WTI Crude Oil Rallies on Tariff Shift, Eyes Key Resistance
Bias shift to Neutral from Neutral / Bullish
WTI Crude Oil Futures (May)
Yesterday’s Settlement: 69.11 up +0.83 [+1.22%]
WTI Crude Oil rallied yesterday after the Trump administration signaled a softer tone on tariffs. The Administration stated that some countries may get breaks on the April 2nd tariff rollout, a departure from the previously staunch tone the group has held.
The quote drove a sharp risk on move in markets. Equities and bond yields moved sharply higher alongside a stronger dollar.
The announcement of a “secondary tariff” on any country that buys oil from Venezuela also helped accelerate crude oil’s move higher for the day.
Today, futures are higher by +0.40 [+0.58%] to 69.51
The macro environment is trading risk on with a bid under equities and a weaker dollar this morning. Yields are higher but coming off their overnight highs.
The threat of secondary tariffs and a potentially less harsh trade environment continue to drive futures higher. China purchases 40% of Venezuela’s oil exports, and the secondary tariffs may force those buyers back into the open market.
Technical Analysis:
We’ve shifted our bias back to Neutral. After catching the meat of this move back up to the 70.00 mark, we feel this is a decent zone to take profits and wait until more clear-cut risk/reward scenarios develop. Price may run back towards 71.00, but the risk/reward weighed against probabilities favor profit taking in this zone (in our opinion).
Price settled above our key three-star resistance level of 69.09*** and has made another move higher today. Technicals favor a run back at the 69.89-70.13*** level, at which point de-risking is advised.
For intraday trading, our pivot and balance point is set at…
Want to stay informed about energy markets?
Subscribe to our daily Energy Update for essential insights into Crude Oil and more. Get expert technical analysis, proprietary trading levels, and actionable market biases delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now for free futures market research from Blue Line Futures!
Sign Up for Free Futures Market Research – Blue Line Futures