Oilfutures
OUR TRADE ON OIL FOR TODAYToday we went long on OIL after that the market grabbed a liquidity and gave us our entry point to take.
The market went straight to our target which was again a liquidity level, then it came lower.
I couldn't share the trade today since when we entered I was in a live trading session with my students.
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Crude oil needs to open a short positionWe remain bearish on crude oil today. With the start of new contract delivery, crude oil is still weak. We would consider continuing to short it on a rebound. There are no bullish signals for crude oil, with no fundamental or technical support. If it breaks below 60.00, it will plummet again. Consider shorting it on a rebound near 63.00 today.
CL (Oil Futures) Short Trade Idea 08/17Setup
• Type: Rejection of 4H/1H supply → continuation lower.
• Zone to arm: 62.90–63.30 (overlapping 30m/1H supply + prior shelf).
• Triggers (must have both):
• 15-minute bearish confirmation (lower high + close back below ~62.95 from the zone).
• 5-minute bearish close in the zone with order-flow tilt (absorption/failure to lift).
(No confirmation = no trade.)
Entry & Risk
• Entry: MOS on the confirming 5m close within 62.90–63.30.
• Stop: 63.62 (above 1H supply high/swing). ≈ 0.32–0.72 risk depending on fill.
• Size: Calibrate so full-stop loss = ≤ 1R of your plan.
Targets (R:R from 63.10 mid-entry, 0.52 stop)
• TP1: 61.80 (prior-week low/shelf) → ~2.5R
• TP2: 61.10 (1H demand edge) → ~3.8R
• TP3: 60.50 (deeper 4H demand) → ~5.0R
Management
• Scale 1/2 at TP1; trail above last 5m swing after a fresh LL or hold for TP2.
• If price tags 63.30–63.50 and closes 15m above 63.50, invalidate the short idea until structure resets.
• Avoid fresh risk within ~10–15 min of EIA Wed 10:30 ET; re-arm after the first post-release 15m bar closes.
UPDATE ON THIS MORNING'S TRADEEarly in the morning, I posted a trade (Sell USOIL) in which we trargeted the LQ level which the market came closer to and didn't touch, which isn't a big deal.
As you can see on the chart, as I told my students during the LIVE TRADING SESSION they assisted, it's all about trade management.
On the screenshot on the left, we added another order at 50% lvl of the FVG, xhich the market respected at that moment before giving us a double bottom which is a sign to the change of the movement of the market.
For a safe closure of the trade, as you can see in the picture on the left, we waited for the market to break through the 5min LQ we have to close, and that's what exactly happened.
We'll wait for another trade to take later in the US session.
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OUR TRADE FOR THE DAYEarly today, I posted that we'll be waiting for the market to give us an entry after grabbing the liquidity, we did have it and caught it.
I didn't share it since it was given to my students.
As you can see on the chart, the market gave us a FVG after that it did grab the liquidity which we entered based on to target again the LQ level to close with a good margin.
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BUY USOILI'm sharing with you our trade today on OIL.
The reason we're buying is because yesterday the market grabbed the LQ now it is reversing to climb higher to fill all of the FVG we got in the previous movement.
For a safe entry, wait for the price to come back to our entry poin at 65.800 since I myself am waiting for the price to come to our entry point.
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Crude oil---Buy near 72.00, target 72.90-74.90Oil market analysis:
Recently, the daily crude oil line has started to pull up, and buying has begun to rise. The retracement is our opportunity to buy again. The moving average support of the daily crude oil line has begun to move up, and the pattern has reached around 69.60. Today's idea is to buy at 72.00. The pattern is difficult to see, just buy repeatedly. The fight between Iran and Israel is a great support for crude oil. In addition, there is EIA crude oil inventory data today.
Fundamental analysis:
Previously, we have been paying attention to geopolitical factors in the fundamentals. Indeed, the situation in the Middle East has also changed the way of gold and crude oil. Today we focus on the monetary policy of the Federal Reserve, and Chairman Powell's speech during the US trading time.
Operational suggestions:
Crude oil---Buy near 72.00, target 72.90-74.90
Oil Prices Up as Trump Delays EU Tariffs (Temporary Relief?) The global oil market, a sensitive barometer of economic health and geopolitical stability, registered a slight uptick in prices following the news that the Trump administration would extend the deadline for imposing new tariffs on a range of European Union goods. This minor rally, however, comes against a backdrop of a broader downtrend that has characterized the oil markets since mid-January. The persistent downward pressure has been largely attributed to the chilling effect of existing and threatened tariffs, not just between the US and the EU, but on a global scale, which have cast a long shadow over the outlook for global energy demand.
To understand the significance of this deadline extension and its nuanced impact on oil prices, it's crucial to first appreciate the environment in which it occurred. For several months, the dominant narrative surrounding oil has been one of demand-side anxiety. President Trump's "America First" trade policy, which has seen the imposition of sweeping tariffs on goods from various countries, most notably China, and the persistent threat of more to come against allies like the European Union, has injected a significant dose of uncertainty into the global economic system.
Tariffs, at their core, are taxes on imported goods. Their imposition typically leads to a cascade of negative economic consequences. Businesses that rely on imported components face higher input costs, which can either be absorbed, thereby reducing profit margins, or passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices. Higher consumer prices can dampen spending, a key driver of economic growth. Furthermore, the uncertainty created by an unpredictable trade policy environment often leads businesses to postpone investment decisions and hiring, further stagnating economic activity.
This economic slowdown, or even the fear of it, directly translates into weaker demand for oil. Manufacturing activity, a significant consumer of energy, tends to decline. Global shipping and freight, which rely heavily on bunker fuel and diesel, slow down as trade volumes shrink. Consumer demand for gasoline and jet fuel can also wane if economic hardship leads to reduced travel and leisure activities. The retaliatory measures often taken by targeted nations – imposing their own tariffs on US goods – only serve to exacerbate this negative feedback loop, creating a tit-for-tat escalation that further erodes business confidence and global trade flows.
It is this overarching concern about a tariff-induced global economic slowdown that has been weighing heavily on oil prices since the middle of January. Market participants, from large institutional investors to commodity traders, have been pricing in the potential for significantly reduced oil consumption in the months and years ahead if these trade disputes were to escalate or become entrenched. Every new tariff announcement or threat has typically sent ripples of concern through the market, often pushing oil prices lower.
Against this gloomy backdrop, the news of an extension to the tariff deadline on EU goods, while not a resolution, acts as a momentary pause button on further immediate escalation. It offers a temporary reprieve, a brief window where the worst-case scenario of new, damaging tariffs being instantly applied is averted. This is likely why oil prices "edged higher."
The market's reaction can be interpreted in several ways. Firstly, it reflects a slight easing of immediate downside risk to the European economy. The EU is a massive economic bloc and a significant consumer of oil. The imposition of new US tariffs on key European goods, such as automobiles or luxury products, would undoubtedly have a detrimental impact on European industries, potentially tipping already fragile economies closer to recession. An extension of the deadline pushes this immediate threat further down the road, offering a sliver of hope that a negotiated solution might yet be found, or at least that the economic pain is deferred. This deferral, however slight, can lead to a marginal upward revision of short-term oil demand expectations from the region.
Secondly, the extension can be seen as a signal, however faint, that dialogue and negotiation are still possible. In the fraught world of international trade diplomacy, any indication that parties are willing to continue talking rather than immediately resorting to punitive measures can be interpreted positively by markets. It reduces, fractionally, the "uncertainty premium" that has been built into asset prices, including oil.
However, it is crucial to temper any optimism. The fact that oil only "edged higher" rather than surged indicates the market's deep-seated caution. An extension is not a cancellation. The underlying threat of tariffs remains very much on the table. The fundamental disagreements that led to the tariff threats in the first place have not been resolved. Therefore, while the immediate pressure point has been alleviated, the chronic condition of trade uncertainty persists.
The oil market is acutely aware that this extension could simply be a tactical move, buying time for political reasons without altering the fundamental trajectory of trade policy. If, at the end of the extended period, no agreement is reached and tariffs are indeed imposed, the negative impact on oil demand expectations would likely resurface with renewed force. The market is therefore likely to adopt a "wait and see" approach, with traders hesitant to make significant bullish bets based solely on a deadline postponement.
Furthermore, the US-EU trade dynamic is just one piece of a larger global puzzle. The ongoing trade tensions with China, for instance, continue to be a major drag on global growth projections and, by extension, oil demand. Progress, or lack thereof, on that front often has a more substantial impact on oil prices than developments in the US-EU relationship, given the sheer scale of US-China trade and China's role as the world's largest oil importer.
The slight rise in oil prices also needs to be seen in the context of other market-moving factors. Supply-side dynamics, such as OPEC+ production decisions, geopolitical events in major oil-producing regions like the Middle East, and fluctuations in US shale output, constantly interact with demand-side sentiment. A deadline extension on EU tariffs might provide a small boost, but it can be easily overshadowed by a surprise inventory build, an unexpected increase in OPEC production, or signs of weakening economic data from other major economies.
In conclusion, the decision by the Trump administration to extend the tariff deadline on EU goods offered a moment of temporary relief to an oil market that has been under duress from trade war anxieties. This relief manifested as a marginal increase in oil prices, reflecting a slight reduction in immediate perceived risk to global economic activity and oil demand, particularly from Europe. However, this should not be mistaken for a fundamental shift in market sentiment or a resolution to the underlying trade disputes. The threat of tariffs remains, and the broader concerns about a global economic slowdown fueled by protectionist policies continue to loom large. The oil market's cautious reaction underscores the prevailing uncertainty, suggesting that while this extension provides a brief breathing space, the path ahead for oil prices will continue to be heavily influenced by the unpredictable currents of international trade policy.
OPEC Countdown: Inverted H&S Signals Potential Oil Price Rise🧭 Market Context – OPEC in Focus
As Crude Oil Futures (CL) grind in tight consolidation, the calendar reminds traders that the next OPEC meeting takes place on May 28, 2025. This is no ordinary headline event — OPEC decisions directly influence global oil supply. From quota adjustments to production cuts, their moves can rapidly shift price dynamics across energy markets. Every tick in crude oil reflects not just current flows but also positioning ahead of such announcements.
OPEC — the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries — coordinates oil policy among major producers. Its impact reverberates through futures markets like CL and MCL (Micro Crude), where both institutional and retail traders align positions weeks in advance. This time, technicals are speaking loud and clear.
A compelling bottoming structure is taking shape. The Daily timeframe reveals an Inverted Head and Shoulders pattern coinciding with a bullish flag, compressing into a potential breakout zone. If momentum confirms, CL could burst into a trend move — just as OPEC makes its call.
📊 Technical Focus – Inverted H&S + Flag Pattern
Price action on the CL daily chart outlines a classic Inverted Head and Shoulders — a reversal structure that traders often monitor for high-conviction setups. The neckline sits at 64.19, and price is currently coiled just below it, forming a bullish flag that overlaps with the pattern’s right shoulder.
What makes this setup powerful is its precision. Not only does the flag compress volatility, but the symmetry of the shoulders, the clean neckline, and the breakout potential align with high-quality chart pattern criteria.
The confirmation of the breakout typically requires trading activity above 64.19, which would trigger the measured move projection. That target? Around 70.59, which is near a relevant UFO-based resistance level — a region where sellers historically stepped in with force (UnFilled Orders to Sell).
Importantly, this bullish thesis will fail if price drops below 60.02, the base of the flag. That invalidation would potentially flip sentiment and set up a bearish scenario with a target near the next UFO support at 53.58.
To properly visualize the dual scenario forming in Crude Oil, a multi-timeframe approach is often very useful as each timeframe adds clarity to structure, breakout logic, and entry/exit positioning:
Weekly Chart: Reveals two consecutive indecision candles, reflecting hesitation as the market awaits the OPEC outcome.
Daily chart: Presents a MACD bullish divergence, potentially adding strength to the reversal case.
Zoomed-in 4H chart: Further clarifies the boundaries of the bullish flag.
🎯 Trade Plan – CL and MCL Long/Short Scenarios
⏫ Bullish Trade Plan:
o Product: CL or MCL
o Entry: Break above 64.19
o Target: 70.59 (UFO resistance)
o Stop Options:
Option A: 60.02 (tight, under flag)
Option B: ATR-based trailing stop
o Ideal for momentum traders taking advantage of chart pattern combined with fundamental data coming out of an OPEC meeting
⏬ Bearish Trade Plan:
o Trigger: Break below 60.02
o Target: 53.58 (UFO support)
o Stop Options:
Option A: 64.19 (tight, above flag)
Option B: ATR-based trailing stop
o Ideal for momentum traders fading pattern failures
⚙️ Contract Specs – CL vs MCL
Crude Oil can be traded through two futures contracts on CME Group: the standard CL (WTI Crude Oil Futures) and the smaller-sized MCL (Micro WTI Crude Oil Futures). Both offer identical tick structures, making MCL a powerful instrument for traders needing more flexibility in position sizing.
CL represents 1,000 barrels of crude per contract. Each tick (0.01 move) is worth $10, and one full point of movement equals $1,000. The current estimated initial margin required to trade one CL contract is approximately $6,000 per contract, although this may vary based on market volatility and brokerage terms.
MCL, the micro version, represents 100 barrels per contract — exactly 1/10th the size of CL. Each 0.01 tick move is worth $1, with one point equaling $100. The estimated initial margin for MCL is around $600, offering traders access to the same technical setups at significantly reduced capital exposure.
These two contracts mirror each other tick-for-tick. MCL is ideal for:
Testing breakout trades with lower risk
Scaling in/out around events like OPEC
Implementing precise risk management strategies
Meanwhile, CL provides larger exposure and higher dollar returns but requires tighter control of risk and account drawdowns. Traders can choose either—or both—based on their strategy and account size.
🛡️ Risk Management – The Foundation of Survival
Technical setups don’t make traders profitable — risk management does.
Before the OPEC meeting, traders must be aware that volatility can spike, spreads may widen, and whipsaws can invalidate even the cleanest chart pattern.
That’s why stop losses aren’t optional — they’re mandatory. Whether you choose a near level, a deeper stop below the head, or an ATR-based trailing method, the key is clear: define risk before entry.
MCL helps mitigate capital exposure for those testing breakout confirmation. CL demands higher margin and greater drawdown flexibility — but offers bigger tick rewards.
Precision also applies to exits. Targets must be defined before entry to maintain reward-to-risk discipline. Avoid adding to losers or chasing breakouts post-event.
And most importantly — never hold a losing position into an event like OPEC, hoping for recovery. Risk is not a gamble. It’s a calculated variable. Treat it with respect.
When charting futures, the data provided could be delayed. Traders working with the ticker symbols discussed in this idea may prefer to use CME Group real-time data plan on TradingView: www.tradingview.com - This consideration is particularly important for shorter-term traders, whereas it may be less critical for those focused on longer-term trading strategies.
General Disclaimer:
The trade ideas presented herein are solely for illustrative purposes forming a part of a case study intended to demonstrate key principles in risk management within the context of the specific market scenarios discussed. These ideas are not to be interpreted as investment recommendations or financial advice. They do not endorse or promote any specific trading strategies, financial products, or services. The information provided is based on data believed to be reliable; however, its accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. Trading in financial markets involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Each individual should conduct their own research and consult with professional financial advisors before making any investment decisions. The author or publisher of this content bears no responsibility for any actions taken based on the information provided or for any resultant financial or other losses.