Natural Gas Forecast: September Trying to Break Out of Range

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September natural gas is trying to break higher out of the month long trading range. Two important boundaries have been established within the range. First between $2.71 and $2.84. Second between $2.66 and $2.96. Prices rose above $2.84 in early trading Wednesday, but closed just below at $2.839. Nonetheless, prices will likely push for at least $2.91 and possibly $2.96 tomorrow. A close over $2.96 would call for the bullish trend to extend to targets above $3.00. Given the strength of the moves up today and last Thursday, it looks as though prices will rise to new recovery highs soon.

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That said, a break higher out of the range in the near-term will likely hinge on tomorrow’s EIA Natural Gas Storage Report. A larger than expected build (some are looking for a draw in tomorrow’s report) could open the way for another test of $2.71. A close below this would then call for key support at $2.66.

With all technical factors considered, odds favor the move up tomorrow. September will need to close over $2.91 to keep the momentum it gained today and then close over $2.96 soon to open the way for targets above $3.00.

This is a brief natural gas forecast for the next day or so. Our weekly Natural Gas Commentary and intraweek updates provide a much more detailed and thorough analysis. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

August natural gas stalled at $2.998 late last week. So far, August has pulled back to $2.697. The $2.998 swing high was in line with the 1.618 projection of the wave $1.99 – 2.494 – 2.157. From a technical standpoint, the move up was due for a correction. Momentum was exhausted and the bearish KasePO divergence indicates the correction that began Tuesday should now challenge major support levels.

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Longer-term, the outlook for natural gas is positive. The move up looks to be forming five-waves. Wave III of the five-wave pattern was completed at $2.998. The corrective Wave IV is now underway. A normal correction should hold $2.61, the 38 percent retracement from $1.99 to $2.998. The $2.61 level was also strong support between June 10 and 17.

A close below $2.61 would open the way for a more significant correction. However, the longer-term bullish outlook would not be called into question unless there is a sustained close below $2.38. This is the 62 percent retracement of the move up from $1.99. Such a move is highly doubtful without a significant bearish shift in underlying fundamentals.

Wednesday’s hammer formation indicates the move down may halt to a grind lower. A test of Tuesday’s $2.84 midpoint will likely take place on Thursday. Key resistance is $2.88. This is the 62 percent retracement from $2.998 to $2.697. While $2.88 holds, odds will continue to favor a deeper correction.

This is a brief natural gas forecast for the next day or so. Our weekly Natural Gas Commentary and intraweek updates provide a much more detailed and thorough analysis. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

August natural gas pushed to new highs Tuesday and early Wednesday before stalling at $2.974. Cooler than previously expected near-term temperature forecasts are reportedly the culprit for Wednesday’s pullback and settle at $2.863.

Longer-term, the outlook for natural gas is positive and is most likely forming a five-wave trend. The move up is due for a significant correction to form a potential Wave IV. Momentum is setup for bearish divergence. The Stochastic has also crept its way below the overbought threshold.

Charts show that August natural gas met a cluster of important wave projections at $2.974 Wednesday morning. The most significant was the 1.618 projection of the primary wave $1.99 – 2.494 – 2.157. It is rare for a primary wave such as this to extend beyond the 1.618 projection without a significant correction first.

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The pullback from $2.974 forms a daily shooting star. This reversal pattern would be completed upon a close below Tuesday’s $2.82 midpoint and confirmed upon a close below the $2.751 open. This would then open the way for $2.66, the 38 percent retracement from $2.157 to $2.974.

This is a brief natural gas forecast for the next day or so. Our weekly Natural Gas Commentary is a much more detailed and thorough analysis. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

The U.K.’s vote for Brexit came as a shock to many investors and traders around the world. Equity markets have tumbled and crude oil followed suit as the U.S. dollar has risen substantially. Some pundits think the downturn in oil has been overdue, and warn that the market is still oversupplied and could slip further in coming weeks and months. Others hold the recovery will continue and that the decline is likely an overreaction to Brexit.

It is clear that sentiment is mixed. However, charts tell a clearer story. The long-term bias is positive, and ultimately odds still favor the move up. However, the downward correction is poised to continue for the near-term.

Negative Factors

August WTI met confluent support near $46.0 on Monday. This was in line the 0.618 projection of the wave $50.54 – 46.7 – 48.45 and 1.382 projection of the wave $48.45 – 46.92 – 47.96. Near-term odds favor a decline to at least $44.7, the 1.00 projections of the waves $52.28 – 46.4 – 50.54 and $50.54 – 46.7 – 48.45. This is a very important target and decision point for WTI. A close below $44.7 would open the way for targets in the low $40s. It is at those targets that the market will need to decide whether the move up will continue or a long-term bearish outlook would be adopted again.

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Positive Factors

The upward correction that began late Monday afternoon may extend to $46.8 and even $47.5 in early trading Tuesday. However, $47.5 should hold. A close over $47.5 would call for a test of key resistance levels above $50.0, that if overcome, would indicate the downward correction is over.

This is a brief analysis and outlook for the next day or so. Our weekly Crude Oil Commentary is a much more detailed and thorough energy price forecast. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

July natural gas rose to a new high for 2016 when it overcame the January 8 swing high of $2.635. The move up extended to crucial resistance near $2.75 and stalled. $2.75 is a confluent target. Most importantly, it is the 1.382 projection of the primary wave $1.949 – 2.427 – 2.08.

Negative Factors

July’s decline on Wednesday is reportedly due to revised weather forecasts that call for cooler than previously expected temperatures over the next two weeks. In addition, some traders are allegedly concerned that factors behind the rapid price increase in recent weeks have been overhyped.

Momentum is setup for a bearish divergence on the KasePO and the Stochastic is in extreme overbought territory. There is also an evening star, which is a bearish candlestick reversal pattern. These factors indicate the correction that began late Wednesday afternoon should extend over the next few days.

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Look for $2.64 to be tested tomorrow (or even Wednesday afternoon). This is currently the 21 percent retracement from $2.101 to $2.786. This was strong resistance and will likely be resilient support. A close below $2.64 would open the way for $2.52, the 38 percent retracement from $2.101. A normal correction should hold $2.52. However, after such a strong move up, the correction might be larger than normal.

Positive Factors

The longer-term outlook for natural gas is positive. This downward correction will most likely form a complex Wave IV of a longer-term five-wave trend. However, should prices turn higher again tomorrow, look for resistance at $2.72 followed by $2.80 and most importantly $2.87. The latter is the 1.618 projection of the wave up from $1.949. A significant correction will almost certainly take place before $2.87 is overcome should the current correction stall before reaching at least $2.52.

This is a brief natural gas forecast for the next day or so. Our weekly Natural Gas Commentary is a much more detailed and thorough analysis. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

The falling U.S. dollar and higher probability the U.K. will vote to remain in the European Union are reportedly causes for crude oil’s recovery. However, some analysts have stated that increasing U.S. rig counts and production coming back online in Canada will keep a lid on oil prices for the near term.

August WTI crude oil met crucial support at $46.41 on Friday before turning higher and forming a daily bullish engulfing line. So far, the move up to $50.0 has retraced 62 percent of the decline from $52.28 to $46.4. A close over $50.0 would significantly increase odds for $51.0 and possibly $52.3 later this week.

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Support at $48.6 will most likely hold. The key level for the next few days will be $47.8. These are the 38 and 62 percent retracements from $46.4 to $50.0, respectively. A close below $47.8 would indicate the move up has likely formed Wave B of a larger scale ABC correction. This would in turn open the way for the downward correction to extend to targets in the mid-to-low $40s.

This scenario is less likely given the strong price rise over the past few days. With all factors considered, crude oil will most likely settle into a range in the upper $40s and low $50s soon while it sorts through the conflicting geopolitical, fundamental, and technical factors.

This is a brief analysis and outlook for the next day or so. Our weekly Crude Oil Commentary is a much more detailed and thorough energy price forecast. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

Warm summer weather and a smaller than expected build reported last Thursday were allegedly the catalysts for the surge higher to $2.635. The recent string of smaller than expected builds has some analysts and traders speculating that the glut of gas in storage may shrink much faster than originally expected.

July natural gas challenged its $2.635 high made January 8, 2016 on June 13. So far, this important resistance level has held and prices have settled into a choppy range between $2.535 and $2.635. The market is most likely waiting for tomorrow’s EIA Natural Gas Storage Report before breaking higher or lower out of the range.

There is little doubt that the longer-term outlook for natural gas is positive. The sustained close over $2.57, the 1.00 projection for the wave $1.939 – 2.427 – 2.08, calls for $2.75 and possibly $2.87, the 1.382 and 1.618 projections, respectively. The move up is due for a correction, but a significant pullback might not take place until these targets are fulfilled. We doubt prices will rise above $2.87 without a major correction first.

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That said, $2.635 has held and the KasePO PeakOut and an overbought Stochastic indicate a deeper pullback might take place first. There is also a double top (some might argue a triple top) at $2.635. Tomorrow’s EIA number, if bearish, could lead to a break lower out of the range.

First support is $2.535, and a close below this would confirm the double top and call for $2.44. The $2.44 level is expected to hold. A close below this would indicate the market is reassessing the validity and strength of the recent move up.

This is a brief natural gas forecast for the next day or so. Our weekly Natural Gas Commentary is a much more detailed and thorough analysis. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

As WTI crude oil prices fall from the recent $51.67 high, some reports indicate the pullback is due to the rising U.S. dollar and increased rig counts for the second week in a row. Pundits have also stated the sharp price surge could encourage some producers to increase production, keeping the market oversupplied. Others still believe recent supply disruptions in Canada and Nigeria will be supportive.

From a technical perspective, WTI’s move up had become extended and was due for a correction. The confirmed dark cloud cover, bearish daily divergences, weekly shooting stars, and monthly evening star setups indicate the majority of technical factors are negative for the near-term.

Support at $48.6 was challenged Monday, but held on the close. A move below $48.6 in early trading Tuesday would open the way for at least $47.7 and possibly $46.7. Both targets are near major swing lows that may hold initially. Therefore, we expect the move down will be choppy as it unfolds over the next few days.

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There is a modest chance that Tuesday’s morning star setup will test Friday’s $49.8 midpoint first. This is near the 38 percent retracement of the decline from $51.67 to $48.16 and the 1.00 projection of the small wave up from $48.16. Key resistance is $50.3. This is the 62 percent retracement and 1.618 projection. Resistance at $50.3 is expected to hold. A close over $50.3 would call for prices to retest the $51.67 swing high.

This is a brief analysis and outlook for the next day or so. Our weekly Crude Oil Commentary is a much more detailed and thorough energy price forecast. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

Natural gas prices have risen sharply over the past seven days. July rose to $2.501 in early trading Wednesday, overcoming the continuation chart’s $2.495 high for 2016. Reports indicate the surge has been due to forecasts for higher temperatures in coming weeks. However, some think the move up may be too aggressive considering storage levels are still 35 percent higher than the five-year average for this time of year.

Technical factors have been positive too. Last week’s close over key resistance at $2.38 cleared the way for at least $2.57 and possibly higher during the course of summer months. Overall, the outlook is positive for the longer-term.

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That said, the move up may have been too much too fast. The KasePO and Stochastic are in overbought territory and the move up is due for a correction soon. In addition, the market will need to close over the perpetual’s $2.495 swing high to definitively overcome this important resistance level.

Odds ultimately favor at least $2.57, especially upon a close over $2.495. However, today’s evening star setup and failure to close over $2.495 indicate a correction to $2.42 and possibly $2.35 should take place before $2.57 is overcome.

This is a brief natural gas forecast for the next day or so. Our weekly Natural Gas Commentary is a much more detailed and thorough analysis. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

For the past few weeks, WTI crude oil has been trading in a tight range as it tries to sort through recent events and fundamental factors. Reports indicate Monday’s close at a 10-month high was due to concerns over continued supply disruptions and speculation that the Federal Reserve will not raise interest rates this month.

From a technical perspective, the recent wave formations show that prices are poised to rise to targets above $50.0 over the next few days before reaching the next major decision point in the mid-$50s. July WTI closed above the 0.618 projection of the wave up from $47.26 on Monday. Waves that overcome the 0.618 projection typically extend to at least the 1.00 projection, in this case $50.7. Therefore, odds favor a test of $50.7. A close over $50.7 would call for $51.8 and possibly higher this week.

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Support at $48.4 should hold. This is the 0.618 projection of the wave down from $50.21. It is also near the 62 percent retracement of the move up from $47.75 to $49.9. A close below $48.4 would call for a test of $47.5, which is near the bottom of the recent trading range. A close below this would open the way for an extended correction to $46.2 and possibly lower.

This is a brief analysis and outlook for the next day or so. Our weekly Crude Oil Commentary is a much more detailed and thorough energy price forecast. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.