WTI gains momentum above $86.00 amid ongoing Middle East geopolitical tensions, weaker US Dollar

WTI prices gain momentum near $86.00 on Tuesday.
The ongoing Middle East tensions, a key region for oil production, might boost WTI prices.
The expectation that the Fed might delay interest rate cuts this year drags black gold lower.

Lallalit Srijandorn FXStreet

Western Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $86.25 on Tuesday. The weaker US Dollar (USD) and the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East conflict raise concern about the crude supply disruption, boosting WTI prices near the six-month top.

On the weekend, Israel withdrew its forces from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, resulting in one of the lowest military levels since the conflict with Hamas started in October. WTI prices trimmed gains following this headline. However, the uncertainty surrounding Iran's reaction after the attack on its consulate in Syria last week might cap the downside of the black gold. A top Iranian military advisor warned Israel over the weekend that its embassies could be targeted, fueling concern that the Middle East conflict could broaden. Additionally, the strikes on Russian refineries have also raised the geopolitical risk premium.

The International Energy Agency's (IEA) prediction for 2024 oil demand has risen as traders shift from bearishness to optimism, bolstered by recent improved manufacturing surveys in China, the United States, and India.

On the other hand, the US labor market report on Friday came in better than the market estimation, indicating the US economy ended the first quarter on solid ground. This report could prompt the Federal Reserve (Fed) to delay interest rate cuts this year, which might drag WTI prices lower. It’s worth noting that high interest rates have caused oil prices to fall in the past, as it can slow economic growth and reduce oil demand.

Oil traders will monitor the API Weekly Crude Oil Stock on Tuesday. Later this week, the US and Chinese March Consumer Price Index (CPI) reports will be due on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. These events could offer some hints about the economic health of the world's top two oil consumers.

WTI US OIL

Overview
Today last price	86.23
Today Daily Change	0.28
Today Daily Change %	0.33
Today daily open	85.95

Trends
Daily SMA20	82.14
Daily SMA50	78.98
Daily SMA100	76.25
Daily SMA200	79.11

Levels
Previous Daily High	86.49
Previous Daily Low	84.15
Previous Weekly High	87.12
Previous Weekly Low	82.26
Previous Monthly High	83.05
Previous Monthly Low	76.5
Daily Fibonacci 38.2%	85.04
Daily Fibonacci 61.8%	85.6
Daily Pivot Point S1	84.57
Daily Pivot Point S2	83.19
Daily Pivot Point S3	82.23
Daily Pivot Point R1	86.91
Daily Pivot Point R2	87.87
Daily Pivot Point R3	89.25

Author

Lallalit Srijandorn

FXStreet

Lallalit Srijandorn is a Parisian at heart. She has lived in France since 2019 and now becomes a digital entrepreneur based in Paris and Bangkok.

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