Crude Remains At Risk On US Inventories, Gold Braces For FOMC Decision

 | Dec 17, 2014 12:22AM ET

Talking Points

  • Crude Oil May Remain Under Pressure If Inventories Data Feeds Supply Glut Concerns
  • Gold Faces Substantial Event Risk On The Back Of The Upcoming December Fed Decision
  • Quarterly Forecast: Gold Remains Vulnerable To USD Strength

The Brent benchmark stole the limelight in recent trade with a decline of over 1 percent for the session and drop below $60 a barrel. Supply glut concerns and downgraded demand expectations continue to dominate sentiment towards the commodity. Upcoming US Inventories Data may do little to lift crude’s burden. This is given the most recent set of figures revealed another fresh multi-decade high for the rate of US production.

Meanwhile, gold erased early gains in trading on Tuesday to finish the session relatively unchanged. A lackluster day for the US Dollar likely saved the precious metal from suffering a loss. The upcoming December FOMC decision offers a substantial piece of event risk for the greenback and in turn gold. If policy makers note the positive progress in the US labor market, and downplay subdued inflation expectations it could be supportive for the USD, and in turn put pressure on the metals.

ECONOMIC EVENTS

Market Movements (Tue 16 Dec, 2014, Close 5PM EST)

Energy

Open

High

Low

Close

$ Chg.

% Chg

US Oil

55.28

57.11

53.59

55.40

0.12

0.22%

UK Oil

60.48

61.16

58.49

59.82

(0.66)

-1.09%

Natural Gas

3.732

3.784

3.6

3.62

(0.11)

-2.97%

Metals

Open

High

Low

Close

$ Chg.

% Chg

Gold

1,192.86

1,223.35

1,187.23

1,196.81

3.95

0.33%

Silver

16.13

16.63

15.52

15.69

(0.44)

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-2.70%

Palladium

795.9

806

780

781

(14.90)

-1.87%

Platinum

1,207.40

1,226.70

1,193.60

1,195.80

(11.60)

-0.96%

Copper

2.87

2.89

2.84

2.86

(0.01)

-0.28%

CRUDE OIL TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

Crude remains locked in a downtrend as signaled by the 20 SMA and ROC indicators. A Doji has emerged on the daily, yet an absence of more definitive reversal signals suggests a sustained recovery may be unlikely at this stage. At the same time a small corrective bounce should not be precluded given the extent of recent declines. Sellers may look to keep the commodity capped below the 60.74 mark. Meanwhile, the next downside target is offered by the April ’09 Low at 46.70.

Crude Oil: Eyes April ’09 Low Amid Persistent Downtrend