WTI hovers near five-month lows with bearish momentum intact

Source Fxstreet
  • WTI Crude remains under pressure, extending last week’s losses amid a stronger US Dollar and demand concerns.
  • Renewed US-China trade tensions and weaker Chinese refinery runs weigh on sentiment.
  • From a technical perspective, WTI remains below key moving averages with momentum indicators signaling persistent bearish bias.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Crude Oil continues to lose ground on Monday, pressured by a firmer US Dollar (USD) and persistent concerns over weakening global demand. At the time of writing, WTI is changing hands near $56.63 per barrel, down over 1.0% on the day, hovering near its lowest level since early May.

The Greenback’s rebound is weighing on commodity prices, as a stronger USD makes Oil more expensive for holders of other currencies. Meanwhile, traders remain cautious following recent data showing China’s crude storage flows slumped in September, a sign of slowing import appetite from the world’s largest Oil consumer.

Adding to the bearish tone, the International Energy Agency (IEA) last week warned of a “large surplus” building through 2026, citing resilient non-OPEC supply growth and soft demand from advanced economies. These factors, combined with renewed US-China trade tensions, have curbed risk sentiment and fueled concerns about a deeper downturn in energy markets.

Beyond the immediate market pressures, longer-term demand concerns linked to the global energy transition, particularly in China and the European Union, are also weighing on sentiment toward Oil. Both regions are accelerating investment in renewable energy, electric vehicles and stricter carbon policies, which could gradually reduce reliance on conventional fuel sources.

On the technical front, WTI is trading well below its short-term and long-term moving averages on the daily chart, reinforcing the broader bearish structure.

Immediate support lies in the $54.00-$55.00 zone, marking the May 5 low, which is also closely aligned with this year’s low from April 9 around $54.78. A decisive break below this region could intensify selling pressure and expose WTI to fresh multi-year lows, potentially extending the decline toward the $53.00 handle.

On the upside, the $60.00 handle remains a crucial pivot. Unless WTI reclaims this level decisively, the outlook will stay tilted to the downside. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is hovering near 30.5, suggesting that prices are entering oversold territory, though no clear reversal signal has emerged yet. Meanwhile, the Average Directional Index (ADX) at 28.6 indicates strengthening trend momentum, confirming that sellers remain in control.

US Dollar Price Today

The table below shows the percentage change of US Dollar (USD) against listed major currencies today. US Dollar was the strongest against the Canadian Dollar.

USD EUR GBP JPY CAD AUD NZD CHF
USD 0.01% 0.08% 0.05% 0.15% -0.04% -0.16% -0.17%
EUR -0.01% 0.06% 0.04% 0.12% -0.04% -0.16% -0.17%
GBP -0.08% -0.06% -0.02% 0.06% -0.11% -0.24% -0.24%
JPY -0.05% -0.04% 0.02% 0.09% -0.08% -0.27% -0.22%
CAD -0.15% -0.12% -0.06% -0.09% -0.11% -0.31% -0.31%
AUD 0.04% 0.04% 0.11% 0.08% 0.11% -0.15% -0.13%
NZD 0.16% 0.16% 0.24% 0.27% 0.31% 0.15% 0.00%
CHF 0.17% 0.17% 0.24% 0.22% 0.31% 0.13% -0.00%

The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the US Dollar from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the Japanese Yen, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent USD (base)/JPY (quote).

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
Why the Altcoin Market Cap Decline May Deepen in OctoberThe crypto market has been turbulent in October, with altcoin market capitalization dropping another 15%. Could this downturn worsen before October ends?
Author  Beincrypto
6 hours ago
The crypto market has been turbulent in October, with altcoin market capitalization dropping another 15%. Could this downturn worsen before October ends?
placeholder
Netflix Q3 Earnings Preview: Double Growth in Revenue and Profit Expected Amid Wall Street's Universal OptimismStreaming giant Netflix is set to release its Q3 2025 financial results after U.S. market close on Tuesday, October 21, with the current market sentiment largely optimistic.
Author  TradingKey
7 hours ago
Streaming giant Netflix is set to release its Q3 2025 financial results after U.S. market close on Tuesday, October 21, with the current market sentiment largely optimistic.
placeholder
USD/CAD Price Forecast: Rises toward 1.4050 due to potential for bullish reversalUSD/CAD inches higher after registering losses in the previous session, trading around 1.4030 during the European hours on Monday.
Author  FXStreet
7 hours ago
USD/CAD inches higher after registering losses in the previous session, trading around 1.4030 during the European hours on Monday.
placeholder
Forex Today: Risk mood improves in quiet start to weekMajor currency pairs remain relatively calm on Monday following the previous week's volatile action.
Author  FXStreet
8 hours ago
Major currency pairs remain relatively calm on Monday following the previous week's volatile action.
placeholder
Dow Jones futures rise due to easing US-China trade tensions, Fed rate cut betsDow Jones futures advance 0.37% to rise near 46,550 during European hours, ahead of the opening of the United States (US) regular session on Monday.
Author  FXStreet
8 hours ago
Dow Jones futures advance 0.37% to rise near 46,550 during European hours, ahead of the opening of the United States (US) regular session on Monday.
Related Instrument
goTop
quote