G7 Nations Meet Today To Decide On Russian Oil Price Cap

The industrial heavyweights that make up the G7 (Britain, Canada France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the U.S.) are to meet today to sure up plans on a price cap on Russian oil. Britain, being the global maritime insurance hub is eager to get a deal in place to lower the price of oil and reduce Russia’s oil revenue, making it more difficult to fund its “special operation” in Ukraine.

G7 nations are responsible for insuring around 90% of global shipping traffic, meaning that proposed restrictions on such insurance agreements being subjected to a maximum price per barrel of oil, could limit oil prices globally.

The potential price cap has received some criticism from those suggesting Russia can just divert its oil to nations that aren’t signatories to the cap, such as China and India. It has however been reported that China and India, while not part of the G7, would be in favor of cheaper oil prices.
 

WTI Crude Oil Fundamental And Technical Analysis

According to the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA), crude oil stocks depleted faster than expected, seeing a drawdown of 3,326 million for the week ended August the 26th, compared to the expected draw of 1.483 million.

Oil prices have shown a long-term downtrend which will come as much-needed relief to motorists with travel plans during the upcoming Labor Day weekend. Gasoline prices in the U.S. have been seen declining for 11 successive weeks after averaging around $5 a gallon earlier in the year.

WTI prices, while higher this morning, have neared the recent low of 85.75, now trading at 88.40. The downtrend is showing no significant risk to a long-term trend reversal which is helped by lower demand for fuel in the US compared to this time last year. Demand for fuel is 8.6 million barrels a day, down nearly 1 million bps from last year.

The mention of OPEC + cutting supply in response to oil market volatility did little to disrupt the long-term trend. Support remains at 85.75 while resistance appears at88.40, 93, and 96.44.

WTI Crude Oil Daily Chart

(Click on image to enlarge)

Source: TradingView, prepared by Richard Snow

Later today we have US NFP data, which while not directly linked to oil markets, has an indirect effect via the US dollar as oil is priced in dollars.
 

Extreme Long Sentiment Provides Contrarian Case For Continued Selling

Oil - US Crude: Retail trader data shows 82.22% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 4.62 to 1.

We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests Oil - US Crude prices may continue to fall.

The number of traders net-long is 10.18% higher than yesterday and 33.05% higher than last week, while the number of traders net-short is 10.62% lower than yesterday and 46.84% lower than last week.

Traders are further net-long than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger Oil - US Crude-bearish contrarian trading bias.

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