Price Forecasting Archives - Page 6 of 24

Since February 12, April natural gas had risen in a choppy upward sloping range that formed a bearish flag. However, prices broke higher out of the flag today and settled above the pattern’s upper trend line. The flag’s failure to break lower is bullish for the near-term and calls for a larger upward correction before the move down ultimately continues.

The next objective is $2.80, which is the 100-day moving average and a confluent projection for the multitude of waves and sub-waves that formed the flag. A close above this would call for $2.83 and possibly $2.87.

The $2.83 target is a potential stalling point because it is in line with the 62 percent retracement of the decline from $2.983 and the 200-day moving average. If the move up is going to remain a “normal” correction, $2.83 should hold.

April Natural Gas - Daily — April Natural Gas – Daily

Key resistance is $2.87. This is the smaller than (0.618) target for April natural gas’ wave $2.487 – 2.983 – 2.565. Waves that meet the smaller than target typically extend to the equal to (1.00) target, in this case, $3.06. Therefore, should April settle above $2.87 look for prices to rise above $3.00 again.

All of that said, the long-term outlook for natural gas remains negative, and even a move above $2.87 will do little to dampen that. For now, though, support at $2.70 should hold and key support is $2.65. These are the 38 and 62 percent retracements of the move up from $2.565, so far. A close below $2.65 would shift near-term odds back in favor of a continued decline to challenge major support in the low $2.50’s.

This is a brief analysis for the next day or so. Our weekly Natural Gas Commentary and daily updates are much more detailed and thorough energy price forecasts that cover key natural gas futures contracts, calendar spreads, the UNG ETF, and several electricity contracts. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

The long-term outlook remains slightly negative for WTI crude oil, but the near-term outlook seems to switch from positive to negative on a day-to-day basis. This generally reflects a market that is unsure of itself and could indicate a trading range is forming. For now, though, given today’s failure to settle above the equal to (1.00) target of the wave $60.13 – 61.97 – 61.1 and the 62 percent retracement of the decline from $64.24, odds have shifted in favor of testing support tomorrow.

The formation of a daily shooting star setup and wave formation down from $63.28 call for $62.0 and possibly $61.6 tomorrow. These are targets for the small wave down from $63.28 and the shooting star’s completion and confirmation points. A close below $62.0 would open the way for $61.1 and $60.7. The latter is most important because it is the smaller than target of the wave $64.24 – 60.13 – 63.28 and connects to $59.2 and lower.

April WTI Crude Oil - 0.35 Kase Bar — April WTI Crude Oil – 0.35 Kase Bar

Initial resistance at $63.0 should hold, but the key level for the near-term is $63.5. A close above this would call for $64.1, the smaller than target of the wave up from $57.9. This level is the key to a bullish outlook because a close above $64.0 would shift long-term odds in favor of a continued rise to $66.5 and higher.

This is a brief analysis for the next day or so. Our weekly Crude Oil Commentary and daily updates are much more detailed and thorough energy price forecasts that cover WTI, Brent, RBOB Gasoline, Diesel, and spreads. If you are interested in learning more, please sign up for a complimentary four-week trial.

The outlook for April natural gas remains negative. Prices are still oscillating within the upward sloping bearish flag, but today’s failure to test the top of the flag’s range at $2.73 indicates the formation should attempt to break lower tomorrow.

The flag’s lower trend line is nominally $2.64, but $2.63 is key because it is the 62 percent retracement of the move up from $2.565. It is also in line with the $2.633 swing low. A close below $2.63 will confirm the flag has broken lower and open the way for another test of $2.52, the gateway to a much more bearish long-term outlook.

Resistance at $2.73 should hold. This is near the top of the flag, the 50-day moving average, and the 38 percent retracement of the decline from $2.983. A close above this would call for a larger upward correction that could ultimately reach $2.84.

The $2.84 threshold is most important because it is split between the 62 percent retracement and the 200-day moving average. It is doubtful that prices will overcome (or even reach) $2.84 without significant help from external factors.

WTI crude oil’s settle below Friday’s $63.1 midpoint and the daily bearish engulfing line is negative for tomorrow’s outlook.

There is immediate support at Friday’s $62.6 open, but the small wave formation down from $64.24 calls for at least $62.3 and likely $61.9. The latter is most crucial for the near-term because it is the 50-day moving average, the 38 percent retracement of the move up from $57.9, and is near last Thursday’s $62.1 midpoint.

April WTI Crude Oil - Daily — April WTI Crude Oil – Daily

A close below $61.9 would open the way for a test of key support at $60.3. This is the 62 percent retracement of the move up from $57.9 and is near calendar January’s open. Settling below $60.3 would shift long-term odds back in favor of a continued decline.

That said, the move down is probably corrective of the move up from $57.9. Today’s $63.5 midpoint and $64.1 open are initial resistance. $63.5 should hold but $64.1 is key. A close above this would call for tests of $64.5 and $65.5, the last levels protecting the $66.39 high.

March natural gas finally settled above February’s 9’s $2.64 midpoint. The move up is most likely corrective of the decline from $3.259 and will continue to be a grind. However, natural gas should now challenge at least $2.71 and possibly higher before the decline ultimately continues.

The wave $2.53 – 2.662 – 2.565 met its $2.65 smaller than (0.618) target today. Waves that meet the smaller than target typically extend to the equal to (1.00) target, in this case, $2.71. This is an important objective because $2.71 is also in line with February 9’s open and is the completion point of the weekly morning star setup.

March Natural Gas - 0.035 Kase Bar — March Natural Gas – 0.035 Kase Bar

Settling above $2.71 would call for a larger upward correction and test of key near-term resistance at $2.81. This is the 38 percent retracement of the decline from $3.259 and the 50-day moving average. For the move down to continue in the near-term $2.81 must hold. A sustained close above this would not doom the move down, but rather dampen the odds for a continued decline to targets below the continuation chart’s crucial $2.522 swing low over the next few weeks.

March Natural Gas - Daily — March Natural Gas – Daily

Initial support is $2.61 and key support for the next few days is the $2.565 swing low. A move below this would wipe out the aforementioned wave up from $2.53 that projects to $2.71 and higher. This would also shift near-term odds back in favor of testing $2.51 and lower.

April WTI crude oil’s move up from $57.9 is most likely corrective of the decline from $66.39 and may be complete. Important resistance was met at $62.65, a bearish intra-day KaseCD divergence was confirmed, and the subsequent move down is poised to extend. Trading over the next few days should indicate whether the upward correction is complete.

Today, the larger than (1.618) target of the wave $57.9 – 60.61 – 58.09 was met at $62.65. The subsequent wave down, $62.65 – 61.43 – 62.43 has fallen below its smaller than (0.618) target and is now poised to reach at least the $61.2 equal to (1.00) target tomorrow. A close below this would open the way for $60.7, $60.3, and $59.7. Key support for the near-term is $59.7, the 62 percent retracement of the move up from $57.9. Settling below this would put odds strongly back in favor of a continued decline.

April WTI Crude Oil - 0.50 Kase Bar — April WTI Crude Oil – 0.50 Kase Bar

For the move up to continue, support at $59.7 must hold and prices will have to ultimately overcome $63.2, the 62 percent retracement of the decline from $66.39. Tomorrow, look for first resistance at $62.1 and key resistance at $62.6. A close above $62.6 would call for a test of $63.2.

The outlook for March natural gas remains negative but the formation of another daily star (in this case a hammer) and the small wave formation up from $2.538 indicate there is still a good chance for the upward correction to extend first. However, as stated over the past few days in our premium analysis and daily updates, unless prices settle above at least $2.65 and likely $2.70, to complete and then confirm the morning star setup, odds will continue to favor a test of key support at $2.52.

Initial support is $2.56, the smaller than (0.618) target of the wave $2.642 – 2.553 – 2.619. A move below this early tomorrow will open the way for $2.52, the intermediate (1.382) target. This is a key objective because $2.52 is in line with the continuation chart’s $2.522 swing low and is also the 62 percent retracement of the move up from $1.611. A sustained close below $2.52 will call for a much more negative long-term outlook.

Should the corrective move up extend and settle above $2.70 to confirm the morning star, odds will shift in favor of a larger upward correction to at least $2.76 and likely $2.81 before the decline continues. For now, given all factors, $2.81 is expected to hold because it is the 38 percent retracement of the decline from $3.259 and near the 50-day moving average. Settling above $2.81 would call the market’s bearish sentiment into question and the likelihood of a near-term decline to targets below $2.52.

Outlook for WTI

March WTI crude oil’s formation of a second daily star (in this case a hammer), confirmed daily KCDpeak, oversold Stochastic, and failure to break the $58.07 swing low are all factors that indicate the upward correction from $58.07 still has a reasonable chance of extending before the decline continues. However, unless WTI settles above at least $59.8 and more likely $60.4 to confirm the morning star setup (made up of the aforementioned stars) odds will continue to favor a decline.

Initial support is the $58.39 swing low, and an early move below this tomorrow will call for $58.0, the smaller than (0.618) target of the wave $60.83 – 58.39 – 59.49. This is a key objective because it is the lowest that the initial wave down from $66.66 projection and is the 38 percent retracement of the move up from this past summer’s $43.91 swing low. Settling below $58.0 will open the way for $57.6 and very likely $57.1, the equal to (1.00) target of the wave down from $60.83.

Should the upward correction attempt to extend again tomorrow, look for initial resistance at last Friday’s $59.8 midpoint. This is the completion point of the morning star setup, a close above which would call for the $60.4 confirmation point. The $60.4 level is key for the near-term because it is also sitting just above the smaller than target of the wave up from $58.07. Settling above $60.4 would call for a likely move above the $60.83 swing high to $61.4, which is in-line with the equal to target of the wave up from $58.07 and the 38 percent retracement of the decline from $66.66.

Outlook for Natural Gas

March natural gas fell below the $2.693 swing low, which nullifies the wave $2.532 – 3.035 – 2.693 and any potential that the move up from $2.532 would extend as a five-wave pattern. Today’s decline also wiped out the yesterday’s bullish hammer and intra-day bullish divergences. Therefore, as of this afternoon, there is no technical evidence that the move down will stall before reaching at least $2.65.

The $2.65 objective is the smaller than (0.618) target of the waves $3.259 – 2.837 – 2.92 and $2.92 – 2.695 – 2.782. Settling below $2.65 will open the way for $2.60 and more likely $2.56, which then connects to $2.50. The connection between these targets is of utmost importance. A move to $2.50 would take out the continuation chart’s $2.522 swing low and confirm a long-term bearish outlook.

March 2108 Natural Gas - Daily — March 2108 Natural Gas – Daily

If there is anything positive that can be said, the wave structure down from $3.259 still lacks depth. So far, all of the upward corrections have been less than 21 percent retracements. There is no guarantee that an upward correction will take place, but daily momentum is reaching oversold territory.

For now, look for initial resistance at $2.76 and $2.82. The higher of these should hold as it is the 21 percent retracement of the decline from $3.259 and the 62 percent retracement from $2.92. Key resistance is $2.87, the 50-day moving average. A close above this would indicate the move down has stalled and could be an early indicator of consolidation before the decline ultimately continues.

Outlook for WTI

WTI crude oil’s decline wiped out yesterday’s bullish morning star setup and fulfilled the $61.5 larger than (1.618) target of the wave $66.66 – 63.67 – 66.3. If the move down from $66.66 proves to be a three-wave correction the $61.25 swing low should hold. However, as of this afternoon, there is no definitive evidence this will be the case (though an upward correction might take place first as discussed below).

Odds favor a continued decline and a close below $61.2 will open the way for $60.8, $60.2, and $59.3. The next major objective is $58.0, the trend terminus and XC (2.764) projection of the aforementioned wave down from $66.66.

March WTI Crude Oil - Daily — March WTI Crude Oil – Daily

That said, there is a reasonable chance the move down from $66.66 will transmute into a five-wave formation that just completed Wave III at $61.25. If this is the case, then an upward correction to form Wave IV should take place first. Today’s $62.9 midpoint is expected to hold, but the key level is today’s $63.9 open. A close over this would be an early indication that the corrective move down may be complete.

Outlook for Brent

Brent crude oil fulfilled the $65.2 larger than (1.618) target of the wave $70.78 – 67.81 – 70.02 when prices fell to $65.16 today. This is a potential stalling point, but there is no definitive technical evidence that indicates the move down will stall.

If the move down from $70.78 is a three-wave correction of the larger scale move up, then $65.16 should hold. However, this is doubtful because Brent has settled below the $65.6 smaller than (0.618) target of the sub-wave $70.02 – 66.53 – 67.72. This means that this wave should extend to at least its $64.2 equal to target. A close below $64.9 would open the way for $64.2, which then connects to $63.0 and $62.0. The $62.0 target is the next major objective because it is the trend terminus and XC (2.764) projection of the wave down from $70.78 and the larger than target of the wave down from $70.02.

With all of that said, there is a chance the wave down from $70.78 is Wave I of a five-wave pattern that completed Wave III at $65.16. In this case, an upward correction to form Wave IV should take place first. Today’s $66.4 midpoint is expected to hold upon such a correction. Key resistance is today’s $67.2 open.

Short-Term Natural Gas Forecast – March 7, 2018

Tag: Price Forecasting

Outlook for WTI

Outlook for Natural Gas

Outlook for WTI

Outlook for Brent