Crude Oil Climbs As Gold Continues To Fall

 | Oct 23, 2017 06:45AM ET

Crude makes a comeback but there is no such luck for gold as U.S. yields and the big dollar march higher.

After a choppy session on Friday where oil spent most of it on the back foot, as the washout of stale long positioning continued in earnest, both Brent and WTI shock of their standing eight counts to rally aggressively and finish the day over one percent higher from their opens. The impressive comeback was sparked by Saudi Arabia compliance comments and the Baker Hughes Rig Count which showed another fall in U.S rig numbers to 736. The decline continues a multi-month trend of falling rig numbers with talk of “peak shale” gathering pace. Prematurely in our opinion.

This morning in Asia Brent and WTI has managed a slightly positive start, trading at 57.95 and 51.80 respectively, a small rise from Friday’s bright close. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East will continue to support both contracts through the Asian session following Friday’s comeback.

Brent spot will face initial resistance each side of 58.50 ahead of the more formidable 59.10 level. To make serious progress past those lofty heights will likely require fresh news to drive momentum. Support lies distantly at 57.25 and 56.60 demonstrating just how powerful its relief rally was on Friday.