Last week, oil's primary price movement occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, when prices made an equal move higher -- they advanced on Tuesday morning, consolidated Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, and then advanced an equal distance on Wednesday. Interestingly, prices did not advance strongly on Friday when the unemployment report was printed, instead staying below the 101/101.5 level.
Pulling the lens back, we see the dollar was clearly in a downtrend and head and shoulders formation for 2010. The downtrend was caused by the Fed's 0% interest rate policy and massive fiscal stimulus. However, for the last few months, the dollar has benefited from being the "least dirty shirt in the hamper" -- especially in relation to the euro. As such, we're seeing prices consolidate at the bottom of the downward trend. There are two important lower levels to keep in mind -- 21 (which is right below the current lower trend line) and the lower trend line itself.
The above chart is a six day chart of the SPYs. Prices gapped higher on Monday, consolidated for two days, then gapped higher on Wednesday due to the coordinated central bank move. However, Prices did not move higher on Friday in response to the employment report. Some of that may be due to the strong rally prices saw all week. But, there were some very good points to the employment report which were economic positives.
The daily chart shows that prices are still in a consolidation trend. And even though we had a good jobs print on Friday, prices did not follow through on the rally to break out of the consolidation trend. Instead, prices fell back within the symmetrical triangle.
