Skip to Content
News & Analysis at your fingertips.

We use a range of cookies to give you the best possible browsing experience. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies.
You can learn more about our cookie policy here, or by following the link at the bottom of any page on our site. See our updated Privacy Policy here.

Free Trading Guides
Subscribe
Please try again
Select

Live Webinar Events

0

Economic Calendar Events

0

Notify me about

Live Webinar Events
Economic Calendar Events

H

High

M

Medium

L

Low
More View More
Crude Oil Prices Edge Lower, US Inventory Rise Reignites Glut Fears

Crude Oil Prices Edge Lower, US Inventory Rise Reignites Glut Fears

David Cottle, Analyst

Share:

What's on this page

Crude Oil and Gold Talking Points:

  • Crude oil prices edged lower on rising US inventory
  • However, their dominant uptrend remains in place
  • Gold slipped as risk appetite overall is still more upbeat

Crude oil prices were lower in Asia Wednesday as news of rising US inventories in the previous session reignited oversupply concerns.

These had calmed in recent sessions as production cuts agreed last month kick in and investors began to look with hope toward the tentative reopening of national economies shuttered by coronavirus. However, the American Petroleum Institute said that crude oil stockpiles rose last week by 8.4 million barrels, more than expected. Official data from the Energy Information Agency are due later Wednesday.

Still, US crude oil prices remain above $25/barrel, having risen from lows around $15 at the start of this month.

Oil - US Crude Bullish
Data provided by
of clients are net long. of clients are net short.
Change in Longs Shorts OI
Daily -10% 20% 1%
Weekly -8% 22% 3%
What does it mean for price action?
Get My Guide

Gold prices edged lower as risk appetite broadly held up, despite oil’s retreat.

Japanese markets remained closed for holiday, but Chinese mainboards rose, as did South Korea’s partly on gains for Hyundai which has said it plans to re-start production at certain plants.

Markets in general are looking toward the end of the week and official US employment numbers. These are expected to be horrendous, with massive, multi-million job losses expected. Haven assets such as gold are likely to preserve their bid as the numbers loom.

Gold Bullish
Data provided by
of clients are net long. of clients are net short.
Change in Longs Shorts OI
Daily -10% 4% -2%
Weekly -8% 12% 3%
What does it mean for price action?
Get My Guide

Crude Oil Technical Analysis

US Crude Oil Prices, Daily Chart

Prices’ overall uptrend remains very much in place, barely threatened at all so far by Wednesday’s slip. Bulls will still target the psychological $30/barrel level last seen on April 9 and now coinciding well with the upper boundary of the current rising channel. That same channel now offers support at $19.75, although that is quite a long way below the market and a near-term test looks unlikely.

Gold Prices Technical Analysis

Gold Prices, Daily Chart

Gold remains essentially rangebound at an elevated level with little sign of impetus in the market to break out of the band between $1729.19 and $1674.30 which has held the market on a daily closing basis for more than a month.

There are signs that a little exhaustion is setting in, with the uptrend line from March 19 under some pressure on the daily chart. However a break below this would not be conclusive evidence of price weakness as along as the broader range holds.

Commodity Trading Resources

--- Written by David Cottle, DailyFX Research

Follow David on Twitter @DavidCottleFX or use the Comments section below to get in touch!

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

DISCLOSURES