Oil Rises 1.7% Since the Start of the Week On Geopolitical Factors

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As the XBR/USD chart shows, Brent crude trading opened this week near the $61.40 level, and by Tuesday morning the price was hovering around $61.50 (approximately +1.7%).

Oil prices are being pushed higher by geopolitical developments, including:
→ Pressure on Venezuela. President Trump stated that the United States could seize or sell oil from Venezuelan tankers that have been blocked.
→ Ukrainian attacks on ports and tankers linked to the transportation of Russian oil.

As a result, oil has gained around 5% from its seven-month low recorded on 16 December (point B), reflecting the risk premium that traders are building into the price of a barrel.

Technical Analysis of the XBR/USD Chart

Since mid-October, prices have remained in a downtrend, driven by a global increase in oil supply (analysts expect the supply surplus to persist into 2026).

At the same time:
→ price fluctuations have formed a descending channel, which was extended lower during the bearish impulse on 15–16 December;
→ at the low (B), the price failed to reach the lower boundary of the channel (a bullish signal), and then formed two bullish gaps (marked by arrows);
→ during the second gap, price moved aggressively into the upper half of the channel.

From a bullish perspective, price action suggests that buyers are currently in control, meaning traders should be prepared for a scenario in which rising geopolitical tensions push XBR/USD towards the upper boundary of the channel.

From a bearish standpoint, it is reasonable to assume that the area between the 50% and 61.8% Fibonacci retracement levels (where oil is trading today) could act as resistance following the A→B decline.

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This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.

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