How Much Violence is to Much Violence For Crude Oil Prices?

World oil markets took prices higher overnight as pro Mubarak demonstrators took the streets of Egypt Thursday bringing a new level of violence and adding to the tension. But the added tension does not appear to get the attention of Suez Canal operators or customers as the canal maintains it's normal 50 ships a day average. 49 on Thursday and even 56 one day this week. Traders in the U.S. still seem to be more concerned with gasoline inventories being at an 18 year high in this country.

Maybe the news should be focused on the natural gas trade at this point. Record cold temps in my region, the desert southwestern U.S., have us experiencing natural gas shortages. A wake up call for those calling for wide spread use of natural gas as a vehicle fuel. We have a lot to do in the form of getting infrastructure in place before we can even begin to make that move. Is Washington listening? Gold may be the trade of the day as gold miner stocks continue to under perform. Gold stocks underperformed the price of gold this week and are also forming a bearish chart pattern. If this plays out then we can expect another sizable pullback in both gold stocks and the price of gold because this index typically leads the gold. And it looks like Fridays employment data will be front and center for gold and the markets today.

But we are ready and here is our numbers for the last day of trading this week......

Crude oil was slightly higher overnight as it extends this week's trading range. Stochastics and the RSI remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. If March renews the rally off last Friday's low, January's high crossing at 93.46 is the next upside target. Closes below the 10 day moving average crossing at 89.14 would temper the near term friendly outlook. First resistance is Monday's high crossing at 92.84. Second resistance is January's high crossing at 93.46. First support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 90.20. Second support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 89.14. Crude oil pivot point for Friday morning is 90.86.

Natural gas was steady to slightly higher overnight as it consolidates below key resistance marked by the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.463. Stochastics and the RSI are oversold but are neutral hinting that a short term low might be in or is near. Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.463 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted. If March renews the decline off January's high, the 62% retracement level of the October-January rally crossing at 4.225 is the next downside target. First resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.463. Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 4.601. First support is last Friday's low crossing at 4.252. Second support is the 62% retracement level of the October-January rally crossing at 4.225. Natural gas pivot point for Friday morning is 4.386.

Gold was lower overnight as it consolidates some of Thursday's rally. Stochastics and the RSI are bullish hinting that a low might be in or is near. Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 1354.45 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted. If February renews the decline off January's high, the 25% retracement level of the 2009-2010 rally crossing at 1296.40 is the next downside target. First resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 1354.45. Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 1394.70. First support is last Friday's low crossing at 1309.10. Second support is the 25% retracement level of the 2009-2010 rally crossing at 1296.40. Gold pivot point for Friday morning is 1345.00.


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