WTI - Stability in the Middle East!WTI oil is below the EMA200 and EMA50 in the 4H timeframe and is moving in its downward channel. If the downward correction continues towards the demand zone, the next opportunity to buy oil with a suitable risk reward will be provided for us.
Following the ceasefire in Lebanon, U.S. President Joe Biden announced that in the coming days, the United States will work with regional countries, including Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and Israel, to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza that guarantees the release of hostages and the end of the war.However, he emphasized that such a ceasefire should not allow Hamas to remain in power.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump plans to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico on his first day in office. This tariff will also include crude oil, with no exceptions considered. Additionally, Trump is preparing another executive order to lift the suspension on liquefied natural gas (LNG) export permits that was implemented under Joe Biden’s presidency. This executive order might require the Department of Energy to approve pending permits or resume reviewing new applications. This move is seen as part of Trump’s early energy policy agenda.
Wall Street has expressed concerns about the potential impact of Trump’s second term on oil prices. Analysts suggest that oil producers may try to boost production before stricter regulations from the Biden era return. However, some experts believe that the nature of shale oil production in the U.S. makes long-term supply increases challenging. Unlike OPEC nations, where oil production is often controlled by national oil companies, oil production in the U.S. is divided among major corporations, independent producers, and private companies.
This analysis aligns with Goldman Sachs’ outlook. Goldman Sachs has forecasted that U.S. crude oil production will increase by just 500,000 barrels per day this year, down from the 1 million barrels per day increase seen last year. Nevertheless, the U.S. will still account for 60% of non-OPEC oil production growth, with the Permian Basin in North America expected to grow by 340,000 barrels per day—lower than Wall Street’s initial projection of 520,000 barrels.
According to Bloomberg, Russia’s seaborne crude oil exports have reached their lowest level in two months. The four-week average of these exports up to November 24 dropped to around 150,000 barrels per day, marking the fourth decrease in five weeks. This decline is largely attributed to a significant reduction in oil flows to India, Russia’s primary buyer, although weekly exports have seen a slight uptick.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Kazakhstan have issued a joint statement emphasizing the importance of market stability and their commitment to voluntary production cuts under the OPEC+ agreement. In this context, Reuters analysts predict that OPEC+ will likely maintain its oil production cut policy for an extended period due to weak global demand. This group, which accounts for nearly half of the world’s oil production, faces challenges in deciding whether to increase or further reduce production. Increasing production is risky under current conditions, while further cuts may be difficult due to some members’ desire to boost output.
Meanwhile, rising gas prices have posed significant challenges for European policymakers this winter. Javier Blas, a Bloomberg analyst, believes that Europe has not yet fully faced the realities of the energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He warns that Europe has overly attributed last year’s successes to favorable weather conditions. However, these conditions have changed, and this winter is expected to bring higher gas and electricity prices. This situation places significant pressure on energy-intensive industries, with many large factories either reducing activity or shutting down. Households, too, will face greater inflation due to higher energy costs.
These challenges have also put central banks like the European Central Bank and the Bank of England under pressure. Wholesale gas prices in Europe have risen to €47 per megawatt-hour, which is double the February price and 130% higher than the 2010–2020 average.
