WTI Price Forecast: Bulls seem hesitant above $87.00 as 200-SMA breakdown remains in play
By Haresh Menghani
Updated: 20 Apr 2026
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West Texas Intermediate (WTI) – the benchmark US Crude Oil price – struggles to capitalize on its bullish gap opening, though it sticks to modest intraday gains through the Asian session on Monday.
- WTI opens with a bullish gap in reaction to renewed US-Iran tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.
- Diminishing hopes for more peace talks fuel supply concerns and lend support to the commodity.
- The recent breakdown below the 200- SMA on H4 warrants caution for aggressive bullish traders.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) – the benchmark US Crude Oil price – struggles to capitalize on its bullish gap opening, though it sticks to modest intraday gains through the Asian session on Monday. The commodity currently trades above the $87.00 mark, still up nearly 4% for the day amid renewed US-Iran tensions over the Strait of Hormuz.
The US naval blockade of Iranian ports, along with the interception and seizure of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, prompted Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz again for commercial vessels. The developments temper hopes for more peace talks and fuel global supply concerns, which, in turn, is seen as acting as a tailwind for Crude Oil prices.
The near-term tone remains bearish as the commodity holds well beneath the 200-period Simple Moving Average (SMA) on the 4-hour chart, keeping the broader recovery phase capped. Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram has turned mildly positive, and the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers just below the 50 line at 46.42.
The improvement in momentum indicators signals a consolidation rather than a confirmed reversal, while Crude Oil prices stay below the higher-timeframe moving average. The said hurdle at $92.58 is the first meaningful resistance that bulls would need to reclaim to ease the current downside bias and open the way for a more sustained rebound.
On the downside, traders might treat the intraday low, around $86.15-$86.10, as a provisional floor, below which Crude Oil prices could fall to the $81.00 mark en route to sub-$79.00 levels, or Friday's swing low. Nevertheless, the technical setup suggests that rallies are likely to face selling interest while the black liquid remains entrenched beneath its 200-SMA.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)
WTI 4-hour chart
WTI Oil FAQs
WTI Oil is a type of Crude Oil sold on international markets. The WTI stands for West Texas Intermediate, one of three major types including Brent and Dubai Crude. WTI is also referred to as “light” and “sweet” because of its relatively low gravity and sulfur content respectively. It is considered a high quality Oil that is easily refined. It is sourced in the United States and distributed via the Cushing hub, which is considered “The Pipeline Crossroads of the World”. It is a benchmark for the Oil market and WTI price is frequently quoted in the media.
Like all assets, supply and demand are the key drivers of WTI Oil price. As such, global growth can be a driver of increased demand and vice versa for weak global growth. Political instability, wars, and sanctions can disrupt supply and impact prices. The decisions of OPEC, a group of major Oil-producing countries, is another key driver of price. The value of the US Dollar influences the price of WTI Crude Oil, since Oil is predominantly traded in US Dollars, thus a weaker US Dollar can make Oil more affordable and vice versa.
The weekly Oil inventory reports published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Energy Information Agency (EIA) impact the price of WTI Oil. Changes in inventories reflect fluctuating supply and demand. If the data shows a drop in inventories it can indicate increased demand, pushing up Oil price. Higher inventories can reflect increased supply, pushing down prices. API’s report is published every Tuesday and EIA’s the day after. Their results are usually similar, falling within 1% of each other 75% of the time. The EIA data is considered more reliable, since it is a government agency.
OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) is a group of 12 Oil-producing nations who collectively decide production quotas for member countries at twice-yearly meetings. Their decisions often impact WTI Oil prices. When OPEC decides to lower quotas, it can tighten supply, pushing up Oil prices. When OPEC increases production, it has the opposite effect. OPEC+ refers to an expanded group that includes ten extra non-OPEC members, the most notable of which is Russia.
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