Oil markets faced a turbulent 24 hours, with volatility driven by shifting supply expectations and technical exhaustion.According to official Energy Information Administration data and price charts, both Brent and WTI benchmarks failed to extend last weeks rally, instead entering a phase of back-and-forth trading as traders reassessed risk and reward.Brent crude spot traded at $68.73 per barrel on June 9, down 12% from a year ago.
WTI spot registered $65.99, a 13.77% annual decline.
Both benchmarks saw a modest uptick from the previous session, but the momentum faded quickly as the session progressed.The highest price for crude in June reached $72.72, with the trend since early June showing a 13.82% gain, but the last 24 hours marked a clear pause.
The technical picture reveals why.On the daily chart, Brent and WTI both show prices above their 50- and 200-day moving averages, confirming a bullish medium-term trend.
However, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) for Brent stands at 72.87 and for WTI at 73.56, signaling overbought territory.Oil Rally Falters as Supply Optimism Meets Technical Resistance.
(Photo Internet reproduction)The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains positive, but the histogram has started to contract, indicating waning momentum.
Bollinger Bands show prices hugging the upper band, a classic sign of stretched conditions.The four-hour charts confirm this loss of steam.
Both benchmarks show consolidation just above key support levelsBrent at $71.54 and WTI at $69.89.
Shorter-term moving averages flatten, and MACD lines converge, suggesting a lack of fresh buying.RSI readings have dipped from recent highs, supporting the view that the market is working off excess froth after a $13-per-barrel rally in just a few sessions.
Fundamentally, the sessions volatility reflects a tug-of-war between supply optimism and persistent geopolitical risk.The United States Energy Information Administration forecasts that global oil production will outpace demand through 2025 and 2026, with Brent expected to average $66 per barrel by year-end.
OPEC+ has increased output, and non-OPEC producers continue to ramp up capacity.Meanwhile, demand growth remains soft, with Chinas import appetite uncertain and global consumption forecasts under review.
Market participants interpreted Mondays sharp intraday reversal as a sign that some large players expect supply to remain ample.This expectation persists despite ongoing Middle East tensions.
The gap higher at the open, followed by a plunge, suggests traders are cautious about chasing prices further without new bullish catalysts.In summary, oil markets are digesting recent gains amid mixed signals.
Technical indicators warn of overextension, while macro fundamentals point to a well-supplied market.Prices may stay range-bound until either a clear supply disruption or a decisive shift in demand emerges.
For now, traders appear content to wait, with support levels in focus and momentum on pause.