Oil Prices - The Epoch Day Ahead

Jan. 27, 2016 12:20 AM ETOIH, OIL-OLD, PXD, SLB, SPY, USO, XLE, XOM, XOP, DIA, QQQ, IWM25 Comments

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Summary

Two key events could impact oil prices in a big way on Wednesday.
Petroleum inventory data will be reported by the EIA at 10:30 AM ET and it is a powerful factor for oil prices.
The Federal Reserve will publish its latest Monetary Policy Statement at 2:00 PM ET, and it could swing both energy commodities and equities.
Thus, oil prices could move sharply in one direction if the factors align, or they could move sharply and then reverse course sharply intraday if they dramatically contrast.
Wednesday will be eventful at minimum and epoch at best.

Oil prices could express significant volatility again on Wednesday, rising and/or falling significantly intraday. Two critical events could influence the price of the commodity, and have the potential to knock it around like a pinball wizard would the silver ball. The two data points are the weekly oil inventory data and the Fed's Monetary Policy Statement.

5-Day Chart of USO at Seeking Alpha

Charts like this 5-day chart of the United States Oil (NYSE: USO) security reflect volatility in oil prices, and plenty of it recently. The CBOE Crude Oil Volatility Index at $65.99 is up near its highest close for last 52 weeks, though it hit $74.29 at its highest intraday mark over the trailing twelve months. This Wednesday presents two critical factors that could flip oil prices in a big way again, either higher, lower or in both directions.

Energy Securities	01-26-15
SPDR S&P 500 (NYSE: SPY)	+1.2%
United States Oil	+5.3%
iPath S&P GSCI Crude Oil (NYSE: OIL)	+3.8%
Select Energy Sector SPDR (NYSE: XLE)	+3.6%
SPDR S&P Oil & Gas E&P (NYSE: XOP)	+6.2%
Market Vectors Oil Services (NYSE: OIH)	+2.8%
Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM)	+3.4%
Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE: PXD)	+5.5%
Schlumberger (NYSE: SLB)	+3.2%

Oil prices were already rising Tuesday in anticipation, I believe, of oil inventory data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) and Energy Information Administration (EIA). It's my view that last week we began to see a change in inventory trend. In a report earlier this month, I said the catalyst for an eventual energy and equity market rally could be when weekly oil & distillate drawdowns begin to be reported. We've passed the seasonal peak point for oil inventory, but the season has not been like normal until the last two weeks or so, with cold and snow covering much of the heating oil burning Northeast U.S. I suspect this past week's weather and anticipation for it may have helped a favorable impact to inventories. I hear experts on business television calling for another big build in inventory, so it would be a positive surprise to see something smaller or a drawdown of inventory.

Last week's EIA data showed a 4.0 million barrel build in crude oil; a 4.6 million barrel build in gasoline; and a 1.0 million barrel draw in distillates (includes heating oil). If the weather stays cold, refiners will finally be required to produce more heating oil rather than stocking up on cheap gasoline production for later sale at likely better pricing in the summer. That is why I think gasoline builds have been so big lately, and a weather-driven shift could put an end to that.

Despite last week's build in petroleum stocks, after the fact, oil prices still managed to rally into the end of the week. With rumblings out of OPEC about possible production cuts every time oil falls into the upper $20s, a floor may be in place now. Maybe we have an OPEC put. Thus, even if we get a data point that's imperfect tomorrow, oil can rally again thereafter.

If oil prices do rally, that rally could be stymied or perpetuated further when the Federal Open Market Committee (OTCPK:FOMC) publishes its latest Monetary Policy Statement. If the Fed in any way indicates or implies it could progress this year at a slower than previously forecast pace of four rate hikes, then a strong rally should ensue for both energy and equities. But if the Fed holds to its old course, or fails in any way to appease market concerns, then any rally begun by energy inventory data could get shut down.

And then there is the worst case scenario. If energy inventory disappoints by a wide margin and the Fed still remains stubbornly hawkish, energy prices and stocks could retest lows discovered last week. Expect Wednesday to be eventful at minimum and epoch at best. I follow the markets closely and invite relative interests to follow my column here at Seeking Alpha.

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Markos Kaminis

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Markos N. Kaminis generated a 23% average annual return on "Strong Buy" stock selections over 5 years while working as a Senior Equity Analyst on Wall Street. As an internal whistle-blower, I sacrificed absolutely everything to do the right thing. And despite being an eyewitness and victim of terrorism on 9-11, I am currently volunteering at a busy border crossing helping Middle Eastern & North African refugees, most displaced by war or other horrors, to land safely in Europe. Despite my life experiences, I still have hope, and believe that we must persevere with patience (forgiveness), tolerance and love. I have determined to struggle for the better good of my brethren rather than for myself, and you'll see that play out over the course of the rest of my life. But I worked far too long and hard to become an excellent stock-picker to not incorporate this work into the fold. Markos N. 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See: June 15, 2017 – Buy Oil Back Now; August 1, 2017 – Why Oil Prices Will Break Out – The Demand Driver; September 30, 2017 – Why Oil Prices Can Break Out Part II: Vulnerable Supply; and January 26, 2018 – Up 44% Since Our June Bullish Turn – Oil Still Supported Here. While not perfect, over the years, Markos has made countless correct market and security calls for his followers, including forecasting the demise of J.C. Penney on the heralded CEO hire's disruptive plans, the bankruptcies of Washington Mutual and Pilgrim's Pride in the $30 and $20s, respectively, as well as the purchase of Facebook in the mid-$20s when it was considered a pariah post its IPO (today it is a market darling). Markos also warned of the real estate market collapse and the financial crisis in the early days of his blogging. 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Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Oil Prices - The Epoch Day Ahead

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