Natural Gas Short-Term Forecast – May 9, 2018

Tag: Technical Analysis

This week, June natural gas has been bound within a very tight range between nominally $2.70 and $2.77. This is a challenging call right now because there are plenty of technical factors that indicate a break in either direction could take place soon. Even so, because the corrective range formed after a move down from $2.82 odds have a slight edge to break lower. A close below $2.70 would open the way for $2.66, $2.63, and possibly lower. Should prices settle above $2.77, look for the move up to challenge at least $2.81 and possibly $2.84.

Natural Gas - 0.02 Kase Bar
Natural Gas – 0.02 Kase Bar

All of that said, even upon a break out of the most recent range prices must still contend with the boundaries of a larger range that has persisted for the past few months between approximately $2.66 and $2.87.

For now, look for a break out of the smaller range between $2.70 and $2.77 within the next day or so to guide short-term trade decisions. There is still no evidence calling for a break higher or lower out of the larger range, so its boundaries would make for likely profit taking or stop and reverse entry levels until external factors provide more evidence to help determine a longer-term trend.

This is a brief analysis for the next day or so. Our weekly Natural Gas Commentary and daily updates are much more detailed and thorough energy price forecasts that cover key natural gas futures contracts, calendar spreads, the UNG ETF, and several electricity contracts. 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.

In the bigger picture, natural gas remains range bound between nominally $2.60 and $2.84. However, last Friday’s break higher out of a bullish flag and test of resistance at $2.76 set prices up to test the upper end of the trading range this week. So far, though, prices have struggled to reach the upper end of the range and the last three days form stars. Two, including the most recent, are shooting stars and the third is a hanging man. All three stars are part of an evening star reversal pattern setup that would be completed by a close below $2.71.

Natural Gas - Daily
Natural Gas – Daily

Given the shooting stars, hanging man, evening star setup and several bearish intra-day momentum divergences near-term odds favor another test of $2.71. As stated, a close below this would complete the candlestick reversal pattern and open the way for the confirmation point near $2.68. This is key support for the near-term because it is also the 62 percent retracement of the move up from $2.621. Settling below $2.68 would open the way for another test of the bottom of the recent trading range at $2.60.

That said, trading has been erratic and so far $2.71 has held after being tested on Monday. Should prices rise above $2.78 first, look for another attempt at $2.81 and even $2.87, resistance levels split around the upper end of the range at $2.84.

This is a brief analysis for the next day or so. Our weekly Natural Gas Commentary and daily updates are much more detailed and thorough energy price forecasts that cover key natural gas futures contracts, calendar spreads, the UNG ETF, and several electricity contracts. 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.

Natural gas is still oscillating within a range between nominally $2.60 and $2.80. Traders are likely waiting on external factors to push the market out of the range, so for now, erratic trading will most likely continue.

Prices briefly fell below the lower trend line of the bullish pennant (not a textbook example) that formed during the decline from $2.764. However, the move stalled at $2.621 before rising to $2.69 and forming an intra-day double-top. Due to this pattern and the settle below Tuesday’s midpoint and the 62 percent retracement of the decline from $2.726 near-term odds favor a test of $2.64 tomorrow. This is the intra-day double top’s target and the larger than target of the wave $2.69 – 2.667 – 2.69.

Natural Gas with Kase StatWare - 0.015 Kase Bar
Natural Gas with Kase StatWare – 0.015 Kase Bar

A close below $2.64 would call for $2.60 and lower, though given recent choppiness it would not be surprising to see $2.64 hold and for a test of $2.72 resistance to take place. This is near the upper trend line of the pennant. A close above this would call for $2.76 and possibly higher.

So, the market will most likely test a bit lower tomorrow before possibly challenging resistance again. But, with all factors considered, there is still no evidence that the market will break out of the trading range and determine a long-term direction.

This is a brief analysis for the next day or so. Our weekly Natural Gas Commentary and daily updates are much more detailed and thorough energy price forecasts that cover key natural gas futures contracts, calendar spreads, the UNG ETF, and several electricity contracts. 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.

Natural gas continues to show signs that it has settled into a trading range between nominally $2.55 and $2.85. Trading will most likely remain erratic as the market awaits factors to push it out of the range. However, it may be awhile before such factors come forth as the market will be pressed to balance inventories that are well below the five-year average against strong production during the low demand spring shoulder months.

Quantitative factors are balanced and reflect the neutral near-term outlook. Today’s initial move lower held support at $2.67 before rising and challenging important resistance at $2.75. The subsequent pullback from $2.746 forms a long upper shadow on the daily candlestick and is poised to challenge $2.67 again tomorrow. The likelihood of a test of support was also accentuated by a confirmed bearish KaseCD divergence on the $0.015 Kase Bar chart. A close below $2.67 will call for $2.63, which connects to $2.59 and $2.56.

That said, trading will likely remain choppy and a close above $2.74 would open the way for $2.78. Settling above $2.78 would shift near-term odds in favor of challenging the top of the trading range around $2.85.

Natural Gas with Kase StatWare - 0.015 Kase Bar
Natural Gas with Kase StatWare – 0.015 Kase Bar

This is a brief analysis for the next day or so. Our weekly Natural Gas Commentary and daily updates are much more detailed and thorough energy price forecasts that cover key natural gas futures contracts, calendar spreads, the UNG ETF, and several electricity contracts. 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.