Crude Oil and Natural Gas Daily Technical Outlook For Friday Morning

Nymex Crude Oil (CL)
Crude oil's rally extends further to as high as 78.17 before retreating mildly. At this point, intraday bias remains on the upside and further rise should be seen to next target of 100% projection of 58.32 to 75 from 65.05 at 81.72 next. On the downside, below 74.57 will turn intraday outlook neutral first. But downside should be contained by 71.55 support and bring rally resumption.

In the bigger picture, medium term rise from 33.2 is still in progress and could extend further. Nevertheless, strong resistance should be seen in 76.77/90.24 fibo resistance zone (38.2% and 50% retracement of 147.27 to 33.2) to conclude the medium term rise finally. Hence, we'd look for sign of loss of momentum in the current rise. However, note that break of 65.05 is needed to indicate that crude oil has topped out. Otherwise, further rise is still in favor.

Nymex Natural Gas (NG)
While consolidation from 5.12 may extend further, note that with 4.351 support intact, we'd expect to consolidation to be relatively brief and maintain the short term bullish outlook. Above 4.75 minor resistance will flip intraday bias for 5.12 first. break will bring rally resumption to 38.2% retracement of 13.64 to 2.409 at 6.7 next. However, considering bearish divergence condition in 4 hours MACD, break of 4.351 will indicate that a short term top is formed and will bring deeper pull back instead.

In the bigger picture, medium term fall from 13.69 is treated as part of the long term consolidation pattern that started at 15.78 back in 2005. The whole consolidation might have completed at 2.409 after meeting 100% projection of 15.78 to 4.593 from 13.69 at 2.50. We'll prefer the bullish case as long 55 days EMA (now at 3.94 holds) and expect the current rise from 2.409 to extend further to 61.8% retracement of 13.64 to 2.409 at 9.38 in medium term.

What Really Caused The Oil Price to Collapse?

What really caused the oil price to collapse? Philip Treick says it’s not what everybody believes. Conventional thinking believes the oil price collapsed because of the dropping global demand from a world wide recession sparked by the US sub-prime fallout. Treick, founder and principal of Thermopolis Partners LLC, has a slightly different view. He explains how everything – the oil price collapse, the global economy collapse – started with an unannounced policy change in China towards its currency. More importantly, he uses his theory to tell investors what to look for in the coming months and years that will guide us in finding profits. His charts, reproduced below, provide a sharp image to back up his comments.

KS: Most people think the collapse in the US sub prime housing crisis caused the global recession. But you don’t. Why is that?

Treick: Well, I point out if you look at mortgage equity withdrawn in the United States – that peaked in late 2006. Identifying that point in time as the top of the credit cycle, our credit based economy had already started to contract prior to the collapse in oil and copper. So one can’t say that the credit contraction was the sole cause of this collapse in commodity prices, because it was already in full force. It definitely contributed to it, but it wasn’t the sole cause. Something else had to contribute. That something else was an unannounced change in currency policy out of China.....read the entire article, interview and charts.

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Big Draw in Gas Supply Sends Energy Prices Jumping

Refineries that make gasoline and other fuels swiftly cut back on production last week, the government reported Thursday, sending energy prices jumping across the board. Energy markets had largely brushed off a winter weather forecast this week for major winter storms in the East and icy, cold conditions even between Atlanta and Dallas.

The Energy Information Administration, however, reported Thursday that gasoline in storage fell by more than 5 million barrels at a time when most energy experts expected supplies to grow yet again. Refiners have been idling facilities because of a lack of demand at the same time that others have been shut down for routine maintenance. Earlier Thursday, the dollar hit a 52 week low and the surprise report on gasoline may have led some people to believe supplies are growing tight, said oil analyst Tom Kloza said.

"The ignition switch for a rally got hit twice today," Kloza said. For consumers, that may mean a slight drift upward in pump prices but not much, experts believe.
Crude and gasoline prices have remained relatively stable for months with no clear signs of an economic rebound. Prices began to rise late last week when Alcoa, which kicks off the U.S. earning season, reported that it had returned to profitability after three straight quarterly losses.....read the entire article

Jeff Rubin: NOW is Time to Buy Oil

Fmr. CIBC World Markets Chief Economist Jeff Rubin on oil prices.

Oil Rises After Report Shows Unexpected Drop in Gasoline Supply

Crude oil futures rose after a U.S. government report showed an unexpected decline in supplies of gasoline. Gasoline inventories dropped 5.23 million barrels to 209.2 million in the week ended Oct. 9, the Energy Department said today in a weekly report. Stockpiles were forecast to increase by 1.13 million, according to the median of analyst estimates in a Bloomberg News survey.

Inventories of crude oil rose 334,000 barrels to 337.8 million, the department said. Supplies were forecast to increase by 1 million barrels. Crude oil for November delivery increased 76 cents, or 1 percent, to $75.94 a barrel at 11:07 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil traded at $75.26 a barrel before the release of the report at 11 a.m. in Washington.....read the entire article.

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Daily Technical Outlook

Nymex Crude Oil (CL)

Crude oil's rally extends to as high as 75.96 so far and intraday bias remains on the upside for the moment. Current rise is still expected to continue to 38.2% of 147.27 to 33.2 at 76.77 and break will target 80 psychological level next. On the downside, below 74.64 will turn intraday outlook neutral and bring retreat but downside should be contained by 70.74 support and bring rally resumption.

In the bigger picture, medium term rise from 33.2 is still in progress and could extend further. Nevertheless, strong resistance should be seen in 76.77/90.24 fibo resistance zone (38.2% and 50% retracement of 147.27 to 33.2) to conclude the medium term rise finally. On the downside, in case of pull back, break of 65.05 is needed to indicate that crude oil has topped out. Otherwise, further rise is still in favor.....crude oil charts.

Nymex Natural Gas (NG)

Natural gas' retreat from 5.12 is still in progress and intraday bias remains neutral for the moment. Some more consolidation could be seen but after all, short term outlook will remain bullish as long as 4.351 minor support holds. Above 5.120 will bring resumption of whole rise form 2.409 and should target 38.2% retracement of 13.64 to 2.409 at 6.7 next. However, considering bearish divergence condition in 4 hours MACD, break of 4.351 will indicate that a short term top is formed and will bring deeper pull back instead.

In the bigger picture, medium term fall from 13.69 is treated as part of the long term consolidation pattern that started at 15.78 back in 2005. The whole consolidation might have completed at 2.409 after meeting 100% projection of 15.78 to 4.593 from 13.69 at 2.50. We'll prefer the bullish case as long 55 days EMA (now at 3.94 holds) and expect the current rise from 2.409 to extend further to 61.8% retracement of 13.64 to 2.409 at 9.38 in medium term.....Natural Gas Charts.

Mid-Week UNG & USO Trading Charts

Commodities and stocks have been on fire the past two weeks and I think it just may be time for things to take a breather. While I continue to stay long, taking some money off the table to lock in profits is a safe play.

Just from a quick glance at the charts we can tell the odds are pointing to some type of pause or pullback in the coming days. I figure any day now we could see some profit taking.

Natural Gas ETF Trading – UNG
The Natural Gas ETF sure has given everyone a wild ride in the past 6 months. The bear market is still in place which can be seen on the daily chart. So far this week the price has broken down and trading at the $11 support level. This fund could generate a buy or sell signal with my trading model in the coming days so I am waiting for a clear entry and exit point before jumping on the gas wagon.


Crude Oil ETF Trading – USO
The Crude Oil ETF has broken above its resistance trend line this week but still struggling to move above the August high. Volume is declining while the price rises which is a bearish indicator. USO looks ready for some type of a pullback as it digests this breakout before moving higher.


Mid-Week ETF Trading Report
What does the general public hear and think about the stock market?
From recent emails, local financial news shows, family, friends etc… all I am hearing is how strong the market is. Indexes are making new yearly highs and company earnings are better than expected this quarter. Sounds like all we need to do is buy and life will be great!

Well in my opinion the market is the perfect tool for misguiding and frustrating the general public. All my indicators are telling me we need more of a correction before rallying much higher. The market (smart money) generally anticipates good and bad news several weeks if not a month in advance. So the question is:

Are company earnings already priced into the market?

Is all this positive market coverage getting the general public to buy up here at this possible market top? The answer is, only time will tell. No one knows for sure what the market is going to do but short term moves can be predicted with relatively high accuracy.

Don’t get me wrong, I am still bullish on the market but with all this good news becoming public information you have to wonder what is next. I am still long the market but trimming my positions to lock in profits and still stay in the game.

If you would like to receive Chris Vermeulen's free weekly trading analysis please visit his trading website The Gold and Oil Guy.

Oil Closes Near Session High, Hits New Seven Week High

Crude oil closed up $1.05 at $75.20 a barrel today. Prices closed nearer the session high today and hit a fresh seven week high. A lower U.S. dollar boosted crude oil again today. Crude bulls have the solid overall near term technical advantage. Prices are in a three week old uptrend on the daily bar chart.

Natural gas closed down 14.2 cents at $4.446 today. Prices again closed nearer the session low today. Bulls faded again today and need to show fresh power soon. The next upside price objective for the bulls is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the August high of $5.133.

Heating oil closed up 192 points at $1.9426 today. Prices closed nearer the session high today and hit another fresh six week high. Bulls have the near term technical advantage.

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Unleaded gasoline (RBOB) closed up 266 points at $1.8584 today. Prices closed nearer the session high today and hit a fresh four week high. Bulls have the near term technical advantage. The next upside price objective for the bulls is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the September high of $1.8736.

The U.S. dollar index closed down 54 points at 75.63 today. Prices closed nearer the session low today and hit another fresh contract low. Same story: Bears still have the solid overall near term technical advantage. Bulls' next upside price objective is to close prices above solid technical resistance at 78.00.

Deciphering Current Natural Gas Market Data

In the last six weeks natural gas futures prices have jumped from a modern day low to nearly $5 per thousand cubic foot (Mcf) as commodity traders and investors started to cover their short positions in this fuel as the days moved closer to the beginning of the winter heating season. The jump in the gas price ends what has been an extended price slide that started back in summer of 2008 when prices were in excess of $13 per Mcf and early signs of the developing global recession emerged.

The jump in the gas price ends what has been an extended price slide that started back in summer of 2008....


The traders and investors who have been covering their negative bets on natural gas prices have been motivated by signs the nascent U.S. economic recovery is gathering strength, especially among sectors such as automobiles and home construction that are large consumers of natural gas and its components as feedstocks for petrochemical materials. Additionally, there.....read the entire article.