Low Range Close in Crude Oil Gives The Bears Technical Advantage For Tuesday

Crude oil [April contract] posted an inside day with a lower close on Monday as it consolidated some of the rally off October's low. The low range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening on Tuesday. Stochastics and the RSI are overbought but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. If April extends this month's rally, the 2011 high crossing at 114.09 is the next upside target. Closes below the 20 day moving average crossing at 101.75 would confirm that a short term top has been posted. First resistance is last Friday's high crossing at 109.95. Second resistance is the 2011 high crossing at 114.09. First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 104.95. Second support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 101.75.

Natural gas [April contract] closed lower on Monday and the low range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening on Tuesday. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral signaling that sideways trading is possible near term. If April renews the multi year decline, monthly support crossing at 1.960 is the next downside target. Closes above the reaction high crossing at 2.942 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted. First resistance is the reaction high crossing at 2.942. Second resistance is January's high crossing at 3.210. First support is January's low crossing at 2.438. Second support is monthly support crossing at 1.960.

Gold [April contract] closed lower due to profit taking on Monday as it consolidated some of this week's rally. The low range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening on Tuesday. Stochastics and the RSI are diverging but remain neutral to bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. If April extends the rally off December's low, the 75% retracement level of the September-December decline crossing at 1825.20 is the next upside target. Closes below the reaction low crossing at 1706.40 are needed to confirm that a short term top has been posted. First resistance is last Thursday's high crossing at 1789.50. Second resistance is the 75% retracement level of the September-December decline crossing at 1825.20. First support is the reaction low crossing at 1706.40. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 1652.20.

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