Crude Oil Volatility and Fed’s Rate Hike Signals in Focus
2022.11.22 10:56
Yesterday we largely spoke about and the possibility of a further decline. The asset indeed saw a substantial decline but also a clear price rejection. Overall, the asset saw the highest volatility among all assets.
In addition, investors focused on the , which continued to climb, and rumors of a change in the UK’s Brexit stance.
Crude Oil
Crude oil plummeted at the start of the US trading session. The decline was triggered by expectations that the “West,” specifically the G7, would proceed with further restrictions on oil exports from Russia.
More specifically, the G7 group is considering an oil price cap that would come into force in early December. According to reports, if approved, the announcement will be made by the end of the day tomorrow.
As expected, Russia did not approve and simply kept its stance of either redirecting its supplies to other countries, specifically Asian countries, or lowering its supply. A lower supply does have the possibility of supporting the prices.
However, reports arose claiming that OPEC would increase supply to compensate. This caused the price to drop to an 11-month low.
The price rejection was a result of simply buyers looking to take advantage of the reduced price and Saudi Arabia confirming that OPEC would not increase supply. Therefore, the price movement would depend on how this story develops.
OPEC’s meeting scheduled for the first week of December will also play a big part in the “Supply and Demand.”
EUR/GBP
The price of the continued to decline yesterday, and the price formed a new lower swing but saw strong support at 0.86440. The price this morning has increased but remains within a downward trend.
Traders must be cautious that the price does not increase above 0.86750 and 0.86928. Signals may change if the price increases above these levels onto a higher swing.
The price movement has been strongly influenced by a possible change in the UK’s Brexit policy, which has now been denied by the UK Prime Minister.
Reports arose that the UK may seek a Swiss-style agreement with the EU to assist with economic growth and their skilled worker shortage. However, Rishi Sunak has confirmed this is not an option, which slightly pressured the .
The exchange rate will likely be influenced by tomorrow’s PMI reports for the EU and UK. All PMI figures are expected to be below 50.0, except for the PMI. Below 50.0 indicates a high possibility of economic contraction.
However, traders will look to see how the figures perform against predictions.
USD/CAD
The price movement of the formed a clear breakout formation. The price broke below the 1.34970 support level and then returned to this level over the past 24 hours. This is known as a support level being flipped to a resistance.
So far, the price has found resistance at this level but has not formed more than a retracement. Traders will be looking to see if the price forms a bullish breakout or if the price corrects back down to 1.32220.
Traders continue to monitor comments made by members of the FOMC, attempting to price in the next rate hike. FOMC Member, Ms. Daly, advised last night that the policy should neither be too slow nor too fast.
Traders took this as a signal for a 50 basis point hike. However, the market will also listen closely to today’s speeches from George, Mester, and Bullard.
Lastly, investors will be evaluating tomorrow’s PMI reports. If the figure is again lower than expected, it may pressure the US Dollar.
