- WTI Crude Oil fails to defend the rebound from the lowest levels in 12 days.
- Covid woes in China, easy headlines over Russia-Ukraine war challenge energy buyers.
- Softer US inflation, fears surrounding EU’s “correction mechanism” probe sellers.
- Risk catalysts will be more important for near-term directions.
WTI buyers relinquish control, following the black gold’s bounce off a two-week low, as traders seek fresh clues to defend the US inflation-led recovery during early Friday. That said, the energy benchmark retreats to $85.50 by the press time.
In addition to a lack of major data/events, as well as the US bank holiday, mixed signals surrounding the demand-supply matrix also challenge the WTI buyers to extend the post-US Consumer Price Index (CPI) run-up.
Among them, concerns surrounding China’s coronavirus conditions act as a major drawback. The dragon nation reported a slight decline in the daily covid figures the previous day but the outcome still remained near the highest levels in six months. Also, multiple lockdowns and fears of worsening virus conditions, as well as the zero-covid policy, highlight fears of lesser demand from the world’s biggest commodity user.
Elsewhere, Russia’s retreat from Kherson and a lack of major negatives over the previously dominant geopolitical fears seem to also weigh on the black gold prices. It should be noted that the increase in weekly oil inventories and looming fears of global recession also exert downside pressure on the black gold.
That said, a surprise eight-month low in US CPI triggered the WTI’s run-up the previous day as the US Dollar Index (DXY) dropped towards the lowest levels in two months after the inflation data pushed back the hawkish Fed bets.
Further, the European Union’s (EU) readiness to curb the gas price, despite witnessing mixed responses for its method citing a firm price cap, suggests further action from Russia and may help the oil prices. The European Commission will propose a gas price "correction mechanism" to the 27 EU states on Friday, a measure aimed at easing price spikes but not the firm cap sought by many countries, according to sources and documents seen by Reuters.
It’s worth noting that the risk-on mood keeps the oil buyers hopeful but the US bank holiday and a light calendar test the traders of late.
Technical analysis
WTI buyers need to provide a daily closing beyond the support-turned-resistance line from late September, around $87.15 by the press time, to regain the market’s confidence.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended content
Editors’ Picks

EUR/USD stays pressured near 1.1350 on USD rebound
EUR/USD trades in negative territory at around 1.1350 on Friday. Renewed US Dollar strength on growing optimism surrounding the US-China trade war de-escalation keeps the pair undermined. Trade talks and US data remain in focus.

GBP/USD consolidates losses near 1.3300 after UK Retail Sales data
GBP/USD remains under moderate selling pressure near 1.3300 despite the upbeat UK Retail Sales data for March. The pair feels the heat of the solid US Dollar rebound, aided by a Bloomberg report, which indicated China may suspend its 125% tariff on select US imports.

Gold drops below $3,300 as market mood improves
Gold turns south following Thursday's rebound and trades below $3,300 on Friday. The move down comes amid growing optimism about a de-escalation of the US-China trade conflict after US President Trump hinted at the beginning of negotiations.

Ethereum: Accumulation addresses grab 1.11 million ETH as bullish momentum rises
Ethereum saw a 1% decline on Friday as sellers dominated exchange activity in the past 24 hours. Despite the recent selling, increased inflows into accumulation addresses and declining net taker volume show a gradual return of bullish momentum.

Five fundamentals for the week: Traders confront the trade war, important surveys, key Fed speech Premium
Will the US strike a trade deal with Japan? That would be positive progress. However, recent developments are not that positive, and there's only one certainty: headlines will dominate markets. Fresh US economic data is also of interest.

The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD
SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.