WTI Crude Oil (November)
Yesterday’s close: Settled at 69.69, down 1.87
Yesterday, we alerted clients to the risk that Libyan resolution headlines could come out of the UN General Assembly and cautioned against new longs at a technically exhausted level. That catalyst was realized as Libya’s two rival factions came to an agreement on a new central bank head, potentially adding over 500kbpd to global supply. Crude sold off sharply on the news despite another bullish EIA report.
WTI futures are off another -2.47% this morning. Putin announced that they may lift restrictions on gasoline as exports to ease their current surplus. But the big news is a story from the Financial Times.
The article stated that Saudi Arabia is ready to abandon their unofficial oil price target of $100 / bbl in a bid to gain market share. I have not seen confirmation from the Saudi’s on this, but it should be taken seriously. If true, the next question is severity, as in how much market share they want to win. Saudi Arabia has considerable spare capacity and historically has shown no qualms about turning on the spigots to drive out competition aggressively – even more aggressively than anyone thought possible when they drove crude below $0.
The report is likely hyperbole but it’s important to keep an eye on that.
We’re shifting Neutral / Neutral today and are skewing risk & protection preference to the downside until the Saudi Arabia rumors get sorted out. The bullish demand catalyst that came from a revived China will bite less with Libyan barrels come back online and will be more than offset if Saudi Arabia does start ramping production.
To many unknowns for a confident trade today, anticipate volatility.
WTI Crude Oil futures have fallen sharply on the session, breaking significant areas of support and creating severe damage to the bull case. Our Pivot and point of balance will be crucial, and only a rebound above here on the session will help signal a rejection of lower prices. For now, price action is digging into major three-star support at…
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