Forecast of the market trend at the opening on Monday”Oil prices remained under pressure this week, experiencing a notable decline due to multiple factors. As of Friday's Asian morning session, Brent crude futures fell 37 cents to $64.07 per barrel, while U.S. WTI crude futures dropped 39 cents to $60.81 per barrel. Brent crude fell 2% for the week, while WTI declined 2.7%.
Key Drivers of Oil Price Weakness
Stronger U.S. Dollar
The U.S. House of Representatives passed President Donald Trump’s tax-cut and fiscal spending bill, boosting the U.S. dollar index against a basket of currencies.
As oil is dollar-denominated, a stronger dollar typically reduces purchasing power for non-USD buyers, suppressing oil prices.
Supply-Demand Sensitivity and Market Sentiment
The combination of dollar strength and expectations of OPEC+ production increases has intensified bearish sentiment in the oil market.
While demand is gradually recovering, significant upward pressure on supply—including potential output hikes from OPEC+ and rising U.S. shale production—has created near-term volatility.
Technical Outlook and Trading Strategy
Short-Term Trend: Oil prices are likely to remain in a sideways-to-downward oscillation due to supply-demand imbalances.
Key Levels:
Resistance: $63.0–$63.5 per barrel (short-term overhead resistance).
Support: $60.5–$60.0 per barrel (critical near-term support zone).
Trading Approach:
Consider rebound shorting as the primary strategy, with retracement buying as a secondary approach.
Use rallies toward $63.0–$63.5 to initiate short positions, targeting support at $60.5–$60.0, with stop-losses above $64.0.
Note: Monitor OPEC+ policy updates and U.S. inventory data for potential shifts in market sentiment. Volatility may rise ahead of key economic indicators.
