Crude oil price action seemed somewhat counter-intuitive yesterday. Prices launched higher after OPEC updated its 2017 market outlook to predict that output from outside the cartel will increase by 200k barrels, reversing a previous forecast that envisioned a drop of 150k barrels. One might have expected that the prospect of a supply increase would pressure prices lower, not send them upward.

A possible explanation may be that traders interpreted the announcement in the context of speculation that OPEC producers might agree to an output freeze at an informal meeting in Algiers this month. Traders may have reasoned that an accord is more likely if the group’s membership is growing more concerned about downside price pressure from outside their ranks.

Gold prices rebounded after touching a three-week low intraday after Fed Governor Lael Brainard struck a familiarly dovish tone in the last bit of commentary from policy officials before this month’s FOMC policy announcement. Markets were keen to see if Brainard would adjust her posture to fall in line with the recent hawkish rhetorical shift from most of her colleagues. The US Dollar declined alongside front-end bond yields after the Governor spoke.

Looking ahead, crude oil will look to the API weekly inventories estimate for direction. The report sent prices sharply higher last week. Gold may struggle to find lasting directional conviction amid a lull in Fed-linked news flow. The near-term bias may cautiously favor the upside as markets digest down-shift in the projected rate hike path following Governor Brainard’s commentary, but lasting follow-through may have to wait for US retail sales, inflation and consumer confidence data due later in the week.

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GOLD TECHNICAL ANALYSIS – Gold prices are treading water having retreated to a three-week low. A daily close below support in the 1303.62-08.00 area (May 2 high, 38.2% Fibonacci retracement) paves the way for a challenge of the 50% level at 1287.29. Alternatively, a move back above the 23.6% Fib at 1333.62 exposes falling trend line resistance at 1350.32.