WTI Crude Oil Futures: Neutral/Bullish Shift on Potential Russian Tariffs
***Bias shift to Neutral / Bullish from Neutral
WTI Crude Oil Futures (May)
Friday’s Settlement: 69.36 down -0.56 [-0.80%], up +1.08 [+1.58%] for the week
WTI Crude Oil futures ended lower on Friday as a general risk-off tone dominated U.S. trading hours. Crude Oil futures were caught in the wash as markets tightened up in fears of the April 2nd tariff deadline.
For the week, futures closed higher again on tighter inventories and the falling through of a Russian Ukraine ceasefire. The re-escalation of conflict in the Middle East also helped to support futures on last weeks run higher.
Today, futures are higher, up +0.39 [+0.56%] to 69.75
President Donald Trump is reportedly “Angry” with Vladimir Putin, and is threatening secondary tariffs on any country that buys Russian crude oil. If this is a legitimate threat by President Trump, it’s quite bullish for crude oil markets.
Markets are also weighing a headline story from the Wall Street Journal stating that the Trump administration is considering increasing tariffs by close to 20%. The story is being taken as a sign that the administration is still unsure of its tariff plan and that a harsher push is possible.
Technical Analysis:
Futures made a high of 70.14 last night around 3 am CST, right at the top end of our three-star resistance level. While the trading range we’ve anticipated has held, between 68.78***-70.13***, the lower and upper band of two of our three-star ranges, the bullish catalyst of Russian oil secondary tariffs may push futures to a new leg higher.
The introduction of the Russian secondary tariffs may be the bullish catalyst this market needs to push futures above the 70.13*** level. This would set the chart up to make another run higher towards the 70.98*** resistance level.
We’re shifting to Neutral / Bullish on the Russian secondary tariff news. If this news is nullified or proven false, we will remain neutral. We are looking to be buyers within the 68.78-69.09*** level.
For intraday trading, our pivot and point of balance is set at…
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