Light Crude oil and the Energy Sector Select SPDR ETF (XLE) normally trade in similar trends. In early May, XLE broke above a significant resistance level of $80 and moved to a new high. However, Light Crude has failed to follow the energy ETF and remained pinned under the $98 resistance line.

The question is will crude oil fall back into its standard pattern and follow the XLE higher?

One clue to the future movement of oil is maybe in the trading pattern that is developing over the past four months.

Light Crude oil appears to be tracing out a broad head & shoulder formation. Until oil trades over the resistance line of $98, the pattern is not complete and is not dependable. However, should oil advance over $98, then there is a 75% probability of the commodity rising up to the projected target of $110.

However, the fundamentals would support slightly lower price levels. EIA estimates that WTI will average $93 in 2013. With several pipeline projects from the midcontinent to the Gulf Coast refineries coming on line this year, the reduction in transport costs should keep Light Crude prices contained.

The August contract for delivery on Light Crude would also suggest that prices will not move too high. The closing price on Friday was $94.06.

Bottom line: The market is not expecting, at this time, that Light Crude will move over $98. Nevertheless, the breakout advance from XLE and the trading pattern of WTI suggests that the market maybe wrong.

By Donald W. Dony, FCSI, MFTA
www.technicalspeculator.com

COPYRIGHT © 2013 Donald W. Dony
Donald W. Dony, FCSI, MFTA has been in the investment profession for over 20 years, first as a stock broker in the mid 1980's and then as the principal of D. W. Dony and Associates Inc., a financial consulting firm to present. He is the editor and publisher of the Technical Speculator, a monthly international investment newsletter, which specializes in major world equity markets, currencies, bonds and interest rates as well as the precious metals markets.

Donald is also an instructor for the Canadian Securities Institute (CSI). He is often called upon to design technical analysis training programs and to provide teaching to industry professionals on technical analysis at many of Canada's leading brokerage firms. He is a respected specialist in the area of intermarket and cycle analysis and a frequent speaker at investment conferences.

Mr. Dony is a member of the Canadian Society of Technical Analysts (CSTA) and the International Federation of Technical Analysts (IFTA).

Donald W. Dony Archive

Only logged in users are allowed to post comments. Register/ Log in

The Market Oracle is a FREE Financial Markets Forecasting & Analysis web-site.
(c) 2005-2024 MarketOracle.co.uk (Market Oracle Ltd) - Market Oracle Ltd asserts copyright on all articles authored by our editorial team and all comments posted. Any and all information provided within the web-site, is for general information purposes only and Market Oracle Ltd do not warrant the accuracy, timeliness or suitability of any information provided on this site. nor is or shall be deemed to constitute, financial or any other advice or recommendation by us. and are also not meant to be investment advice or solicitation or recommendation to establish market positions. We do not give investment advice and our comments are an expression of opinion only and should not be construed in any manner whatsoever as recommendations to enter into a market position either stock, option, futures contract, bonds, commodity or any other financial instrument at any time. We recommend that independent professional advice is obtained before you make any investment or trading decisions. By using this site you agree to this sites Terms of Use. From time to time we promote or endorse certain products / services that we believe are worthy of your time and attention. In return for that endorsement and only in the cases where you purchase directly though us may we be compensated by the producers of those products.