|

WTI Crude Oil dips amid easing geopolitical tensions, OPEC+ deliberations

  • WTI crude oil prices declined following the start of a truce in the Gaza Strip.
  • OPEC+ postpones crucial meetings, sparking speculations of potential oil production cuts for 2024.
  • Global factors like higher US crude stockpiles, China's uncertain oil demand, and non-OPEC production growth contribute to Oil price trends.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US Crude Oil benchmark, fell on Friday as the release of some hostages in Gaza reduced geopolitical tensions. The daily chart showed prices at $75.13 per barrel, even though global business activity witnessed an uptick.

WTI falls to $75.13 per barrel as Gaza truce reduces Middle East risks, while OPEC+ meeting delay and production discussions influence market

A planned truce in the Gaza Strip began, aimed to allow the exchange of hostages between Israel and Hamas. Hence, reduced geopolitical tensions weighed in on oil prices, which usually tend to rise amid risks in the Middle East. However, Oil bears are not out of the woods yet, as the upcoming OPEC+ meeting is awaited, with crude Oil production cuts for 2024 looming.

The OPEC+ delayed its meeting from November 26 to November 30 as countries discussed Oil output levels. The delay led to a significant drop of 5% on Wednesday before WTI trimmed some of its losses to just 1.30%.

There are indications that OPEC+ is making progress toward a compromise with African oil-producing countries regarding production levels for 2024. This development suggests ongoing negotiations and discussions within the group to establish production quotas for the coming year.

While WTI could witness an uptick if OPEC+ cuts its production, higher US Crude stockpiles, and lower refining margins can put a lid on Oil prices.

Additionally, China's longer-term oil demand outlook remains uncertain. Analysts suggest that oil demand growth in China could weaken to around 4% in the first half of 2024, mainly due to challenges in the property sector that may impact diesel consumption.

Furthermore, non-OPEC production is expected to remain robust, with Brazil's state energy company, Petrobras, planning significant investments to boost output. This could contribute to global oil supply, potentially limiting upward price movements.

WTI Technical Levels

WTI US OIL

Overview
Today last price75.59
Today Daily Change-0.76
Today Daily Change %-1.00
Today daily open76.35
 
Trends
Daily SMA2078.47
Daily SMA5083.61
Daily SMA10082.2
Daily SMA20077.94
 
Levels
Previous Daily High76.86
Previous Daily Low75.35
Previous Weekly High79.66
Previous Weekly Low72.39
Previous Monthly High90.88
Previous Monthly Low80.52
Daily Fibonacci 38.2%75.93
Daily Fibonacci 61.8%76.28
Daily Pivot Point S175.51
Daily Pivot Point S274.67
Daily Pivot Point S373.99
Daily Pivot Point R177.02
Daily Pivot Point R277.7
Daily Pivot Point R378.54

Author

Christian Borjon Valencia

Markets analyst, news editor, and trading instructor with over 14 years of experience across FX, commodities, US equity indices, and global macro markets.

More from Christian Borjon Valencia
Share:

Editor's Picks

AUD/USD bulls regain control above 0.6950 amid USD retreat

AUD/USD regains traction and extends the previous day's bounce from the weekly low, aiming for 0.7000 in Asia on Friday. The overnight pullback in US bond yields keeps the US Dollar below an 18-month high, which in turn offers some support to the pair. Meanwhile, hawkish RBA expectations also keep the major underpinned.

USD/JPY holds gains near 158.00 after Japan's weak Household Spending data

USD/JPY clings to gains around 158.00 after data showed on Friday that Japan's Household Spending fell for the ninth straight month, undermining the Japanese Yen. Meanwhile, the US Dollar remains depressed as the overnight fall in US bond yields counters a hawkish Fed and geopolitical uncertainties, could cap any downside in the pair.

Gold remains range-bound below $4,200

Gold has given up some ground after an initial bullish attempt to reach weekly highs, returning to below the $4,200 mark per troy ounce on Friday. The US Dollar’s strong upside momentum, combined with rising US Treasury yields across the curve, seems to keep further gains in the yellow metal under scrutiny.

Has Bitcoin really escaped the macro forces it was built to fight?
Over 17 years ago, Satoshi Nakamoto designed Bitcoin (BTC) on the back of a global financial crisis as an alternative to the global monetary system outside the control of central banks, governments and traditional intermediaries. This raises a key question: has Bitcoin really become independent of the macroeconomic forces it was built to challenge?
The Euro is not the sick man of Europe. France's bond market is
EUR/USD remains under pressure, near the 17-month low of 1.1161 reached on Monday. The pair has lost more than 7% since its yearly peak, as concerns over France's public finances increasingly weigh on the single currency. But behind the weakness of the Euro (EUR), the problem does not necessarily lie with the European economy as a whole.
Has Bitcoin really escaped the macro forces it was built to fight?
Over 17 years ago, Satoshi Nakamoto designed Bitcoin (BTC) on the back of a global financial crisis as an alternative to the global monetary system outside the control of central banks, governments and traditional intermediaries. This raises a key question: has Bitcoin really become independent of the macroeconomic forces it was built to challenge?