USOIL: Route map 71.50-79 awaiting the FED!

5 de jan.

Observing the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), I notice an upward trend, with the price having retested the bullish trendline after breaking through the $74 level. Now, I expect a slight pullback towards $71.50 before a significant rebound towards $79 per barrel. However, from a macroeconomic perspective, I've also detected growing concerns about the stability of demand due to an increase in U.S. gasoline and distillate inventories, leading to a decrease in prices. I am particularly mindful of the impact of Middle East tensions on energy markets. These conflicts directly influence logistics and shipping, so much so that I've observed companies diverting their ships from the Suez Canal route to avoid waters infested with Houthi rebels, significantly changing commercial routes between Europe and Asia. The arrival of an Iranian warship further complicates the situation. Additionally, I am monitoring the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, aware of the risk that it might involve neighboring countries. I've noticed that Iran has suspended crude shipments to China to secure higher prices. This move is particularly interesting as it follows China's advance purchase of a significant portion of its annual oil demand, enjoying a discount on imports from sanction-hit Iran. In conclusion, my personal analysis describes a complex WTI oil market influenced by a variety of geopolitical and technical factors. I am closely monitoring how Middle East tensions, Iran's strategies, and technical indicators affect the direction of WTI prices. Best regards and have a great weekend, from Nicola.