SP500 Update - Trend Change and Key Levels to Watch

Well here we are in the month of December and things can get pretty tricky this month. For this reason, we wanted to produce a video that we thought would be helpful to you during this time.

In our new video we show you the exact points that we’re looking at for a major trend change in the S&P 500. We also point out the exact number that will show an exit point, but not a major trend change, in this same index.

Just click here to watch the video and as always our videos are free to watch and there is no need to register and we look forward to your comments.

Ray C. Parrish
President/CEO The Crude Oil Trader


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Phil Flynn's Market Report: Oil Prices Surge on Reports of Somalian Pirates, Iran

Sometimes a crisis can make the market go up and sometimes down. The Dubai Crisis knocked oil out of its old trading range only for Pirates and the Iranians to knock us back into it. How does the old poem go? Carry trade and go away, sell again some other day. The carry trade is back in vogue as the Dubai crisis gets put behind us and the Iran crisis is now ahead of us. Oil prices started to rebound to the lower end of the old trading range back above the old breakout point of 75 dollars. Yet oil surged late on a report that British sailors were taken into custody by Iran.

Iran went on a temper tantrum as their buddies Russia and China voted to censure Iran in a strongly worded chiding by the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency. They lashed out and said not only would they not stop working on their clandestine nuclear plant but they would build 10 more. They also threatened to hold their breath until they turn blue. When the global markets failed to pay attention to their bluster maybe that is when they decided to take some hostages.....Read the entire article.

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Crude Oil Rallies Into Tuesday's Open

Crude oil was higher overnight as it consolidates some of last Friday's decline. Stochastics and the RSI are bullish signaling that a short term low might be in or is near. Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 78.60 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted.

If January renews the decline off October's high, the 75% retracement level of this fall's rally crossing at 70.23 is the next downside target.

Tuesday's pivot point, our line in the sand is 76.80

First resistance is the overnight high crossing at 78.44
Second resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 78.60

First support is last Friday's low crossing at 72.39
Second support is the 75% retracement level of this fall's rally crossing at 70.23

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Natural gas was lower overnight as it extends Monday's decline. Stochastics and the RSI are turning neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term.

If January extends this week's decline, November's low crossing at 4.560 is the next downside target. If January renews the rally off November's low, the 50% retracement level of the October-November decline crossing at 5.413 is the next upside target.

Natural gas pivot point for Tuesday is 4.953

First resistance is last Friday's high crossing at 5.290
Second resistance is the 50% retracement level of the October-November decline crossing at 5.413

First support is the overnight low crossing at 4.746
Second support is November's low crossing at 4.560

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The U.S. Dollar was lower overnight as it consolidates below the 10 day moving average crossing at 75.11. Stochastics and the RSI remain neutral to bullish hinting that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 75.25 would temper the near term bearish outlook in the market. If December extends this year's decline, monthly support crossing at 73.39 is the next downside target.

First resistance is the overnight high crossing at 75.16
Second resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 75.25

First support is last week's low crossing at 74.21
Second support is monthly support crossing at 73.39

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Crude Oil and Natural Gas Technical Outlook For Tuesday Morning

Nymex Crude Oil (CL)

Crude oil's recovery from 72.39 extends further to a s high as 78.44 today and at this point further rally should still be seen as long as 75.18 minor support holds. Break of 80.51 resistance will indicate that choppy consolidations from 82.0 has completed already and the medium term rally could be resuming for 82.0 and beyond. On the downside, below 75.18 will flip intraday bias back to the downside for trend line support at 70.76.

In the bigger picture, the lack of follow through selling and the choppy price actions from 82.0 so far dampen our bearish view. Instead, the corrective natural of the fall from 82.0 to 72.39 suggests that it's merely consolidation in the medium term rise. That is, rally from 33.2 is possibly not completed yet and a break of 80.51 will affirm this bullish case. Nevertheless, as we expect such rise to conclude inside resistance zone of 76.77/90.24 (38.2% and 50% retracement of 147.27 to 33.2), focus will remain on loss of momentum and reversal signal even in case of another rise.....Nymex Crude Oil Continuous Contract 4 Hours Chart.

Nymex Natural Gas (NG)

Natural gas dips further to as low as 4.76 today and so far, intraday bias remains neutral. As noted before, recent price actions should be consolidations to rise from 2.409 only and hence, we'd continue to anticipate an upside break out sooner or later. Above 5.318 will confirm that whole rebound from 2.409 has resumed and should target 61.8% projection of 2.409 to 5.318 from 4.157 at 5.955 next.

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. Further will now remain in favor as long as 4.157 support holds, towards 38.2% retracement of 13.694 to 2.409 at 6.72 and beyond. Nevertheless, break of 4.157 support will indicate dampen this bullish case and turn outlook mixed again.....Nymex Natural Gas Continuous Contract 4 Hours Chart .

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Where is Crude Oil Headed on Tuesday?

CNBC's Sharon Epperson discusses the day's activity in the commodities markets, and looks ahead to where oil is likely headed tomorrow.




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General Stock Market Commentary For Monday Evening

The U.S. stock indexes closed firmer today after being under modest selling pressure much of the session. Prices rebounded from Friday's sell off as worries about the Dubai debt crisis eased a bit.

The stock index bulls still have the overall near term technical advantage. However, don't be surprised to see some more profit taking pressure in the stock indexes heading into the holidays. Traders are awaiting Friday morning's important U.S. jobs data.

Monday evening's crude oil pivot point 76.85
1st resistance 78.57 2nd 79.72 3rd 81.44
1st support 75.70 2nd 73.98 3rd 72.83

Natural gas pivot point 4.947
1st resistance 5.075 2nd 79.72 3rd 5.447
1st support 4.703 2nd 4.575 3rd 4.331

The U.S. dollar index closed down 22 points at 75.18 today. Prices closed nearer the session high today. Bears still have the solid overall near term technical advantage.

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How Much do you Know About the “Greeks”?

No matter what the investment, an investor needs to know and fully understand the potential risks of the investment prior to committing capital to that investment. In the options market, the Greeks define and quantify the risks of your position before you commit to the investment.

Understanding the Greeks is a must for proper risk management. Further, the Greeks can also help you identify and select not only the proper strategy to fit the opportunity you selected, but also which specific options to use to create that specific strategy.

Just click here to watch this complimentary seminar covering the Greeks…

Without a full understanding of the risks of an investment, an investor should never commit hard earned money. If you do not know your Greeks, you have no business being in the options market!

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Crude Oil Rises as U.S. Business Activity Gains a Second Month

Crude oil rose after a report showed that U.S. business activity gained for a second month, bolstering optimism that the economic recovery in the world’s biggest energy consuming country will accelerate. Oil rebounded after the Institute for Supply Management Chicago Inc. said today its business barometer increased to 56.1, the highest level since August 2008. Readings above 50 signal expansion. Prices dropped earlier as Dubai’s government said it hasn’t guaranteed the debt of Dubai World, a state controlled company struggling with $59 billion in liabilities.

“These are very good numbers,” said Jason Schenker, president of Prestige Economics LLC, an Austin, Texas based energy consultant. “Any number above 50 points to an expanding U.S. economy and that’s very good for oil demand.” Crude oil for January delivery increased 37 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $76.42 a barrel at 11:07 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Futures are up 71 percent this year. Economists projected the Chicago index would drop to 53, based on the median of 53 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey.

Oil in New York declined 2.5 percent on Nov. 27 as Dubai World’s attempt to reschedule its debt bolstered the dollar. “The dollar is weakening again, which is giving oil support,” said Tom Bentz, a senior energy analyst at BNP Paribas Commodity Futures Inc. in New York. “Any big dip in prices is being seen as an opportunity to get into the market”.....Read the entire article.

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Crude Oil Trading Slightly Lower, Do we Have a Near Term Bottom?

Crude oil was slightly lower overnight as it extends last Friday's decline. Stochastics and the RSI are turning bullish signaling that a short term low might be in or is near.

Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 78.56 would confirm that a short term low has been posted. If January extends this month's decline, the 75% retracement level of this fall's rally crossing at 70.23 is the next downside target.

Monday's pivot point, our line in the sand is 75.43

First resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 77.84
Second resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 78.56

First support is last Friday's low crossing at 72.39
Second support is the 75% retracement level of this fall's rally crossing at 70.23

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Natural gas was lower due to profit taking overnight as it consolidated some of last week's rally. Stochastics and the RSI remain bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

If January extends last week's rally, the 50% retracement level of the October-November decline crossing at 5.413 is the next upside target. Closes below the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.901 are needed to confirm that a short term top has been posted.

Natural gas pivot for Monday is 5.086

First resistance is last Friday's high crossing at 5.290
Second resistance is the 50% retracement level of the October-November decline crossing at 5.413

First support is the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.946
Second support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.901

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The U.S. Dollar was lower overnight as it consolidates below the 10 day moving average crossing at 75.11. Stochastics and the RSI are turning neutral to bullish hinting that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 75.35 would temper the near term bearish outlook in the market. If December extends this month's decline, monthly support crossing at 73.39 is the next downside target.

First resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 75.11
Second resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 75.35

First support is last week's low crossing at 74.21
Second support is monthly support crossing at 73.39

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Crude Oil and Natural Gas Technical Outlook For Monday Morning

Nymex Crude Oil (CL)

Intraday bias in crude oil remains neutral for the moment and some more sideway trading might be seen. But after all, risk will continue to remain on the downside as long as 80.51 resistance holds and fall from 82.00 is still in favor to continue. Below 72.39 will target 61.8% retracement of 65.05 to 82 at 71.52 next and then trend line support at 70.76.

In the bigger picture, the resumption of fall from 82.00 last week was inline with our preferred bearish view. That is, a medium term top is formed at 82.0 on bearish divergence conditions in daily MACD as whole rise from 33.2 has completed. Break of trend line support (now at 70.76) will add more credence to this case and bring deeper fall to 58.32 cluster support (50% retracement of 33.2 to 82 at 57.60) for confirmation. However, break of 80.51 will indicate that price actions from 82.0 are merely consolidations in the medium term rise only. Further break of 82.0 will bring medium term rise resumption. However, as we expect such rise to conclude inside resistance zone of 76.77/90.24 (38.2% and 50% retracement of 147.27 to 33.2), focus will remain on loss of momentum and reversal signal even in case of another rise.....Here is the charts!

Nymex Natural Gas (NG)

Natural gas fails below 5.318 again and intraday bias is turned neutral for the moment. While some more retreat might be seen, as recent price actions suggest natural gas is consolidations only, hence, we'd look forward to an upside break out. Above 5.318 will confirm that whole rebound from 2.409 has resumed and should target 61.8% projection of 2.409 to 5.318 from 4.157 at 5.955 next.

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. Further will now remain in favor as long as 4.157 support holds, towards 38.2% retracement of 13.694 to 2.409 at 6.72 and beyond. Nevertheless, break of 4.157 support will indicate dampen this bullish case and turn outlook mixed again.....Here is the charts!

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