WTI Weekly: Key Resistance Failed As Price Discovery Higher Developed To Statistical Resistance

04/16/20 03:53:47 PM

by Taylor Ireland

In this article, we examine the order flow and limit order book data in the WTI futures market that provides insight into the buy-side continuation for Wednesday, March 4, 2020 which ultimately failed at statistical resistance. Market structure and order flow provide insight into the actual transactional activity of a dual-auction's price discovery process. Analysis of this data provides real-time insight into the actions of market participants, providing a dynamic dataset to inform one's risk management process.

Security: WTI
Position: N/A

March 4, 2020:

The structural framework provided in Sharedata's Daily Dashboard for Wednesday, March 4 was for price discovery higher. Our daily dual probability path assigned the primary expectation for price discovery higher, noting statistical resistance targets were: 48.38s/48.87s/49.37s, respectively. Qualitatively, these levels had held as resistance 65%, 75%, and 100% of recent market auctions (respectively) based on the market generated data. This data provided a buy-side framework with a probable resistance "zone" between 48.38s-48.87s. As discussed frequently, markets are probabilistic not deterministic. Within this framework, the secondary expectation was for price discovery lower with a probable support "zone" between 45.98s-45.49s. This type of daily framework, while useful, is more effective when using live order flow and structural analysis to confirm or negate the most probable daily inference. Despite the larger structural decline that was developing, market structure continued to support the most likely premise for buy-side continuation before resumption of the larger sell-side auction.

Figure 1. WTI Daily Auction 04Mar20

Graphic provided by: Sharedata Futures, Inc..

Heading into Wednesday's auction, a buy-side breakout through Tuesday's key resistance developed during early Globex trade. Price discovery higher developed toward 48.20s as sell excess developed before balance ensued, 48.20s-47.10s, through the London auction. A buy-side breakout attempt developed to 48.41s at Monday's Average Daily Range High Target early in the NY auction. Buyers trapped there as sell excess developed, halting the buy-side sequence. Price discovery lower ensued through prior key resistance to 46.65s. Sellers trapped there before buying interest emerged, halting the sell-side sequence, developing balance, 46.65s-47.55s, into Tuesday's NY close.

Figure 2. WTI Daily Auction 03Mar20

Graphic provided by: Sharedata Futures, Inc..

The practice of analyzing market structure developments is best accomplished with the use of order flow and limit order book (LOB) analysis. In short, plotting the buy and sell transactions of significance (in this case volume equal to or greater than 150 contracts) as well as the resting limit bids and offers (equal to or greater than 75 contracts) allows us to see both the actions and intent of larger participants (who significantly affect price).

Figure 3. WTI Daily Auction 04Mar20

Graphic provided by: NinjaTrader.

In this week's analysis, although the primary expectation was for price discovery higher, the market provided order flow indication of the halting of that trend twice in the NY auctions. The primary expectation for higher prices did unfold but was terminated at statistical resistance. Selling interest emerged there that ultimately drove price lower back through prior key resistance as the breakout failed into the NY close.

Figure 4. WTI Limit Order Book 04Mar20

Graphic provided by: NinjaTrader.

The order flow and limit order book data confirmed the initial buy-side development of the directional context provided by the market structure. The daily framework identified statistical resistance targets and their qualitative potential to hold as resistance. The order flow and limit order book data then indicated the halting of the buy-side sequence before the larger sell-side trend resumed. This confluence of structural, statistical and order flow data provided insight into the auction's outcome based not on lagging fundamental data or media hype but rather structural formation and transactional behavior of significant quantity that drives price discovery.

Taylor Ireland

Sharedata Futures, Inc. provides historical data mining and visualization for the benchmark NYMEX Energy Futures Markets.

Sharedata combines structural analysis of the market generated data, dynamic systems analysis, and Bayesian causal inference techniques favored by the scientific and intelligence communities to provide a robust framework for addressing the uncertainty and risk in energy pricing.

Title:	Founder
Company:	Sharedata Futures, Inc.
	Dallas, TX
Website:	www.sdfanalytics.com
E-mail address:	support@sdfanalytics.com
Traders' Resource Links
Sharedata Futures, Inc. has not added any product or service information to TRADERS' RESOURCE.

Click here for more information about our publications!

PRINT THIS ARTICLE

Request Information From Our Sponsors

DEPARTMENTS: Advertising | Editorial | Circulation | Contact Us | BY PHONE: (206) 938-0570

Comments or Questions?	Article Usefulness
	5 (most useful) 4 3 2 1 (least useful)

DAY TRADING

WTI Weekly: Key Resistance Failed As Price Discovery Higher Developed To Statistical Resistance

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE
EMAIL NEWSLETTER!