• WTI extends Friday’s pullback from a two-month high, battles support line of a short-term bearish chart pattern.
• 50-SMA adds to the downside filters, bearish MACD and failures to cross $80.00 keep sellers hopeful.

WTI remains pressured towards $78.00, down 0.80% intraday during Monday’s Asian session.

The black gold reversed from the highest levels since mid-November on Friday while portraying the buyers’ exhaustion inside a monthly rising wedge bearish pattern.

That said, the commodity’s inability to cross the $80.00 threshold and downbeat MACD signals hint at the further downside of the quote.

However, a clear break of $78.00 won’t be necessary for the WTI bears as the 50-SMA level surrounding $76.90 tests the sellers.

On breaking the $76.90 support, WTI crude oil confirms a bearish chart pattern with theoretical target near late December’s low close to $66.00. Though, a convergence of the 200-SMA and 50% Fibonacci retracement (Fibo.) of November – December downside, around $72.80-90, will offer an intermediate halt during the fall.

Alternatively, an upside clearance of the $80.00 will be a trigger for the oil prices rally towards the $84.00, near to November’s top. Following that, the year 2021 peak near $85.00 will be in focus.

WTI: Four-hour chart

Trend: Further weakness expected