Oil market experienced significant volatility on the first trading day of the year. Initially, oil prices saw an uptick, fueled by concerns over supply disruptions linked to escalating tensions in the Red Sea region, a vital gateway to the Suez Canal.
This surge was triggered by an incident where US helicopters thwarted an attack by Iran-backed Houthi forces on a vessel operated by Danish shipper Maersk in the Red Sea. Adding to the geopolitical complexities, an Iranian warship’s entry into the Red Sea, reported by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, further heightened market anxieties.
However, as the day progressed, the oil markets reassessed the situation and concluded that direct engagement between the Iranian warship and American forces was unlikely. This reassessment led to a subsiding of initial fears regarding supply disruptions, causing oil prices to reverse their earlier gains and close lower.
From a technical analysis standpoint, WTI’s rebound from 67.79 short term bottom should have completed at 76.02. Rejection below 55 D EMA keeps near term outlook bearish. Further fall is expected as long as 73.52 minor resistance holds, to retest 67.79 low. Firm break there will resume larger decline from 95.50 (2023 high) to retest 63.67 (2023 low).
Nevertheless, break of 73.52 will extend the corrective pattern from 67.79 with another leg through 76.02 instead.
