MN: Crude Oil Price Recovery Aborted as Trump Tax Plan Disappoints
Crude oil prices drop with stocks on Trump tax proposal Int'l Oil Summit in Paris eyed for clues about supply trends Risk aversion may trim bond yields, help gold extend gains Crude oil prices roared higher after EIA inventory data showed stockpiles shed 3.64 million barrels last week, marking a stark departure from an analogous API report that reported a small build over the same period. The move higher proved short-lived however as risk appetite soured after the White House tax reform proposal failed to impress. The WTI benchmark retreated alongside stock prices, erasing prior gains to finish the day little-changed.
The US administration released a plan closely aligned with preliminary speculation. In essence, it wants to reduce tax rates while broadening the base by eliminating most itemized deductions. The plan was relatively vague on implementation details. Importantly, there appeared to be nothing to win support from deficit hawks in the legislature. Investors seemed to take this to mean that the ambitious overhaul may suffer the same fate as the aborted AHCA healthcare reform bill.
Not surprisingly, gold prices rose as the markets digested the Trump team's proposal. Cutting taxes was to be a key part of an expansionary fiscal posture that would buoy inflation and push the Fed to hike interest rates more aggressively. Apparent skepticism about the scheme's legislative future has turned this logic on its head, with Treasury bond yields declining and the priced-in rate tightening path implied in Fed Funds futures flattening after its announcement hit the wires.
Asian stock exchanges managed tepid gains but European bourses are facing heavy sellingpressure in early trade. The downbeat mood has spared US stock index futures thus far. If risk aversion spreads market-wide, a drop in bond yields may see gold recover further. A round of soft US economic statistics including durable goods orders and pending home sales may also help the yellow metal's cause. Meanwhile, a gathering of oil industry bigwigs in Paris may bring headlines about on-coming supply trends.
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GOLD TECHNICAL ANALYSIS Gold prices are in digestion mode having slid to a two-week low after topping below the 1300/oz figure, as expected. A daily close below the 14.6% Fibonacci expansion at 1258.62 exposes the 1235.91-41.50 area (October 7 2016 low, 23.6% level). Alternatively, a rebound that takes prices above falling trend line resistance at 1286.89 paves the way for a test of the 1295.46-1308.00 zone (April 17 high, support-turned-resistance).
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CRUDE OIL TECHNICAL ANALYSIS Crude oil prices have stalled at trend support guiding the move higher since August 2016. From here, daily close below the 48.74-85 area (trend line, 61.8% Fibonacci expansion) opens the door for a test of the 47.08-69 region (March 22 low, 76.4% level). Alternatively, a turn back above the 50% Fib at 49.78 sees the next upside barrier at 50.71, the 38.2% expansion.
