullish Flag
WTI Crude Oil – Daily Bullish Flag

That said, when external factors and bullish sentiment are driving the market prices tend to become over exuberant and can overshoot reasonable objectives. While $71.1 and $72.8 make technical sense for the near-term, anything above $72.8 without a reasonable pullback first would warrant caution of a spike type scenario that could reverse very quickly.

For now, look for support at $68.6 to most likely hold with the key threshold at $67.9. A close below the latter would indicate the move up has failed and would open the way for a larger downward correction to $66.8 and lower.

Brent Crude Oil Forecast

Although Brent formed a bearish daily hanging man, prices have risen over $1.00 this afternoon after settling at $74.85. The wave formation up from $73.1 is poised to reach at least $76.8 and likely $77.8 tomorrow. A close above the latter will open the way for $78.6 and $79.9.

That said, the bullish sentiment driving prices higher this afternoon (see WTI’s comments above) could push prices too high too fast, causing a spike type scenario that could quickly reverse. Therefore, caution is warranted on any move above $79.9 over the next few days without a reasonable pullback first.

For now, support at $74.2 should hold, though prices will have to drop below the $73.07 swing low to indicate the move up has failed. In this unlikely case, look for a larger downward correction to $71.7 and possibly $70.8.

This is a brief analysis for the next day or so. Our weekly Crude Oil Forecast and daily updates are much more detailed and thorough energy price forecasts that cover WTI, Brent, RBOB Gasoline, Diesel, and spreads. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

June WTI crude oil briefly broke lower out of the recent sideways trading range between nominally $67.1 and $69.5 when it fell to $66.85 today. The settle below April 18’s $67.58 midpoint indicates the near-term outlook is negative, though at this point prices will likely have to settle below $66.7 to confirm the downward correction is going to extend before prices eventually challenge the next major objective at $70.1.

WTI Crude Oil - Daily
WTI Crude Oil – Daily

Tomorrow, look for a test of $66.7, a close below which would open the way for $66.0 and lower. Even then, WTI crude oil still has a long way to go before the long-term outlook becomes bearish, so any move down right now will most likely be corrective.

That said, prices settled just above the bottom of the recent trading range and the small wave formation up from $66.85 indicates a test of today’s $67.9 midpoint might take place first. A close above this would call for key near-term resistance at $68.6. For the downward correction to extend to $66.0 and lower this week $68.6 must hold. A close above this would shift near-term odds back in favor of $70.1.

This is a brief analysis for the next day or so. Our weekly Crude Oil Forecast and daily updates are much more detailed and thorough energy price forecasts that cover WTI, Brent, RBOB Gasoline, Diesel, and spreads. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial

June WTI crude oil failed to rise above the $69.55 swing high today after stalling at $69.38. The subsequent move down formed a bearish engulfing line and challenged the $67.6 completion point of the daily evening star and hanging man bearish reversal pattern that has been set up since April 19.

WTI Crude Oil - Daily Candlesticks
WTI Crude Oil – Daily Candlesticks

A weak bearish KaseCD and MACD divergence indicate the move down is most likely corrective but the move down is poised to extend to at least $67.1 and possibly $66.6 tomorrow. A close below the latter would confirm the evening star and hanging man and take out the 38 percent retracement of the move up from $61.86, opening the way for a larger correction before the move up continues.

After such an aggressive pullback, it is not uncommon to see a test of resistance overnight. Therefore, today’s $68.3 midpoint might be tested but should hold. Tomorrow’s key resistance level is $69.0, a close above which would wipe out the bearish engulfing line and negate the evening star and hammer pattern. This would, in turn, open the way for a test of resistance split around $70.0 at $69.8 and $70.2. Of these levels, $70.2 is most important.

This is a brief analysis for the next day or so. Our weekly Crude Oil Forecast and daily updates are much more detailed and thorough energy price forecasts that cover WTI, Brent, RBOB Gasoline, Diesel, and spreads. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

Late last week, May WTI crude oil fulfilled the $67.3 smaller than (0.618) target of the wave $57.6 – 66.55 – 61.81. Although prices settled above this on Friday the move up struggled to extend and an evening star setup with two stars formed. This reversal pattern’s $66.2 completion point was challenged Monday and again today, but so far prices have failed to close below $66.2. In addition, bullish intra-day momentum divergences were confirmed at today’s $65.56 swing low and the daily chart formed a pseudo bullish hammer.

WTI Crude Oil - Daily Candlesticks
WTI Crude Oil – Daily Candlesticks

The long-term outlook for WTI crude oil remains bullish, but it is a very tight call for the near-term. Given the most recent near-term factors are positive, look for a test of at least $67.0 and possibly $67.4 tomorrow. A close above the latter would open the way for a new high of $68.3, which then connects to $69.1 and higher.

That said, given the balance between near-term positive and negative technical factors it is too soon to throw in the towel on the likelihood of a larger downward correction before the move up continues. A close below $66.2 will increase odds for such a move but the key near-term level is $65.6. Settling below this would open the way for $65.1, which then connects to $64.5 and lower.

This is a brief analysis for the next day or so. Our weekly Crude Oil Forecast and daily updates are much more detailed and thorough energy price forecasts that cover WTI, Brent, RBOB Gasoline, Diesel, and spreads. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

May WTI crude oil’s rise from the recent $61.81 swing low extended again today and is poised to continue. Monday’s bullish piercing pattern was confirmed by settling above Friday’s $63.7 open. There are also no reversal patterns or setups that indicate the move up will end. In addition, the $65.86 swing high fulfilled the smaller than target of the wave $59.91 – 66.55 – 61.81, so any pullback will most likely be corrective of a larger scale move up.

WTI Crude Oil - Daily with Kase StatWare
WTI Crude Oil – Daily with Kase StatWare

Upon a close over $65.9 look for next resistance at $66.5. This was the equal to target of the wave $57.6 – 64.07 – 59.91 and the level at which the move up stalled on March 26. So far, $66.5 has held on a closing basis, so if the move down is going to have any chance of continuing in the near-term $66.5 must hold. A close above this would open the way for at least $67.3 and likely higher.

Because the smaller than target of the wave up from $59.91 was met this afternoon a corrective pullback might take place first. Initial support is $65.0, though a test of today’s $64.4 midpoint would not be unusual. Support at $64.4 should hold, but the key level is $63.3. Settling below $63.3 would indicate the move up has stalled again and that another attempt to move lower is underway.

This is a brief analysis for the next day or so. Our weekly Crude Oil Forecast and daily updates are much more detailed and thorough energy price forecasts that cover WTI, Brent, RBOB Gasoline, Diesel, and spreads. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

WTI crude oil’s move up stalled near $66.4, the equal to (1.00) target of the primary wave up from $57.6 last week. The subsequent pullback initially looked corrective, forming four stars and settling the week above March 23’s open. However, the move down accelerated on Monday and is poised to challenge important support at $62.4 within the next day or so.

WTI Crude Oil - 0.35 Kase Bar
WTI Crude Oil – 0.35 Kase Bar

Today’s move up from $62.8 was shallow and choppy and forms a bearish flag. The flag’s lower trend line is nominally $63.2, which is also an important retracement and today’s midpoint. An early move below this tomorrow would confirm a break lower out of the flag and open the way for $62.4.

That said, should $63.2 hold and prices rise above the flag’s upper trend line around $64.3, look for a test of key resistance at $65.1. Settling above $65.1 would shift near-term odds back in favor of a larger scale move up with near-term targets at $66.1 and $66.7.

This is a brief analysis for the next day or so. Our weekly Crude Oil Forecast and daily updates are much more detailed and thorough energy price forecasts that cover WTI, Brent, RBOB Gasoline, Diesel, and spreads. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

WTI crude oil stalled near crucial resistance at $66.4 Monday and confirmed an intra-day bearish KaseCD divergence. The subsequent pullback completed a bearish Harami line and star today by closing below Friday’s $65.08 midpoint. The pullback is most likely corrective but should test the Harami line and star’s confirmation point near $64.2 tomorrow. A close below this would call for a larger downward correction toward key near-term support at $62.5.

May WTI Crude Oil - 0.50 Kase Bar
May WTI Crude Oil – 0.50 Kase Bar

Tomorrow, look for initial resistance at $65.3 and then $65.8. The $65.8 level is expected to hold, though the near-term outlook would only become bullish again upon a close above $66.4. This is still a crucial resistance level for the wave structure up from $57.6 that connects to $67.1 and then the next major objective protecting the $70.0 level.

This is a brief analysis for the next day or so. Our weekly Crude Oil Forecast and daily updates are much more detailed and thorough energy price forecasts that cover WTI, Brent, RBOB Gasoline, Diesel, and spreads. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

May WTI crude oil fulfilled a highly confluent and extremely important target at $64.0 today when price rose to $63.98. The move up comes after prices broke higher out of the bullish descending flat wedge Friday and then tested and held the pattern’s upper trend line Monday. As discussed in our weekly forecast, $64.0 is the gateway to a stronger and possibly longer-term bullish outlook. A sustained close above $64.0 will open the way for the next major objective at $66.4, with intermediate targets of $64.8 and $65.4 between.

WTI Crude Oil - 0.50 Kase Bar
WTI Crude Oil – 0.50 Kase Bar

Crude oil prices pulled back a bit from $63.98 and confirmed a weak bearish KaseCD divergence on the $0.50 Kase Bar chart. This, and the small wave down from $63.98, indicate there is a modest chance for a larger pullback tomorrow. Initial support is $62.9 and key support for tomorrow is $62.3. A close below $62.3 would call for a larger correction to $61.4, which is most important because a close below this would be an early indication that the move up may have stalled again. That said, the outlook does not become solidly negative until there is a sustained close below at least $60.3.

This is a brief analysis for the next day or so. Our weekly Crude Oil Forecast and daily updates are much more detailed and thorough energy price forecasts that cover WTI, Brent, RBOB Gasoline, Diesel, and spreads. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.