Sharon Epperson: Where Is Oil Headed For Wednesday

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

Tuesday Proves To Be Consolidation Day For Crude Oil

Crude oil closed lower due to profit taking on Tuesday as it consolidated some of the rally off last week's low. The low range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening on Wednesday.

Despite today's setback stochastics and the RSI remain bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. Closes above the reaction high crossing at 72.85 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted.

If August renews last week's decline, the 38% retracement level of this spring's rally crossing at 62.25 is the next downside target.

First resistance is today's high crossing at 73.38
Second resistance is this month's high crossing at 73.90

First support is last Tuesday's low crossing at 66.37
Second support is the 38% retracement level at 62.25

Oil Plunges 3% to Just Over $69

Oil prices fell more than 3% to $69 a barrel on Tuesday, pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar and as weak consumer confidence data hit equities. Crude for August delivery traded $2.15 lower at $69.34 a barrel, off its earlier eight month high of $73.38. The U.S. dollar rose against the euro, adding pressure to oil prices. A stronger dollar makes commodities denominated in the currency more expensive for investors.....Complete Story

Petrobras Focuses on Costs Ahead of Rig, Platform Tenders

Brazilian state run energy giant Petrobras continues to take a hard line on cost cuts as it prepares to launch tenders for drilling rigs and production platforms. The tenders will likely come to market soon, Chief Financial Officer Almir Barbassa said at a meeting with reporters. "We're in the final phase of the concession process," Barbassa said. The company is hammering out details for financing drill rigs, a complex task, the executive added.....Complete Story

BP, CNPC Win Iraqi Rumaila Oil Field Development Deal

BP and China National Petroleum Corp. have won a contract for the development of Iraq's Rumaila oil field, the first of eight giant Iraqi oil and gas development projects for which Iraq began receiving bids Tuesday, Iraqi officials said. Selected foreign companies including international oil majors and Japanese companies are making bids. Iraq is offering contracts to foreign companies for the first time in around 40 years since its energy.....Complete Story

Oil Falls From Eight Month High on U.S., U.K. Economic Reports

Crude oil fell from an eight month high and gasoline slipped as reports showed that U.S. consumer confidence showed an unexpected decline in June and the U.K. economy shrank the most since 1958. Oil dropped more than $2 after the Conference Board’s sentiment index weakened to 49.3 from a revised 54.8 in May, the New York based research group said today. Gross domestic product in the U.K. decreased 2.4 percent in the first quarter from the final three months of 2008, the Office for National Statistics said today in London.....Complete Story

Oil Trades Little Changed on Forecast U.S. Fuel Stockpiles Rose

Crude oil traded little changed, poised for its biggest quarterly gain since 1990 before a report tomorrow expected to show an increase in U.S. gasoline stockpiles. Gasoline inventories in the U.S. probably climbed 2 million barrels in the week ended June 26 from 208.9 million the previous week as refineries increased production, a Bloomberg News survey showed. Oil fell back after climbing as much as 2.6 percent as a weaker dollar drove investors to commodities as a hedge against inflation and Nigerian rebels attacked oil installations.....Complete Story

Crude Oil Market Commentary For Tuesday Morning

Crude oil was slightly higher overnight as it extends Monday's rally above the 20 day moving average crossing at 70.41. Stochastics and the RSI have turned bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term.

If August extends this week's rally, this month's high crossing at 73.90 is the next upside target. Closes below Monday's low crossing at 68.36 are needed to confirm that a short term top has been posted.

Tuesday's pivot point, our line in the sand is 70.60

First resistance is the overnight high crossing at 73.38
Second resistance is this month's high crossing at 73.90

First support is the 10 day moving average crossing at 70.15
Second support is Monday's low crossing at 68.36

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Light Trading Day as Market Eyes Oil

Monday's markets closed following a day of light trading. News of a pipeline attack boosted Exxon and Sallie Mae's SLM Corp. benefited from a government contract. Simon Constable reports after the closing bell.

IEA Cuts 5 Year World Oil Demand Outlook on Economy

The International Energy Agency, an adviser to oil consuming nations, cut five-year forecasts for global crude demand because of the economic slump, predicting consumption won’t regain last year’s levels until 2012. The IEA cut its oil demand estimates for every year through 2013 by about 3 million barrels a day, it said in its Medium Term Oil Market Report today. Consumption will average 86.76 million barrels a day in 2012, the first year it will.....Complete Story

Natural Gas Post an Inside Day

Natural gas posted an inside day with a lower close on Monday ending a two day short covering bounce off last week's low. The low range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening on Tuesday. Stochastics and the RSI remain neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term.

If August extends last week's decline, the reaction low crossing at 3.710 is the next downside target. From a broad perspective, August needs to close above 4.820 or below 3.520 to confirm a breakout of this spring's trading range and point the direction of the next trending move.

First resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.12
Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 4.57

First support is last Wednesday's low crossing at 3.87
Second support is the reaction low crossing at 3.71

China Increases Diesel, Gasoline Prices to Help Oil Refiners

China, the world’s second biggest energy consumer, will increase fuel prices by as much as 11 percent today, allowing the nation’s refiners to pass on climbing crude oil costs. Prices for gasoline and diesel will rise by 600 yuan ($87.80) a metric ton, the National Development and Reform Commission said yesterday, the third increase this year. Jet fuel costs will rise by 620 yuan a ton. China’s consumer prices fell for a fourth month in May.....Complete Story

Crude Oil Set For Higher Open on Tuesday

August crude oil closed higher on Monday as it extends the rebound off last week's low. The high range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Tuesday.

Stochastics and the RSI are turning bullish signaling that sideways to higher prices are possible near term. Closes above the reaction high crossing at 72.85 are needed to confirm that a short term low has been posted.

If August renews last week's decline, the 38% retracement level of this spring's rally crossing at 62.25 is the next downside target.

First resistance is today's high crossing at 71.92
Second resistance is the reaction high crossing at 72.85

First support is last Tuesday's low crossing at 66.37
Second support is the 38% retracement level of this spring's rally crossing at 62.25

Oil Settles Above $71, China to Boost Reserves

Oil prices settled above $71 a barrel Monday, as China said it would boost oil reserves and Nigerian militants partly shut down an offshore oil platform belonging to Royal Dutch Shell PLC. Benchmark crude for August delivery gained $2.33 to settle at $71.49 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Alaron Trading Corp. analyst Phil Flynn said China's plans to increase its strategic crude oil reserves by 60 percent should provide the market with some long term support.....Complete Story

Kurds Blame Baghdad For Oil Delays

The construction of four oil refineries in the Kurdish region of Iraq was delayed because of the failures of the Iraqi oil minister, Kurdish lawmakers say. Refineries in the cities of Kirkuk and Erbil, the Kurdish capital, would have produced nearly 200,000 barrels per day while another plant should have been slated at the Taq Taq field, the Kurdish Globe reports. Those projects were delayed due to the negligence of Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani.....Complete Story

Enterprise Products to Buy Teppco for $3.3 Billion

Enterprise Products Partners LP agreed to buy Teppco Partners LP for about $3.3 billion, combining pipeline operators controlled by Houston billionaire Dan Duncan to create the biggest U.S. energy partnership. Teppco owners will get 1.24 units of Enterprise for each of their units, a deal worth 15 percent more than when an initial offer was made in March, according to a statement today by the partnerships. The transaction is worth $31.36 per unit.....Complete Story

Natural Gas Trading Below 20 Day Moving Average

Natural gas is trading slightly lower, under 4.00, as it consolidates below the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.10. Stochastics and the RSI are neutral to bearish signaling that sideways to lower prices are possible near term.

If August extends last week's decline, the reaction low crossing at 3.710 is the next downside target. Closes above the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.135 would temper the near term bearish outlook in the market.

Monday's pivot point for natural gas is 4.06

First resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 4.10
Second resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 4.14

First support is last Wednesday's low crossing at 3.87
Second support is the reaction low crossing at 3.71

Oil, Gasoline Rise as Nigerian Militants Attack Shell Field

Crude oil and gasoline rose after an attack by Nigerian militants shut a field operated by Royal Dutch Shell Plc, cutting output from Africa’s largest producer. Shell said it closed the Estuary field near the Forcados export terminal after the assaults. Hostilities in the Niger River delta have cut more than 20 percent of the country’s oil exports since 2006. The International Energy Agency, an adviser to 28 developed nations, lowered its five-year forecast.....Complete Story

U.S. States Consider Gas and Oil Levies

Cash strapped states are considering raising taxes on oil production to plug yawning budget gaps, but they face strong resistance from oil companies, which warn the moves could lead to lost jobs and higher energy prices. Lawmakers in Pennsylvania and California have proposed what are known as severance taxes on oil and natural gas produced in their states. A tax increase took effect in Arkansas at the beginning of the year, and Alaska last year raised its oil production tax.....Complete Story

Chevron's $27 Billion Problem

Sometime later this year a judge in the sleepy Ecuadoran town of Lago Agrio is likely to sock Chevron Corp. with as much as $27 billion in damages over pollution left over from oil drilling by Chevron's Texaco unit in the 1970s and 1980s. The funny part is, Chevron (CVX-news-people) wanted it this way. When the case was originally filed in New York in 1993, Texaco, then an independent company, argued it would be fairer to hear it in Ecuador.....Complete Story