|

WTI: 100-hour MA is capping upside on recession fears

  • Oil is currently probing the 100-hour MA resistance amid US recession fears. 
  • With the futures on the S&P 500 pointing to risk reset, oil prices could rise above the MA hurdle. 

WTI oil's bounce from the seven-day low of $58.20 hit yesterday is struggling to break above the 100-hour MA, currently at $59.35. 

The black gold is struggling to beat the MA hurdle, possibly due to heightened recession fears. On Friday, a section of the treasury yield curve inverted - the spread between the US 10-year and two-year Treasury yields turned negative for the first time since 2007 - triggering fears of recession. Further, the German 10- year bond yield turned negative for the first time since 2016. 

That said, the futures on the S&P 500 are up 0.24 percent at press time, meaning a risk reset could be in the offing. Oil, therefore, may find acceptance above the 100-hour MA hurdle. 

Moreover, risk reset would shift the focus back to the ongoing supply cuts led by producer club OPEC and by U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela. 

That said, the immediate bias is bearish, as per technical studies. The black gold fell 1.67 percent on Friday, confirming a bearish doji reversal. Further, on the 4-hour chart, a head-and-shoulders would be formed if prices retreat from the current level of $59.24. 

Technical Levels

    1. R3 60.76
    2. R2 60.09
    3. R1 59.6
  1. PP 58.93
    1. S1 58.44
    2. S2 57.77
    3. S3 57.28


 

Author

Omkar Godbole

Omkar Godbole

FXStreet Contributor

Omkar Godbole, editor and analyst, joined FXStreet after four years as a research analyst at several Indian brokerage companies.

More from Omkar Godbole
Share:

Editor's Picks

GBP/USD defends 1.3300 after strong UK PMI data

Following Thursday's sharp decline, GBP/USD clings to small gains above 1.3300 in the American session on Friday, supported by the upbeat UK Retail Sales and July PMI data. Nevertheless, the pair's upside remains capped as investors cling to a cautious stance amid a further escalation of tensions in the Middle East. The US July PMI data failed to trigger relevant price action.

EUR/USD remains below 1.1400 after mixed US PMIs

EUR/USD pressures daily lows below the 1.1400 mark in the American session on Friday. Mixed S&P Global PMIs, as manufacturing output contracted while services activity expanded in July, triggered no relevant market reaction. The focus remains in Middle East developments and inflation-related concerns.

Gold holds above $4,050 but momentum still missing

Gold builds on its modest intraday bounce and climbs above the $4,050 level on Friday, hitting a fresh daily high amid a modest US Dollar pullback. The fundamental backdrop, however, warrants some caution before confirming that the pullback from an over two-week high, touched on Wednesday, has run its course and positioning for any meaningful upside.

Ethereum: Derivatives interest in ETH improves, but signs of caution remain

Ethereum is hovering slightly below the $1,900 level, down 3% on Thursday following a slight expansion in derivatives interest. The top altcoin's open interest has increased to 14.60 million ETH, marking a 600K ETH increase over the past two days and its highest level since June 7.

XRP retreats as ETF interest cools
Ripple (XRP) slides toward the short-term $1.10 support on Friday, as broader crypto market sentiment weighs on crypto assets. The sell-off mainly stems from fears of inflation in the United States (US) amid the ongoing war in the Middle East and rising Oil prices.
US Dollar mid-year outlook: Exceptional currency, exceptional risks?
The US Dollar enters the second half of 2026 in a markedly different position from a year ago. The King currency has recovered, reflecting persistent US inflation, changing expectations for Fed policy, geopolitical tensions and renewed demand for defensive assets.