Talking Points

WTI traders look to upcoming inventories figures for guidance near key resistance
Gold prices may remain supported if Yellen testimony fails to wake the US Dollar
Palladium continues to tease at an upside breakout above its recent highs

Crude oil is teasing at a break above a key technical level at $100 a barrel ahead of the DOE Inventories Report set to cross the wires during the US session. Meanwhile, the precious metals are clinging onto recent gains with upcoming testimony from Fed Chair Janet Yellen to offer some guidance via the potential impact on the US Dollar.

Crude Struggles Near $100 Handle
WTI traders continue to monitor several themes in the US oil market, one of which is the glut in inventories, which may partly explain some of the recent weakness for crude. This puts the Weekly Petroleum Status Report from the DOE in the spotlight, which is set to cross the wires in the coming hours. Crude inventories are tipped to have risen by a further 1,250K barrels according to the median estimate from economists (see economic calendar). While a higher-than-anticipated rise in stockpiles may be taken as a bearish signal, the reaction to upside surprises is not always clear-cut. The scatter plot below illustrates the percentage changes from WTI within 1 hour of the release of the inventories figures.

Lackluster Response From Gold Prices To US Dollar Plunge
Despite the US Dollar Index posting its biggest one day decline in a month gold and silver have realised only modest gains. One of the potential reasons for the uninspiring reaction from the precious metals could lie with traders unwinding fear-driven positioning as the latest Ukrainian developments fail to bolster safe-haven demand.

The ongoing turmoil in Eastern Europe has offered an additional driver for gold prices recently which may help explain the deterioration in the correlation between gold and the US Dollar. The chart below illustrates that the 20 day correlation between the two is at the weakest level since late January.

However, we’re yet to see a complete “break-up” between the precious metals and the greenback and as traders begin to look past Eastern Europe, the correlation would likely strengthen. This creates some potential for Fed Chief Janet Yellen’s upcoming testimonystir some volatility for the US Dollar and gold. A timid stance from Dr. Yellen on the prospect of future rate hikes from the Federal Reserve could leave the US dollar to continue its slide, which in turn may leave gold well-supported above the $1,300 handle.

CRUDE OIL TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Crude oil has broken below trendline support following the emergence of an Evening Star formation on the daily. Alongside building downside momentum (reflected by the rate of change indicator) and a move below the 20 SMA a bearish technical bias is retained. The daily close below the psychologically significant $100.00 handle is seen as an opportunity to enter new short positions. However, traders should also be mindful that volatility (reflected by the ATR) continues to decline, which generally doesn’t favor breakout trading.

Crude Oil: Testing Critical Resistance At $100.00
Daily Chart – Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0

GOLD TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Gold has bounced off key support at $1,277 which has acted to negate several prior bearish technical signals. The daily close above resistance at $1,305 following a Bullish Engulfing candlestick pattern suggests the potential for a continued recovery towards the next definitive level at $1,333 (the 50% Fib Retracement Level).

The DailyFX Speculative Sentiment Index suggests a mixed bias for gold based on trader positioning.

Gold: Prices Hovering Near Support At $1,305
Daily Chart – Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0

SILVER TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Friday’s bounce off the all-important $19.00 support level has prompted the emergence of a Morning Star candlestick formation, which hints at a further recovery following its confirmation from a successive up-day. There are also signs an uptrend may be emerging for the precious metal with prices pushing above the 20SMA in recent trading and a cross into positive territory from the rate of change indicator.

Silver: Eying $20.00 Handle Following Morning Star Pattern
Daily Chart – Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0

COPPER TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Copper’s ascending trend channel remains in place after prices threatened a breakdown last week. The appearance of a Morning Star pattern suggests the bulls may be looking to return. A break above nearby resistance at $3.085 would favor new long positions.

Copper: Bounces Off Trendline Support
Daily Chart – Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0

PALLADIUM TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Palladium remains in an upward trend channel following the original breakout above the range-top at $753. However, the 2014 highs near $810/5 continue to cap gains for the precious metal as the rate of change indicator warns of fading upside momentum. A daily close above $810/5 would offer an extended advance to the August 2011 high at $847.

Palladium: Teases Traders Near 2014 High
Daily Chart – Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0

PLATINUM TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Platinum may be targeting its multi-month range-top near $1,486 following a push above resistance at $1,427 in recent trading. Momentum has also turned positive signaled by a tick into positive territory from the rate of change indicator, which further supports a bullish technical bias.

Platinum: Pushes Past Resistance At $1,427
Daily Chart – Created Using FXCM Marketscope 2.0

Written by David de Ferranti, Market Analyst, FXCM Australia

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DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.Learn forex trading with a free practice account and trading charts from FXCM.
Source: Daily fx