Crude Oil Target 3 Hit with Chinese Oil Imports Up 38%
Crude Oil, daily
Crude oil price is at the time of writing trading higher with support
given to it by the hefty increase in Chinese import numbers, low US oil
inventories and fears that Nigerian oil production might attract new
attacks from the rebels. Chinese trade data published today showed that
crude oil imports to China rose 38.7% in May YoY.
This was the biggest jump in the last six years and increased hopes that the Chinese economy (the world’s second-largest oil user) may be stabilizing. Now, that further supply distractions are possible and market participants believe that the oil market is becoming more balanced it prices are supported by the bidders.
I wrote in my May 5th report that wildfires in Canada’s oil sands area
and fighting in Libya threatened the North African output and that
together with the bullish technical picture we should see the prices
moving higher. I gave a buy area ($43.20 – $44.00) together with three
targets which have now been met after price first retraced to my buy
area. The third target was at $50 to $51 range which is exactly where
the market is trading at the time of writing this report.
The $50.89 resistance was able to turn the price lower in October last
year and in theory could therefore act as a resistance again. However,
the uptrend has been solid with the oil market finally finding (supply –
demand) balance supporting higher prices. Also, the US driving months
are ahead of us now. American holiday season traditionally increases
demand while the Houston oil producer conference participants in May
signaled that they will not be adding production before they’ve seen the
price of oil settling in the range of $50 to $60. I’ll be looking for
buy signals at supports as long as the uptrend is intact. The nearest
daily support levels at the moment are at $49.40 and $50.20.
