Oil Rises on Trade Hope and Dollar Softness

Alfonso Esparza MarketPulse

Oil is higher at the start of the trading week. The US dollar is softer giving crude some upward momentum. Brexit uncertainty after Prime Minister May’s third attempt to get her proposal through was a failure is on the rise as a long extension could mean the end of the divorce proceedings.

The OPEC+ agreement to limit production has been the stabilizing force despite rising US production. Sanctions on Venezuelan and Iranian exports have reduced supply and lifted prices. Venezuelan exports are set to rise after its largest terminal is back online after an electricity blackout caused it to shut down last week.

The timing couldn’t be worse for the Maduro government as it struggles to remain in power after international support to opposition leader Juan Guaido.

West Texas Intermediate is trading above $60 ahead of a busy week for markets. Energy demand could be impacted if global growth concerns rise again on US-China trade anxiety. So far negotiations appear to be moving ahead, but there are few details on concrete concessions

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Alfonso Esparza

MarketPulse

Alfonso Esparza specializes in macro forex strategies for North American and major currency pairs.

EUR/USD deflates to fresh lows, targets 1.1600

The selling pressure on EUR/USD now gathers extra pace, prompting the pair to hit fresh multi-week lows in the 1.1625-1.1620 band on Friday. The continuation of the downward bias comes in response to further gains in the US Dollar as market participants continue to assess the mixed release of US Nonfarm Payrolls in December.

GBP/USD breaks below 1.3400, challenges the 200-day SMA

GBP/USD remains under heavy fire and retreats for the fourth consecutive day on Friday. Indeed, Cable suffers the strong performance of the Greenback, intensified post-mixed NFP, and trades at shouting distance from its critical 200-day SMA near 1.3380.

Gold flirts with yearly tops around $4,500

Gold keeps its positive bias on Friday, adding to Thursday’s advance and challenging yearly highs in the $4,500 region per troy ounce. The risk-off sentiment favours the yellow metal despite the firmer tone in the Greenback and rising US Treasury yields.