Crude oil futures are little changed on the day, with the crude-supportive developments in the EU-U.S. trade talks, in addition to geopolitical risks in the form of the potential for a further intensification in the Israel-Hamas conflict and the latest Russian missile launches on Ukraine, neutralised by some ongoing fundamental headwinds.
- That leaves WTI & Brent futures little changed, with medium-term bearish technical themes intact despite the recent bounce.
- Bulls need to break the 50-day EMA’s in the contracts ($62.75 & $66.24, respectively), to turn the tide more in their favour.
- Meanwhile, the respective April 9 lows present key support and the technical bear triggers.
- Our commodity team notes that fundamental pressure remains evident amid general economic headwinds, coupled with expectations for a more meaningful OPEC+ production increase from July.
- BBG have warned that OPEC+’s seemingly hardline approach to punishing its overproducing members risks plunging crude into a full-blow price war.
- Elsewhere, some downward pressure seemingly came from U.S. President Trump noting that he was “optimistic” following the last round of talks with Iran on limiting their nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.
- Also, note that the Trump administration is preparing to use a narrowly tailored license for Chevron to allow it to perform minimal maintenance of essential operations in Venezuela.