Chart Of The Day: Crude Oil's Failed Break-Out
Matthew Bradbard | Jul 04, 2013 12:16AM ET
It is a shortened week with the holiday so volumes has been lackluster, but that takes nothing away from this move: Crude has taken out the $100/barrel level and is currently trading at 13 month highs, just above $101. As one can see in the chart below, futures have traded out of the $10-12 trading range (green bands) that had contained prices for the last year. The title signifies I have a crystal ball which I do not claim, but gazing into the future I think this could be the headline in the coming weeks. My thought is Crude will falter - turn south and trade back into the trading range that had constrained prices until yesterday.
$hit is hitting the fan in Egypt and if it were to spread throughout the Middle East that would be extremely problematic, but at this juncture I do not see that as a likely scenario. On top of those jitters the EIA report yesterday had a surprising monster draw in inventories reported that the US inventories fell 10.3 M barrels to 383.8 M barrels for the week ending 6/28. It was the biggest weekly drop in stockpiles since the week ending 12/28. The drop came as refineries ramp up production for gasoline for the summer driving season so a decline on the switchover makes sense, but this seems far too inefficient. Analysts leading into the number were looking for a 2.3 M barrel draw according to the Dow Jones Newswire.
1) Bear put spreads
2) Short WTI or Nymex Crude and buy Brent 1:1. Current trade is at its widest margin in over 2 years.
3) Selling December 2013 Crude calls and buying 2014 Crude calls...14’ happens to hold an $8 discount to 13’. This makes no sense. This is courtesy of one of my colleagues, Kevin Davitt, who has forgotten more than I know about energy trading.
I feel that I need to mention that whenever trading oil, embrace the RISK as volatility is heightened especially in the current environment, so be prepared for sizable moves meaning quick losses and quick gains.
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